Leadership Profiles

Catherine A. Wicklund
Current President

Catherine A. Wicklund, Associate Director of the Northwestern University Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling, has been elected 2007 President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC).

As President of NSGC, Wicklund is responsible for leading the association and serving as the chief spokesperson. She has 14 years of clinical experience primarily in prenatal genetic counseling. Her research interests include cross cultural communication, psychosocial and counseling issues, prenatal diagnosis, and decision making. She can also comment on issues related to genetic counselor training, board certification, licensure, oversight of genetic testing and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA).

A graduate of the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Texas Graduate School in Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Wicklund is also certified in genetic counseling by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Her career began in 1993 as a prenatal and pediatric genetic counselor at Cooper Hospital in New Jersey. Cathy joined the University of Texas Medical School-Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences in 1996 where she was the Director of Prenatal Genetic Counseling Services. In addition, she was the Co-Director of the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Texas. After 10 years at the University of Texas she joined the Northwestern Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling as the Associate Director in 2006. In addition, she provides prenatal genetic counseling services in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Wicklund has been a member of NSGC since 1991, and has co-chaired the 2005 Annual Education Conference and was on the Board of Directors as Region V Representative (1999-2001) and Secretary (2002-2004). In 2006 Wicklund was the recipient of the Region V Leadership Award. Wicklund is also active in the American College of Medical Genetics and the American Society of Human Genetics.

Wicklund has spoken on topics related to prenatal diagnosis and psychosocial issues in genetic counseling. She has published articles on anxiety and other psychosocial issues surrounding prenatal diagnosis and screening.

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