Fisher to help lead genetic counseling program

The Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Sara Fisher has been named assistant program director for the Munroe-Meyer Institute/College of Allied Health Professions Genetic Counseling Program.

Sara Fisher

“With this new position, I have the amazing opportunity to work with the UNMC genetic counseling program, which is a partnership between the College of Allied Health Professions and the Munroe-Meyer Institute,” Fisher said. “I will continue my work with my MMI genetic medicine colleagues in providing extraordinary patient care but will also join the Allied Health faculty as an educator for future genetic counseling colleagues.

“As a member of one of the fastest growing professions, I want to be right up front in training future genetic counselors who have a passion for lifelong learning,” she said. “As genetic counselors expand their roles outside of the traditional prenatal, pediatric or cancer clinics to laboratory, research, and industry positions, genetic counseling training programs need to be forward-thinking so we train the counselors of tomorrow who can be flexible but highly detailed in any setting.

“With this position, I am able to have a direct impact on coursework development, clinical rotation sites, and student research coordination plus continue the patient care that brought me into genetic counseling in the first place,” she said.

Fisher started her career as a cytogenetic technologist in the Human Genetics Laboratory before earning her master’s degree in medical genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2004, Fisher returned to MMI and joined the genetic medicine department as a genetic counselor. She currently provides prenatal genetic counseling at the Olson Center for Women’s Health at Nebraska Medicine and is well known for the level of care she provides. In addition to providing patient care, Fisher has volunteered her time for program planning and has been an active member of each committee she joins.