Kate Orland, MS, CGC

Kate Orland

PRESIDENT 2021

Where were you born/ Where are you from?

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

What Genetic Counselor Program did you graduate from and when?

University of Wisconsin, 2008

Where do you work currently?

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

How long have you been working as a Genetic Counselor?

13 years

What is your specialty(specialties)?

Cardiology-specifically cardiomyopathies and arrhythmia syndromes

How did you get involved with WIGCA?

I started out by working with the Education Committee and then was nominated for the role of Vice President.

What types of skills overlap between being a Genetic Counselor and your work on the WIGCA board? What did you have to learn for this position?

Communication, listening, time management, empathy, making sure people feel heard. This was a new type of leadership position for me as the organization has many different goals. It was helpful to work on building relationships with the folks on the board and within WIGCA. I've also learned more about the legislative process with regard to licensure efforts.

What have you accomplished or hope to accomplish as a Board Member?

I am quite proud of our first WIGCA Education conference and the team effort that went into making that possible this year. The WIGCA Board is made up of such dedicated, thoughtful, hard-working, and fun individuals and it has been fulfilling being part of a well-functioning team. Though it has been a challenging road, I still hope that we can obtain GC licensure.

What have you been doing to stay mentally healthy during the pandemic?

Virtual workouts, getting outside, snuggling my kids

What do you find hilarious but most people don’t find funny?

My husband-ha!

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Interview Credit to WIGCA Volunteer, Rachel Lichte 2021