Genetic Experts
Chief Medical Officer
PhD Geneticists
Lab Genetic Counselors
Dr. Tony Krentz, Ph.D.
VP of Laboratory Operations
Specializing in Ciliopathies
Dr. Krentz joined PreventionGenetics in 2011, and currently serves as a VP, Laboratory Operations. Tony has played a key role in developing and validating NextGen Sequencing tests at PreventionGenetics. During his tenure he has been the COO and the director of R&D, NextGen Sequencing, and Specimen Processing departments. As COO he worked with the President to develop strategic plans, set priorities, and allocate resources to achieve company goals. Dr. Krentz received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics from the University of Minnesota.
×Dr. Robert Steiner, MD
Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
Dr. Steiner joined PreventionGenetics in 2017 as Chief Medical Officer. An acclaimed physician-scientist, Dr. Steiner practiced as a medical geneticist, taught, and carried out research at Washington University and OHSU for more than two decades. At OHSU he rose through the academic ranks to Professor (tenured) and Vice Chair for Research in Pediatrics. Dr. Steiner received his B.S. and M.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, completing pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Fellowship in Medical Genetics was completed at the University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital. Dr. Steiner returned to Wisconsin in 2013 to direct the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute. Subsequently, he served as Chief Medical Officer for Acer Therapeutics, leading clinical development during the transition to a publicly traded company. In addition to his primary role at PreventionGenetics, Dr. Steiner is a practicing part-time Clinical Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, and Medical Geneticist/Medical Director at the Marshfield Clinic Health System. He is board certified in pediatrics, clinical genetics, and clinical biochemical genetics.
×Dr. Angela Gruber, Ph.D.
Specializing in Muscle Disorders and Kidney Disorders
Dr. Gruber joined PreventionGenetics in June 2014 as a Human Molecular Geneticist. Her portfolio includes neuromuscular disorders such as myopathies, muscular dystrophies, and neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease as well as kidney disorders including CAKUT, nephrolithiasis, and nephrocalcinosis. Dr. Gruber earned her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin.
×Dr. Ben Dorshorst, Ph.D.
Specializing in Hearing Disorders
Dr. Dorshorst joined PreventionGenetics in January 2016 as a Associate Human Molecular Geneticist. His portfolio focuses on Hearing Loss and Deafness. Dr. Dorshorst received a Ph.D. in functional genomics from North Carolina State University. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin. Prior to coming to PreventionGenetics, Dr. Dorshorst was an Assistant Professor of Genetics at Virginia Tech.
×Dr. Fang Xu, Ph.D., FACMG
Specializing in Infertility, Sex Development, and Ciliopathies
Dr. Xu joined PreventionGenetics in January 2016 as an Associate Laboratory Director. She is an ABMG-certified clinical cytogeneticist. Her portfolio focuses on reproductive disorders and infertility. Dr. Xu received her Ph.D. in Genetics from Nanjing University in China. She completed the ABMG fellowship in Clinical Cytogenetics at Yale University, Department of Genetics.
×Dr. Siwu Peng, Ph.D.
Specializing in Blood Disorders
Dr. Peng joined PreventionGenetics in September 2021 as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist focusing on blood disorders. Dr. Peng earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Shantou University, China in 2011 and completed an ABMGG Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) fellowship at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York in 2021. He obtained a New York State Certificate of Qualification in Molecular and Cytogenetics.
×Dr. Brett Deml, Ph.D., FACMG
Specializing in Pediatric Cardiovascular Disorders
Dr. Deml joined PreventionGenetics in May 2018 as a Clinical Molecular Geneticist. His portfolio focuses on Cardiovascular Disorders. Before attending graduate school at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Deml was a Clinical Technologist at PreventionGenetics for four years, where he was instrumental in our Research and Development department. Dr. Deml received his Ph.D. in human genetics from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed a clinical molecular genetics fellowship at the University of Chicago.
×Dr. Eric Bend, Ph.D., FACMG
Specializing in Obesity and Epilepsy
Dr. Bend joined PreventionGenetics in August 2018 as a Human Molecular Geneticist. His portfolio focuses on epilepsy and obesity. Dr. Bend received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. He then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at University of Utah and a 2-year clinical molecular genetics fellowship at the Greenwood Genetic Center in South Carolina.
×Dr. Renee Bend, Ph.D.
Specializing in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Intellectual Disability
Dr. Bend joined PreventionGenetics in August 2018 as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist. Her portfolio focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders - in particular, intellectual disability. Renee earned her doctorate degree in neuroscience from the University of Utah. Originally from southern Oregon, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in biology at Lewis and Clark College, in Portland.
×Dr. Kym Bliven, Ph.D.
Specializing in Mitochondrial Disorders
Dr. Bliven joined PreventionGenetics in August 2015 as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist. Her portfolio focuses on mitochondrial disorders. Dr. Bliven received her Ph.D. from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
×Dr. Li Fan, MD, Ph.D., FCCMG, FACMG
Specializing in Neurologic Disorders
Dr. Fan joined PreventionGenetics in July 2015 as an Associate Laboratory Director. Her primary area of expertise is clinical molecular genetics in neuroscience. Dr. Fan's portfolio at PreventionGenetics includes tests for Alzheimer's disease and brain malformations. Dr. Fan received her medical degree from Zhejiang Medical University and her Ph.D. in biochemistry from The University of Queensland in Australia. She has been working in a Clinical Molecular Diagnostic setting for over 15 years, previously at the University of Montreal.
×Dr. Luke Drury, Ph.D., DLM(ASCP)CM, HCLD(ABB), MB(ASCP)CM
Clinical Laboratory Director
Specializing in Red Blood Cell Disorders and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Dr. Drury joined PreventionGenetics in September 2013 as a Human Molecular Geneticist. His portfolio focuses on red blood cell disorders and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He is certified as a High Complexity Clinical Lab Director through the American Board of Bioanalysis and as a Diplomat of Laboratory Management through the American Society of Clinical Pathology. He is also the director of the sequencing laboratory at PreventionGenetics. Dr. Drury received his Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Prior to coming to PreventionGenetics, he was a postdoctoral research scholar at the University of Iowa.
×Dr. McKenna Kyriss, Ph.D., FACMG
Specializing in Metabolic Disorders
Dr. Kyriss joined PreventionGenetics in November 2014 as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist. Her portfolio includes metabolic disorders and Huntington Disease. Dr. Kyriss received her B.S. in biology from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA and her Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences from Washington State University. She completed an ABMGG Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) Fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR.
×Dr. Wuyan Chen, Ph.D.
Specializing in Kidney Disorders and Diabetes
Dr. Chen joined PreventionGenetics in January 2013 as a Human Molecular Geneticist. Dr. Chen's portfolio of specialties includes kidney disorders and diabetes. He is our expert of the CYP21A2 gene testing for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). He has served as previous director for Research and Development and NextGen Sequencing at PreventionGenetics. A native of Guangdong Province in southern China, Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
×Dr. Greg Fischer, Ph.D.
Specializing in Autism
Dr. Fisher joined PreventionGenetics in October 2016 as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist. His portfolio focuses on disease association testing via Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr. Fischer earned his BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2011 and his PhD in Genetics from the University of WisconsinMadison in 2016.
×Christina Zaleski, MS, CGC
Director, Genetic Counseling & Client Services
Christina Zaleski earned a Master of Science degree in genetic counseling from Sarah Lawrence College in 1999. After graduation, she did genealogy work for Rockefeller University in South Africa. She worked at the Marshfield Clinic as lead genetic counselor from 1999-2012. Christina is currently Director of Genetic Counseling & Client Services at PreventionGenetics and is also appointed Honorary Associate of Pediatrics for University of WI School of Medicine & Public Health. Christina has experience in many areas including prenatal, pediatric, cancer, specialty clinics, stillbirth evaluations, administration, public health education, and industry. She developed clinical genetics outreach & telehealth genetic counseling services in Wisconsin. She served on St. Joseph Hospital's Bioethics team and was co-investigator on research projects. Christina has published scientific articles in the areas of clinical genetics, stillbirth evaluations, newborn screening, utilization management, and workflow. Highlights of her career include receiving Leadership Award for Excellence in Community Service from the March of Dimes, Wisconsin Chapter, being nominated by peers as a JEMF Master Genetic Counselor, serving as President for WI Genetic Counseling Association and receiving an Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Spirit of Giving Award (along with her family) after raising over one million dollars for cardiology research.
×Megan Nelson, MS, CGC
Senior Laboratory Genetic Counselor, Supervisor Genetic Testing Coordinators
Megan Nelson has been a Laboratory Genetic Counselor at PreventionGenetics since 2015, and has been the Supervisor of the Genetic Testing Coordinator group since 2021. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She earned her Master of Science degree in Medical Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010. She also became certified through the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2010. Megan has five years of clinical genetic counseling experience in Wisconsin. She established a genetics department in a community hospital as a new graduate, and she also has experience in a regional cancer center.
×Connie Schultz, MS, CGC
Senior Laboratory Genetic Counselor
Connie received her Master of Science degree in Medical Genetics from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1994, CGC certification in 1996. She has Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Psychology from UW River Falls. Her career began in the laboratory doing medical research on breast cancer and on neural crest cell development. She moved to a clinical histocompatibility and immunogenetics laboratory, achieving ABHI certification. As a genetic counselor she has accumulated nearly 3 decades of additional experience; providing clinical genetic counseling in prenatal, oncology, thrombophilia, neuromuscular and neurogenetics. She has extensive experience in multidisciplinary teams, (MFM, Peds Neurosurgery, MDA, Peds Neurology, Oncology, Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Bereavement ) and played significant roles in the review of genetic testing for compliance in an HMO setting. Connie has also developed and implemented genetic testing policies in both clinical and insurance settings. She has coordinated clinical experiences and provided student supervision for genetic counseling interns, medical residents and genetic fellows. As a laboratory genetic counselor she provided telegenetic counseling for oncology, worked on development of an integrated LIMS/clinical documentation system, was part of the genetics training team for IBM Watson™, ultimately landing at PreventionGenetics as part of the Genetic Counseling team in 2015. Here she continues to provide client services with respect to test coordination, utilization management as well as coordination of the phenome and exome gene curation teams.
×Dr. Hannah Cox, Ph.D., HCLD(ABB)
Specializing in Hereditary Cancer
Dr. Cox is an Associate Laboratory Director at PreventionGenetics specializing in rare disease, hereditary cancer, and exome and genome analysis. She received her Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. Prior to joining PreventionGenetics, Dr. Cox worked as a Scientist for Myriad Genetic Laboratories.
×Dr. Jessica Tumolo, Ph.D.
Specializing in Gastrointestinal Disorders
Dr. Tumolo joined PreventionGenetics in 2019 as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist. Dr. Tumolo received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Clemson University and her Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from Vanderbilt University.
×Dr. Dana Talsness, Ph.D.
Specializing in Eye Disorders
Dr. Talsness joined PreventionGenetics in April 2021 and currently serves as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist, where she focuses on Eye Disorders. Dr. Talsness received her Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, and Genetics at the University of Minnesota, was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology for three years at her undergraduate alma mater, Luther College, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Genomic Medicine at the University of Utah.
×Dr. Erin Sybouts, Ph.D.
Specializing in Repeat Expansion Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and VACTERL Association
Dr. Sybouts joined PreventionGenetics in February 2020 as an Associate Human Molecular Geneticist, where she focuses on repeat expansion disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and VACTERL association. Dr. Sybouts earned her Ph.D. in Cellular and Structural Biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas.
×Dr. Jamie Fox, Ph.D.
Specializing in Pharmacogenetics and Congenital Cataracts
Dr. Fox joined PreventionGenetics in 2019 as an Associate Molecular Geneticist. Dr. Fox received her Ph.D. in biomedical science from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Prior to joining PreventionGenetics, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation and the University of Wisconsin.
×Kayleigh Avello, MS, CGC
Laboratory Genetic Counselor
Kayleigh Avello joined PreventionGenetics as a Laboratory Genetic Counselor in July 2019. Originally from Illinois, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. After completing her undergraduate degree, Kayleigh worked in hospice in a few different roles. Prior to graduate school, Kayleigh was a Neurology Genetic Counseling Assistant for GeneDx. In 2018, she obtained her Master of Science degree from the Augustana-Sanford Genetic Counseling Program as a member of the inaugural class. During her graduate studies, she spent time in Sioux Falls, SD as well as completed two clinical rotations in Tucson, AZ and Fargo, ND. Also while in graduate school, she worked as an Oncology Genetic Counseling Assistant at the Avera Cancer Center in Sioux Falls. In 2018, Kayleigh joined the pediatrics department at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. During her time there, she saw patients within the general Pediatric and Adult clinic, Metabolic /Newborn Screen clinic, as well as helped to create a Neurogenetics and Utilization Management program. In 2019, Kayleigh completed the NSGC Public Health and Precision Medicine Fellowship and she recently graduated from the UBC Genomic Counseling and Variant Interpretation graduate certificate program. At the present time, Kayleigh is a member of the ClinGen Hereditary Cancer Dosage curation team and is actively involved with the Augustana University GC program.
×Dr. Chun-An Chen, Ph.D., FACMG
Specializing in Adult Cardiovascular Disorders
Dr. Chen joined PreventionGenetics in August 2020 and is currently an Associate Laboratory Director. His portfolio focuses on adult cardiovascular disorders and Marfan syndrome. Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed the ABMGG fellowship in Laboratory Genetics and Genomics at Baylor College of Medicine.
×Dr. Megan Piazza, Ph.D., FACMG
Specializing in Immunodeficiency Disorders
Dr. Piazza joined PreventionGenetics in August 2019 and currently serves as a Clinical Molecular Geneticist and director of the Specimen Processing Laboratory. Her portfolio focuses on Immunodeficiency disorders. Dr. Piazza received her Ph.D. in Genetics and Genome Sciences, completed an ABMGG Cytogenetics Laboratory Fellowship and ABMGG Molecular Genetics Laboratory Fellowship at the University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
×Eryn Mares, MS
Laboratory Genetic Counselor
Eryn Mares, MS, joined the PreventionGenetics team as a Laboratory Genetic Counselor in June 2022. Originally from Wisconsin, she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. After completing her undergraduate degree, she joined the PreventionGenetics team as a Genetic Counseling Assistant and was part of this team for three years. Eryn received her Master of Science degree from the Augustana-Sanford Genetic Counseling Graduate Program in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her clinical rotations took place in both Sioux Falls, SD, and Fargo, ND, and provided experience in the prenatal, pediatric, laboratory, adult, and cancer settings. Her special interests include metabolics, newborn screening, and primary care.
×Natalie Jacob, MS, LCGC
Laboratory Genetic Counselor
Natalie Jacob, MS, LCGC joined the PreventionGenetics team as a Laboratory Genetic Counselor in June 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from Stetson University. After completing her undergraduate degree, she joined the PreventionGenetics team as a Genetic Counseling Assistant and was part of this team for three years. Natalie received her Master of Science degree from the Rutgers University Genetic Counseling Graduate Program in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Working with mentors from PreventionGenetics, Natalie's thesis work investigated how clinical information impacts whole exome sequencing results. Prior to starting her current role, she practiced as a prenatal genetic counselor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School supervising graduate students and educating medical students on nuances of reproductive genetics.
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