Leslie Ordal joined Boise State University in 2019 and is currently a clinical assistant professor with the School of Allied Health Sciences. She received a M.Sc. in Genetic Counseling from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Wellesley College. She started her career working for the research ethics board (IRB) at the Hospital Sick Children in Toronto, then moved to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital to take a position as the manager of a pediatric neuroscience lab, where she worked with scientists investigating communication disorders and novel treatments to promote neuroplasticity. As a research manager, Ms. Ordal recruited, trained, and mentored staff, and multiple undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Prior to becoming a genetic counselor, she worked as a medical writer and editor, with two years spent developing continuing medical education for paramedics in the province of Ontario. Ms. Ordal continued to write and edit throughout her career as a genetic counselor, with her work encompassing clinical research, patient education, and laboratory genetics, as well as knowledge translation activities. She recently became involved in the new field of narrative medicine, completing a year-long course in the subject at Massey College at the University of Toronto and regularly contributing to CLOSLER, a Johns Hopkins Medicine project to promote clinical excellence via reflective essays about clinical practice. Ms. Ordal is active in clinical research, collaborating in studies to assess patient preferences in receiving whole genome sequencing results, evaluate methods for delivering clinical interventions to children with severe and complex disabilities, and improve primary care for intersex individuals.