Paula R. Delk, MS

Bio

Paula Delk is an ABGC-certified genetic counselor whose career has focused on pediatric genetics and genetic counseling education.  Following completion of the University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Program in 1994, Paula worked at the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois until 1998 as a pediatric genetic counselor in general genetics, bone dysplasia, neurofibromatosis, cystic fibrosis, myelomeningocele and craniofacial clinics.  From 1998 to 2002, Paula practiced pediatric and prenatal genetic counseling at the University of Louisville’s Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center.  

Since 2002, Paula has worked at the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics.  She began in the Department as a pediatric genetic counselor in the Medical Genetics, Bone Dysplasia, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Clinics, as a clinical supervisor of genetic counseling graduate students, and as Director of the Indiana Teratogen Information Service.  Paula served as acting director of the Indiana University Genetic Counseling Graduate Program in 2004, and in 2005, she became the Program Director.  She joined the Department faculty in 2016 as an Assistant Professor of Clinical and Molecular Genetics.  

In addition to program administration and student mentoring, Paula teaches courses in Foundations in Genetic Counseling (MMGE Q606), Communication Techniques in Genetic Counseling (MMGE Q604), and Psychological Aspects of Genetic Counseling (Q614), and she continues to contribute to patient care in the Department’s Genetic Counseling Clinic.  She is active on professional committees through the National Society of Genetic Counselors, the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors, and the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.

Key Publications

Cochrane C†, Wetherill L, Delk P*, Neidlinger T. 2024. The majority of parents of children undergoing genetic testing report preference for earlier genetic counseling appointments. J Genet Couns, 00, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1880  

Hackl M†, Cook L, Wetherill L, Walsh LE, Delk P*, De León R, Carbonell J, Vicioso RC, Hodges PD. 2023. Readiness for Parkinson's disease genetic testing and counseling in patients and their relatives in urban settings in the Dominican Republic. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 29;9(1):126. doi: 10.1038/s41531-023-00569-y. 

Scouten RW†, Wesson M, Wetherill L, Vance GH, Delk, PR*. 2023. Genetic counseling program remediation practices for students underperforming in clinical skills: An exploratory study. J Genet Couns, 00, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1710

Delk P*, Bowling I†, Schroeder C, Wilson TE, Wesson M, Wetherill L. 2022. An investigation of preceptors’ perceptions of behavioral elements of “professionalism” among genetic counseling students. J Genet Couns October 2 doi:10.1002/jgc4.1640. 

Sikkink K†, Delk P*, Wetherill L, Bremen A & Wesson M. 2022. Factors that influence genetic counselors’ participation in research. J Genet Couns October 10 doi:10.1002/jgc4.1642.