Karin M. Dent
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Karin M. Dent, MS, CGC

Languages spoken: English

  • Karin Dent, Director of the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling, is a certified and licensed genetic counselor at the University of Utah and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. She received a Master’s of Science degree in Genetic Counseling and Human Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. She provides genetic counseling in the Medical Genetics, Neurofibromatosis, and Genetic Counseling Clinics at Primary Children’s Hospital. In these settings, she also provides clinical supervision to genetic counseling students and other healthcare trainees. Her research interests include the etiology of congenital hearing loss, the delivery of difficult news by healthcare providers, and the ethical challenges surrounding informed consent and return of results in exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing research. She has published in each of these areas. She co-chairs the UUGPGC Curriculum, Clinical Supervision, and Admission Committees; chairs the Executive and Advisory Committees; and has been a member or chair of several student research committees.

    Professor Dent is a past president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), was a member of several additional NSGC committees, the American Board of Genetic Counseling Credentialing Examination Committee, and chair of the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors mentorship program. In the Utah community, she is a member of the State of Utah Medical Education Council on the Genetic Counselor Workforce, past member of the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Genetic Counselors Licensing Board, and contributes to the clinical and didactic genetics education of University medical and graduate students.

    Specialties

  • Karin Dent, Director of the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling, is a certified and licensed genetic counselor at the University of Utah and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. She received a Master’s of Science degree in Genetic Counseling and Human Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. She provides genetic counseling in the Medical Genetics, Neurofibromatosis, and Genetic Counseling Clinics at Primary Children’s Hospital. In these settings, she also provides clinical supervision to genetic counseling students and other healthcare trainees. Her research interests include the etiology of congenital hearing loss, the delivery of difficult news by healthcare providers, and the ethical challenges surrounding informed consent and return of results in exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing research. She has published in each of these areas. She co-chairs the UUGPGC Curriculum, Clinical Supervision, and Admission Committees; chairs the Executive and Advisory Committees; and has been a member or chair of several student research committees.

    Professor Dent is a past president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), was a member of several additional NSGC committees, the American Board of Genetic Counseling Credentialing Examination Committee, and chair of the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors mentorship program. In the Utah community, she is a member of the State of Utah Medical Education Council on the Genetic Counselor Workforce, past member of the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Genetic Counselors Licensing Board, and contributes to the clinical and didactic genetics education of University medical and graduate students.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Pediatrics -Professor (Clinical)
    Academic Divisions Medical Genetics

    Education history

    Undergraduate Biology - University of Texas at Austin B.A.
    Graduate Training Human Genetics/Genetic Counseling - University of Pittsburgh Master's

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Marvin ML, Allain DC, Carmany EP, Davis C, Dent KM, Flodman P, MacFarlane IM, Scott J, Walton C (2025). Genetic counseling program director competencies as proposed by the program leadership development subcommittee of the Genetic Counselor Educators Association. Journal of genetic counseling, 34(3), e70044. (Read full publication)
    2. Finley AK, Andoni L, May CA, Stark LA, Dent K (2023). Exploring the impact of virtual SPIKES training on genetic counselors' confidence to deliver difficult news. Journal of genetic counseling, 32(6), 1266-1275. (Read full publication)
    3. Cook KE, Baty BJ, Dent KM, Kaphingst KA, Erby L (2023). Defining orienting language in the genetic counseling process. Journal of genetic counseling, 32(3), 685-697. (Read full publication)
    4. Isaacs AE, Mladucky JK, Dent KM, Wallace L (2022). Factors associated with US and Canadian genetic counselors' testing decisions during pregnancy. Journal of genetic counseling, 31(6), 1317-1329. (Read full publication)
    5. Rost C, Dent KM, Botkin J, Rothwell (2020). Experiences and lessons learned by genetic counselors in returning secondary genetic findings to patients. Journal of genetic counseling, 29(6), 1234-1244. (Read full publication)
    6. Rutz A, Dent KM, Botto LD, Young PC, Carbone P (2019). Brief Report: Pediatrician Perspectives Regarding Genetic Evaluations of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 49(2), 794-808. (Read full publication)
    7. Andoni L, Hobson WL, Carey JC, Dent K (2018). Training Methods for Delivering Difficult News in Genetic Counseling and Genetics Residency Training Programs. Journal of genetic counseling, 27(6), 1497-1505. (Read full publication)
    8. Shen W, Heeley JM, Carlston CM, Acuna-Hidalgo R, Nillesen WM, Dent KM, Douglas GV, Levine KL, Bayrak-Toydemir P, Marcelis CL, Shinawi M, Carey J (2017). The spectrum of DNMT3A variants in Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome overlaps with that in hematologic malignancies. American journal of medical genetics. Part A, 173(11), 3022-3028. (Read full publication)
    9. Tabor HK, Jamal SM, Yu JH, Crouch JM, Shankar AG, Dent KM, Anderson N, Miller DA, Futral BT, Bamshad M (2017). My46: a Web-based tool for self-guided management of genomic test results in research and clinical settings. Genetics in medicine, 19(4), 467-475. (Read full publication)
    10. Tvrdik T, Mason D, Dent KM, Thornton L, Hornton SN, Viskochil DH, Stevenson D (2015). Stress and coping in parents of children with Prader-Willi syndrome: Assessment of the impact of a structured plan of care. American journal of medical genetics. Part A, 167A(5), 974-82. (Read full publication)
    11. Jamal SM, Yu JH, Chong JX, Dent KM, Conta JH, Tabor HK, Bamshad M (2013). Practices and policies of clinical exome sequencing providers: analysis and implications. American journal of medical genetics. Part A, 161A(5), 935-50. (Read full publication)
    12. Mathiesen AM, Frost CJ, Dent KM, Feldkamp M (2012). Parental needs among children with birth defects: defining a parent-to-parent support network. Journal of genetic counseling, 21(6), 862-72. (Read full publication)
    13. Tabor HK, Stock J, Brazg T, McMillin MJ, Dent KM, Yu JH, Shendure J, Bamshad M (2012). Informed consent for whole genome sequencing: a qualitative analysis of participant expectations and perceptions of risks, benefits, and harms. American journal of medical genetics. Part A, 158A(6), 1310-9. (Read full publication)
    14. Ng SB, Buckingham KJ, Lee C, Bigham AW, Tabor HK, Dent KM, Huff CD, Shannon PT, Jabs EW, Nickerson DA, Shendure J, Bamshad M (2010). Exome sequencing identifies the cause of a mendelian disorder. Nature genetics, 42(1), 30-5. (Read full publication)

    Review

    1. Assoum M, Bruel AL, Crenshaw ML, Delanne J, Wentzensen IM, McWalter K, Dent KM, Vitobello A, Kuentz P, Thevenon J, Duffourd Y, Thauvin-Robinet C, Faivre (2020). Novel KIAA1033/WASHC4 mutations in three patients with syndromic intellectual disability and a review of the literature. American journal of medical genetics. Part A, 182(4), 792-797. (Read full publication)

    Letter

    1. Dent KM, Harper C, Kearney L, Lieber C, Finucane (2011). Embracing the unique role of genetic counselors: response to the commentary by Madeo et al. American journal of medical genetics. Part A, 155A(8), 1791-3. (Read full publication)

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