MMI’s Elizabeth Conover nets national recognition

Beth Conover, a nurse practitioner and certified genetic counselor at MMI, has received a recognition of exceptional service from the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists and Mother To Baby, the nation’s leading authority and most trusted source of evidence-based information on the benefit or risk of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Conover, who has been at MMI for nearly four decades and holds the Friedland Family Endowed Chair in Genetic Medicine, said: “I am passionate about providing accurate up-to-date information on the hazards of various exposures to pregnant and breastfeeding women and their health care providers. I’ve also been very interested in exploring ways to explain this complicated data in a way that they can understand and use to make a decision.

“I have been able to accomplish these things due to longtime financial support from the Nebraska Department of Health, MMI and the people I have worked with, and OTIS/Mother To Baby.”

In nominating Conover for the recognition, Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay, incoming OTIS president, cited her insight, expertise and enthusiasm as ways Conover has supported the organization’s mission.

“She is particularly supportive of newer specialists, providing encouragement along with nuggets of wisdom to guide their training and professional development,” Harris-Sagaribay said. “With her expertise in health literacy and risk communication, Beth provides practical feedback to help improve the effectiveness of educational resources and exposure risk assessments for those we serve.

“Beth’s enthusiasm, positive attitude and obvious love for the field of teratology are grounding for our organization. She is a joy to be around and can always be depended upon to offer a practical perspective.”

Conover stressed that one of the reasons she has become successful in her field is because of the support received from former MMI leaders such as Warren Sanger, PhD, Bruce Buehler, MD, current MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, MD, PhD, and her current director of genetic medicine, Craig Baker, MD, as well as funding from the state of Nebraska since beginning of her career.

She also credited the support of genetic counselor Jessie Poskochil and the rest of the department.

“I have been exceedingly lucky to work with all these great people,” she said. “They have supported me in developing a teratogen information system that UNMC and the state of Nebraska can be proud of.”