Liesl Broadbridge is a Ph.D. candidate (Health Communication) and a Rutgers Presidential Fellow whose research focuses on improving communication between patients and healthcare providers. As a board-certified genetic counselor, her interest in health communication began in the clinic and this real-world experience continues to drive her research questions.

Liesl completed her Sc.M. in genetic counseling at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health (2021) and her B.S. in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (2016). During undergrad, Liesl worked as a research assistant in Dr. Anna Huttenlocher’s lab studying the molecular mechanisms behind tissue regeneration post-injury. After graduation, she completed a post-baccalaureate research fellowship with the National Human Genome Research Institute at the NIH. Here, Liesl worked in Dr. Paul Liu's lab studying Familial Platelet Disorder and other genetic predispositions to blood disorders (e.g., Acute Myeloid Leukemia). She is currently advised by Dr. Kathryn Greene in the School of Communication and Information where she also works closely with Dr. Maria Venetis and MD/Ph.D. researchers at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Outside of her research interests, Liesl is also active in rare disease patient advocacy. She works closely with the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, using her research training to help gather critical data needed to advocate for state and federal legislative and regulatory reforms aimed at improving the health care experience for rare disease patients.