Fragile X Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado

The Fragile X Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver is

The Fragile X Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver is a member of the National Fragile X Foundation’s Fragile X Clinical & Research Consortium (FXCRC)

The Fragile X Clinic at the Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver is the state’s premier medical facility providing comprehensive care and treatment to children, adolescents, and adults affected by Fragile X syndrome and their families.

The clinic team offers:

• Evaluations and treatment across multiple disciplines, including:
  • developmental pediatrics
  • psychology
  • occupational therapy
  • speech therapy
• Genetic counseling
• Medication management
• Social work services
• Child Life services during appointments
• Referrals for families to local and community programs
• Research study opportunities

And of course, compassionate support.

The Denver Fragile X Clinic collaborates closely with the University of Colorado Hospital Adult Neurogenetics Team for neurology care related to FXTAS and other adult neurologic concerns, the esteemed Developmental FX community-based therapeutic center, and expert psychologist, Marcia Braden, PhD, in private practice.

Meet The Team

Nicole Tartaglia, MD, MS
Director of the Denver Fragile X Clinic

Dr. Nicole Tartaglia is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine, and a developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she has served as the director of the Denver Fragile X Clinic since 2007. Dr. Tartaglia earned her medical degree at the University of Colorado (2000). She did her residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (2004) and a fellowship in developmental-behavioral pediatrics at the University of California-Davis, M.I.N.D. Institute (2007) under Dr. Randi Hagerman. She also has a graduate degree in clinical investigation from the University of Colorado (2016).

Throughout her career, Dr. Tartaglia has contributed to a multitude of scientific and research endeavors, including serving as a co-investigator for more than twenty research initiatives and clinical trials in Fragile X syndrome, many of which are targeted treatments designed through advancements in the understanding of the biochemical pathways involving the Fragile X protein. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Tartaglia has provided numerous presentations at medical and professional conferences, authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications, and participated in various advocacy initiatives locally and nationally to improve research funding and the care of patients and families affected by Fragile X.

Dr. Tartaglia lives in Denver, Colorado, and says she finds happiness not only through her professional career but also as a wife and mother of two children and living close to her extended family. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast enjoying hiking, snowboarding, gardening, and cooking.

Susan Howell, MS, CGC, MBA
Genetic Counselor

The clinic’s multidisciplinary team is coordinated by the dedicated genetic counselor, Susan Howell, who brings more than 15 years of dedicated Fragile X experience to her work. Susan serves as an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a board-certified genetic counselor at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where her roles include genetic counseling on several multidisciplinary teams, including the Fragile X Clinic since 2008.

Susan also serves as a volunteer member of the board of directors for the national support groups AXYS and the National Fragile X Foundation. Through collaboration and dedication, Susan provides the Fragile X team with diverse expertise and comprehensive care for patients and their families. Throughout the years, the clinic has grown to provide a community among professionals who strive together to meet the needs of patients and their families.

Dr. Tartaglia shares, “Leading the Denver Fragile X Clinic team in caring for Fragile X patients and families over the past 16 years has been an honor, and our team’s collaborations with each other, families, and the Fragile X professionals throughout Colorado have been rewarded with so many special relationships, heartwarming stories, and clear examples of how specialized Fragile X clinical care can improve lives of patients and families. As one of the original clinics in the FXCRC and through active participation in Fragile X CDC-funded research (FORWARD) and clinical trials, we are all able to learn from research results, from families, and from each other to provide best-practice care for Fragile X and related disorders.”