The Michigan Medical Fragile X Clinic

The Michigan Medical Fragile X Clinic is a member of the National Fragile X Foundation’s Fragile X Clinical & Research Consortium (FXCRC).

The Michigan Medicine Fragile X clinic serves children and adults with Fragile X syndrome. The multidisciplinary clinic houses providers from Genetics and Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics. Our goal is to provide families with Fragile X syndrome with comprehensive medical care for Fragile X syndrome as well as discussion of options for clinical trials and community resources.

Meet The Team

Lauren O’Connell

Lauren O’Connell is Assistant Professor of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at University of Michigan (UM) and engages in developmental- behavioral clinical care at Ypsilanti Health Center (YHC), in Ypsilanti Michigan, and Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Dr. O’Connell completed a fellowship in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and has particular clinical expertise in the evaluation of the motor, cognitive, language, and social-emotional domains of development in children from infancy through adolescence, as well as the assessment and treatment of child behavioral problems such as autism and ADHD.

Dr. O’Connell has enjoyed working with patients with Fragile X and their families since medical school, when she was able to meet patients with Fragile X. She loves helping these children thrive.

Dr. O’Connell lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and 2-3 kids (depending on whether college is in session). She loves to read, create semi functional pottery, explore Ann Arbor’s parks and ponds, and take naps.

Jessica O’Shea

Jessica O’Shea is a Pediatric Genetic Counselor at the University of Michigan and is the clinic coordinator for the Michigan Medicine Fragile X clinic.

Jessica is passionate about providing care for patients and their family members to help them adjust to new diagnoses and allow them to integrate a child’s medical needs into their daily lives. She believes that patients and providers can learn from each other to identify how to best integrate complex care needs into the lives of patients with Fragile X syndrome.

Outside of work enjoys exploring local restaurants and parks, reading, and playing outside with her energetic son and dog.

Christina Sloan-Heggen

Christina Sloan-Heggen is Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric and Biochemical Genetics at University of Michigan, providing outpatient and inpatient care at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Fragile X first became an interest for Dr. Sloan-Heggen during medical school when observing the impact of having targeted and informed care on boys and their families. She feels passionate about providing families with a second medical home that can ensure they are getting all of the comprehensive care they need. Her other professional interests include novel therapeutics for rare genetic diseases, hereditary deafness, and metabolic disorders.

When not working, Dr. Sloan-Heggen can usually be found with her husband and daughter, visiting the farmer’s market, getting a good cup of coffee, playing pretend, reading endless stacks of picture books, or taking part in just about any crafting you can think up.

Dr. Peter Todd

Peter is the Chester and Anne Alecks Sackett Endowed Professor of Neurology. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, San Diego and then entered the Medical Science Training Program at the University of Wisconsin, where he completed his doctorate and medical degree. His Ph.D research focused on synaptic defects in Fragile X Syndrome and this served as his initial entrez into the field. However, he chose to pursue a career as an adult neurologist and completed his neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He came to Michigan in 2008 and joined the Michigan faculty in 2010.

Dr Todd’s lab studies repeat expansion diseases with a focus on Fragile X premutation disorders. When he is not in the lab, he serves as co-director of the Michigan Fragile X Center, where he sees adult patients with Fragile X-associated disorders (Fragile X Syndrome, FXTAS, FXPOI) at the University of Michigan. Peter spends his free time with his wife and daughters. He is an avid bicyclist and indie pop music enthusiast and loves to make craft cocktails for friends.