Donald Basel

Dr. Donald Basel serves as Associate Professor and Section Chief in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is a board-certified clinical geneticist with over 15 years of academic experience, currently directing the Medical Genetics Residency Program and co-directing the Neurofibromatosis & RASopathy Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. His leadership extends to the Human and Molecular Genetics Center as Associate Director of the Rare and Undiagnosed Disease Program and Medical Director of the Genetics Center.

Dr. Basel's research interests span medical genetics, rare diseases, skeletal dysplasias, and connective tissue disorders. His work focuses on improving diagnostic approaches for rare genetic conditions through genomic sequencing, understanding genotype-phenotype correlations, and developing sustainable models for genetics clinical services. He has published extensively on neurofibromatosis, RASopathies, and various skeletal malformation syndromes.

With 90 publications to his name, Dr. Basel's recent research demonstrates significant contributions to the understanding of rare genetic disorders through large-scale genomic studies and clinical trials. His work shows a strong emphasis on translational research that bridges diagnostic genomics with clinical applications for patients with undiagnosed conditions.

• Teaching Award: High 5 Winner, Medical College of Wisconsin (2014-2015)
• Expert Teacher, Medical College of Wisconsin (2016-2017, 2019)
• Expert Clinician, Medical College of Wisconsin (2016-2019)
• Best Doctors in America (2017, 2019)
• BEST Teacher: Pediatrics Residency, Medical College of Wisconsin (2018)

As an educator, Dr. Basel has mentored numerous medical students, residents, and fellows in clinical genetics. His research program includes multiple active grants focusing on phenylketonuria, achondroplasia, and molybdenum cofactor deficiency. He maintains active collaborations with international research consortia studying rare genetic disorders and serves on editorial boards for several genetics journals.

Dr. Basel leads the Neurofibromatosis & RASopathy Center, which provides comprehensive care for patients with these complex conditions, and oversees the Skeletal Dysplasia Database that supports research into bone and connective tissue disorders.