Sheldon Clark Reed

Sheldon Clark Reed (November 7, 1910 – February 1, 2003) was an American biologist and geneticist who coined the term genetic counseling and advocated for the wider use of genetic counseling as a means to educate the public.

Education Reed was born in Barre, Vermont on November 7, 1910. He graduated from Montpelier High School in 1928. In 1932, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Dartmouth College. While at Dartmouth, he work with George Davis Snell of Brown University to research harelip in mice; their work was published in 1932. He attended Harvard University for graduate school where he performed research under William E. Castle, studying mammal mutations including harelip. In 1942 Reed participated in WWII by using his background to assist in statistical research as well as interrogation of German scientists.

In 1947, Reed began working at the University of Minnesota as the director of the Dight Institute for Human Genetics. That same year, he would release Counseling in Modern Genetics, a book designed to present the concept of genetics and advice related to genetics in a manner that the typical family could comprehend.

In 1956, Reed attended the first International Congress of Human Genetics, where he introduced and promoted the idea of genetic counseling.

Though Reed never acquired a formal medical degree, he personally participated in over 4000 cases of genetic counseling. Reed retired from academic studies in 1978 and died on February 1, 2003, at the age of 93. although he acknowledged her partnership in their work. While he was the director of the Dight Institute, she was provided a desk to work, but not listed as staff of the institute, where she worked for over fifteen years. Reed enjoyed breeding violets and orchids during his retirement and also helped Hmong immigrants learn English and other skills necessary to succeed in America.