She received her BS degree from Stanford University in 1978 and her MD from Rush Medical College in 1982. Dr. Pletcher completed three years of residency training in Pediatrics at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles in 1985, followed by fellowship training in Human Genetics and Pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine in 1987. She served on the Board of Directors of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and as Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Pediatric Workforce (COPW). Dr. Pletcher also serves on the University Hospital Bioethics Committee. She is the Co-Director of The Neurofibromatosis Center of New Jersey and past Medical Director of The Autism Center, both in Newark. She is board certified in both medical genetics and pediatrics and has been a member of the faculty at New Jersey Medical School since 1993.