Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellow

The Child Advocacy and Protection Services team would like to introduce our first year Child Abuse Pediatrics fellow, Kristin Belsaas, MD. Dr. Belsaas grew up in Rapid City, SD, and intends on returning there after fellowship to practice.

Kristin attended college in Mankato, MN and worked there in the education field for approximately eight years before deciding to pursue medicine. She returned to South Dakota for pre-medical coursework and medical school. When Dr. Belsaas shadowed a child abuse pediatrician in her first year of medical school, she immediately fell in love with the subspecialty.

Kristin met her husband, Skye, in medical school and they couple-matched (Peds and ENT) at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Skye is finishing his training in Rochester while living with their two cats, Stig and Lando.

Dr. Belsaas has many interests in and out of medicine. Within the field of child abuse, she is interested in imaging/radiology, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse material, internet crimes against children, and child trafficking. Kristin loves educating about child abuse, and she’s always happy to be an educational resource.

Outside of medicine, Kristin loves trying new restaurants with her friends, riding roller coasters, and singing in choirs or karaoke. She loves traveling with her husband. Their favorite place is Costa Rica. Kristin is a huge Formula 1 fan (McLaren), and she loves horror novels and thrift shopping. She tries her hand at a variety of arts and crafts and is always looking for a new way to flex her creativity.

The Medical College of Wisconsin and Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH) sponsors a three-year fellowship in Child Abuse Pediatrics (CAP), which is accredited by the ACGME. Fellows are an integral part of the Child Advocacy and Protection Services program, which provides hospital-based and outpatient services for suspected victims of child abuse and neglect. Fellows will develop skills and expertise in evaluating all types of child maltreatment, providing legal testimony, and advocating for children through their work as members of the multidisciplinary team, didactics, rotations with other specialties, attendance at conferences, and experiences with community agencies.