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Kirsten Bechtel, MD

Professor of Pediatrics (Emergency Medicine) and of Emergency Medicine
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Contact Info

Pediatric Emergency Medicine

100 York Street Suite 1F

New Haven, CT 06511

United States

About

Titles

Professor of Pediatrics (Emergency Medicine) and of Emergency Medicine

Biography

Medical Director, Pediatric Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Program

Chairperson, Yale Traffic Safety Subcommittee

Co-Chairperson, State of Connecticut Child Fatality Review Panel

Principal Investigator, Injury Free Coalition for Kids at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellow
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (1996)
Resident
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (1994)
MD
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (1991)

Research

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Kirsten Bechtel's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

2022

2021

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Child Death Review and Prevention

  • activity

    American Academy of Pediatrics Grand Rounds

  • honor

    David Leffell Prize for Clinical Excellence

  • honor

    Ather Ali Award for Humanism in Medicine

  • honor

    Eton Ivy Award

Clinical Care

Overview

Even in the hectic atmosphere of the Pediatric Emergency Department, Kirsten A. Bechtel, MD, who specializes in forensic medicine and child abuse, strives to never interrupt her patients or their caregivers.

ā€œI like to ask open-ended questions and just let people talk. As health care providers, we can be so task-oriented and have to check off all of our boxes, it ends up being more of a transaction with a patient rather than a relationship,ā€ she says. ā€œSo, I say, ā€˜Tell me everything that is going on.ā€™ By not saying anything until they finish talking, you get an idea of what the real issues are.ā€

The Pediatric Emergency Department at Yale New Haven Childrenā€™s Hospital (YNHCH) is a Level 1 trauma center and has exceptional subspecialty care for vulnerable children, such as those who have experienced abuse and neglect, sexual assault, domestic minor sex trafficking, and behavioral health emergencies, Dr. Bechtel says. ā€œWe know that the fewer adverse childhood experiences kids have, the more likely they will grow up to be productive, positive adults, which makes trying to recognize abuse, report it, and protect the child vital,ā€ she adds.

The ED can be a difficult place for families, too, and Dr. Bechtel tries to reassure parents, telling them, ā€œYou are doing a beautiful job with this child. You just need a little help right now, and I am going to provide that.ā€

Dr. Bechtel ensures families are comfortable during ED visits, offering warm blankets and pillows, hot beverages, popsicles for the patients and their siblings, and activities such as coloring or blowing bubbles.

She is the co-medical director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids at YNHCH. ā€œThis includes trying to prevent child abuse, medical injuries, or behavioral health injuries,ā€ she explains. ā€œPost-traumatic stress symptoms can be disabling to kids after theyā€™ve gone through a traumatic event. We also look into trends in pedestrian and bicycle safety.ā€

Dr. Bechtel is an associate professor of pediatrics and of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine.

Clinical Specialties

Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Child Abuse Pediatrics

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Contacts

Appointment Number
Clinic Fax Number
Mailing Address

Pediatric Emergency Medicine

100 York Street Suite 1F

New Haven, CT 06511

United States

Locations

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