Kirstin LeSage, MD

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A Palliative Care Specialist

Dr. Kirstin LeSage specializes in palliative care. She offers specialized health care for people living with serious illnesses.

These illnesses often affect a patient’s quality of life. In palliative medicine, Dr. LeSage and her team work together with the patient’s other doctors to help address the symptoms and stress associated with a serious illness diagnosis. Palliative care is based on need, not prognosis.

Dr. LeSage offers symptom management for:

  • Anxiety
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Physical, psychosocial and spiritual causes of pain
  • Shortness of breath

She helps patients with a variety of conditions, including:

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Cancer
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Dementia
  • Disorders of the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic systems
  • Kidney disease
  • Parkinson’s disease

Speaks: English

Specialties

(218) 333-5522

Background Information

Education & Training History

Fellowship:
Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage, AK
Residency:
Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI
Medical School:
University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN

Board Certifications:
American Board of Internal Medicine: Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine: Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Idea of Care

I believe that communication, listening and respect of personal choices are vital to developing a successful plan of care, especially when someone is facing a serious illness.

This can be a very scary, vulnerable and confusing time for some. That is why palliative care is centered on understanding what is important to each patient and their family by recognizing their values, beliefs, hopes and goals and then creating a medical care plan based on those wishes.

Serious illnesses often cause a lot of stress for individuals and their support system. Through expert symptom management, my goal is to relieve the physical, psychosocial and spiritual stress many people experience during a serious illness, regardless of their prognosis. I am passionate about educating the community, my colleagues, patients and their families about this often-misunderstood specialty.

Personal Interests

Dr. LeSage enjoys kayaking, canoeing, fishing, camping and hiking.

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