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Brooks R. Keeshin

Brooks R. Keeshin, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Children's Hospital

Safe and Healthy Families
801-662-3600
  • Brooks Keeshin, M.D., is a clinician researcher in the Division of Child Protection and Family Health at the University of Utah and Safe and Healthy Families at Primary Children’s Hospital. Dr. Keeshin is a child abuse pediatrician and child psychiatrist. Dr. Keeshin completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati, residency in pediatrics, general and child psychiatry at the University of Utah and fellowship training in child abuse pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Dr. Keeshin is certified in Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics, and certified in General as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

    Dr. Keeshin provides inpatient and outpatient child abuse pediatrics consultation at Primary Children’s Hospital as well as outpatient psychiatric services for children and families with a history of abuse or trauma.

    Dr. Keeshin’s research interests include (1) acute and long term neurobiological changes associated with exposure to child maltreatment and (2) early clinical interventions to decrease the risk of PTSD and other psychological distress among children exposed to maltreatment and violence. Dr. Keeshin has received research support from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and was a Doris Duke Fellow for the Promotion of Child Well-Being.

    He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Academy on Violence and Abuse and is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Committee on Child Maltreatment and Violence.

    Board Certification

    American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)
    American Board of Pediatrics (Sub: Child Abuse Pediatrics)
    American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
    American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Psychiatry)
  • Brooks Keeshin, M.D., is a clinician researcher in the Division of Child Protection and Family Health at the University of Utah and Safe and Healthy Families at Primary Children’s Hospital. Dr. Keeshin is a child abuse pediatrician and child psychiatrist. Dr. Keeshin completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati, residency in pediatrics, general and child psychiatry at the University of Utah and fellowship training in child abuse pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Dr. Keeshin is certified in Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics, and certified in General as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

    Dr. Keeshin provides inpatient and outpatient child abuse pediatrics consultation at Primary Children’s Hospital as well as outpatient psychiatric services for children and families with a history of abuse or trauma.

    Dr. Keeshin’s research interests include (1) acute and long term neurobiological changes associated with exposure to child maltreatment and (2) early clinical interventions to decrease the risk of PTSD and other psychological distress among children exposed to maltreatment and violence. Dr. Keeshin has received research support from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and was a Doris Duke Fellow for the Promotion of Child Well-Being.

    He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Academy on Violence and Abuse and is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Committee on Child Maltreatment and Violence.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Pediatrics -Primary
    Psychiatry -Adjunct
    Board Certification
    American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)
    American Board of Pediatrics (Sub: Child Abuse Pediatrics)
    American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
    American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Psychiatry)

    Education history

    Fellowship Child Abuse Pediatrics - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Fellow
    Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - University of Utah Chief Resident
    Internship/Residency Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - University of Utah/Primary Children's Hospital Intern/Resident
    Medicine - University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate Major: Spanish; Minors: Montessori Education, Natural Sciences - Xavier University B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. McGuier EA, Campbell KA, Byrne KA, Shepard LD, Keeshin BR (2023). Traumatic stress symptoms and PTSD risk in children served by Children's Advocacy Centers. Front Psychiatry, 14, 1202085.
    2. Shepard LD, Campbell KA, Byrne KA, Thorn B, Keeshin BR (2023). Screening for & Responding to Suicidality Among Youth Presenting to a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC). Child Maltreat, 10775595231163592.
    3. Mirza S, Docherty AR, Monson ET, Coon H, Keeshin B, Fries GR (2023). Understanding heterogeneity in suicidal thoughts and behaviours and the implications for genetic studies - a commentary on Lannoy et al. (2022). J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 64(6), 968-971.
    4. Bakian AV, Chen D, Zhang C, Hanson HA, Docherty AR, Keeshin B, Gray D, Smith KR, VanDerslice JA, Yu DZ, Zhang Y, Coon H (2021). A population-wide analysis of the familial risk of suicide in Utah, USA. Psychol Med, 53(4), 1448-1457.
    5. McGuier EA, Aarons GA, Byrne KA, Campbell KA, Keeshin B, Rothenberger SD, Weingart LR, Salas E, Kolko DJ (2023). Associations between teamwork and implementation outcomes in multidisciplinary cross-sector teams implementing a mental health screening and referral protocol. Implement Sci Commun, 4(1), 13.
    6. Byrne KA, McGuier EA, Campbell KA, Shepard LD, Kolko DJ, Thorn B, Keeshin B (2022). Implementation of A Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress in Child Advocacy Centers: A Mixed Methods Study. J Child Sex Abus, 31(7), 1-21.
    7. Anderst J, Carpenter SL, Abshire TC, Killough E, AAP SECTION ON HEMATOLOGYONCOLOGY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGYONCOLOGY THE AAP COUNCIL ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, Consultants, Mendonca EA, Downs SM, Section on HematologyOncology executive committee 20202021, Wetmore C, Allen C, Dickens D, Harper J, Rogers ZR, Jain J, Warwick A, Yates A, past executive committee members, Hord J, Lipton J, Wilson H, staff, Kirkwood S, Council on Child Abuse and Neglect 20202021, Haney SB, Asnes AG, Gavril AR, Girardet RG, Heavilin N, Gilmartin ABH, Laskey A, Messner SA, Mohr BA, Nienow SM, Rosado N, cast Council on Child Abuse and Neglect executive committee members, Idzerda SM, Legano LA, Raj A, Sirotnak AP, Liaisons, Forkey HC, Council on Foster Care Adoption and Kinship Care, Keeshin B, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Matjasko J, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Edward H, Section on Pediatric Trainees, staff, Chavdar M, American Society of Pediatric HematologyOncology Board of Trustees 20202021, Di Paola J, Leavey P, Graham D, Hastings C, Hijiya N, Hord J, Matthews D, Pace B, Velez MC, Wechsler D, past board members, Billett A, Stork L, staff, Hooker R (2022). Evaluation for Bleeding Disorders in Suspected Child Abuse. Pediatrics, 150(4).
    8. McGuier EA, Rothenberger SD, Campbell KA, Keeshin B, Weingart LR, Kolko DJ (2022). Team Functioning and Performance in Child Advocacy Center Multidisciplinary Teams. Child Maltreat, 10775595221118933.
    9. Coon H, Shabalin A, Bakian AV, DiBlasi E, Monson ET, Kirby A, Chen D, Fraser A, Yu Z, Staley M, Callor WB, Christensen ED, Crowell SE, Gray D, Crockett DK, Li QS, Keeshin B, Docherty AR (2022). Extended familial risk of suicide death is associated with younger age at death and elevated polygenic risk of suicide. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 189(3-4), 60-73.
    10. Rondung E, Leiler A, Sarkadi A, Bjrt A, Lampa E, Lfving SG, Calam R, Oppedal B, Keeshin B, Warner G (2022). Feasibility of a randomised trial of Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) with refugee youth: results from a pilot of the Swedish UnaccomPanied yOuth Refugee Trial (SUPpORT). Pilot Feasibility Stud, 8(1), 40.
    11. Docherty AR, Bakian AV, DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Chen D, Keeshin B, Monson E, Christensen ED, Li Q, Gray D, Coon H (2021). Suicide and Psychosis: Results From a Population-Based Cohort of Suicide Death (N = 4380). Schizophr Bull, 48, 457-462.
    12. Docherty A, Kious B, Brown T, Francis L, Stark L, Keeshin B, Botkin J, DiBlasi E, Gray D, Coon H (2021). Ethical concerns relating to genetic risk scores for suicide. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 186(8), 433-444.
    13. Monson ET, Shabalin AA, Docherty AR, DiBlasi E, Bakian AV, Li QS, Gray D, Keeshin B, Crowell SE, Mullins N, Willour VL, Coon H (2021). Assessment of suicide attempt and death in bipolar affective disorder: a combined clinical and genetic approach. Transl Psychiatry, 11(1), 379.
    14. William N, Reissner C, Sargent R, Darlington TM, DiBlasi E, Li QS, Keeshin B, Callor WB, Ferris E, Jerominski L, Smith KR, Christensen ED, Gray DM, Camp NJ, Missler M, Williams ME, Coon H (2021). Neurexin 1 variants as risk factors for suicide death. Mol Psychiatry, 26, 7436-7445.
    15. DiBlasi E, Shabalin AA, Monson ET, Keeshin BR, Bakian AV, Kirby AV, Ferris E, Chen D, William N, Gaj E, Klein M, Jerominski L, Callor WB, Christensen E, Smith KR, Fraser A, Yu Z, Gray D, PsychChip Investigators of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Camp NJ, Stahl EA, Li QS, Docherty AR, Coon H (2021). Rare protein-coding variants implicate genes involved in risk of suicide death. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 186(8), 508-520.
    16. Guo JW, Keeshin BR, Conway M, Chapman WW, Sward KA (2021). A Scoping Review and Content Analysis of Common Depressive Symptoms of Young People. J Sch Nurs, 38, 10598405211012680.
    17. Keeshin BR, Bryant BJ, Gargaro ER (2021). Emotional Dysregulation: A Trauma-Informed Approach. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am, 30(2), 375-387.
    18. Kious BM, Docherty AR, Botkin JR, Brown TR, Francis LP, Gray DD, Keeshin BR, Stark LA, Witte B, Coon H (2020). Ethical and public health implications of genetic testing for suicide risk: family and survivor perspectives. Genet Med, 23(2), 289-297.
    19. DiBlasi E, Kirby AV, Gaj E, Docherty AR, Keeshin BR, Bakian AV, Coon H (2020). Brief Report: Genetic Links Between Autism and Suicidal Behavior-A Preliminary Investigation. J Autism Dev Disord, 50(10), 3525-3530.
    20. Docherty AR, Shabalin AA, DiBlasi E, Monson E, Mullins N, Adkins DE, Bacanu SA, Bakian AV, Crowell S, Chen D, Darlington TM, Callor WB, Christensen ED, Gray D, Keeshin B, Klein M, Anderson JS, Jerominski L, Hayward C, Porteous DJ, McIntosh A, Li Q, Coon H (2020). Genome-Wide Association Study of Suicide Death and Polygenic Prediction of Clinical Antecedents. Am J Psychiatry, 177(10), 917-927.
    21. Keeshin B, Byrne K, Thorn B, Shepard L (2020). Screening for Trauma in Pediatric Primary Care. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 22(11), 60.
    22. Warner G, Durbeej N, Salari R, Fngstrm K, Lampa E, Baghdasaryan Z, Osman F, Gupta Lfving S, Perez Aronsson A, Feldman I, Sampaio F, Ssegonja R, Bjrt A, Rondung E, Leiler A, Wasteson E, Calam R, Oppedal B, Keeshin B, Sarkadi A (2020). Evaluation of the teaching recovery techniques community-based intervention for accompanied refugee children experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms (Accompanied refugeeS In Sweden Trial; ASsIST): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 10(7), e035459.
    23. Ferrafiat V, Soleimani M, Chaumette B, Martinez A, Guil JM, Keeshin B, Gerardin P (2020). Use of Prazosin for Pediatric Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder With Nightmares and/or Sleep Disorder: Case Series of 18 Patients Prospectively Assessed. Front Psychiatry, 11, 724.
    24. Keeshin B, Forkey HC, Fouras G, MacMillan HL, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS COUNCIL ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT COUNCIL ON FOSTER CARE ADOPTION AND KINSHIP CARE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY COMMITTEE ON CHILD MALTREATMENT AND VIOLENCE COMMITTEE ON ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE (2020). Children Exposed to Maltreatment: Assessment and the Role of Psychotropic Medication. Pediatrics, 145(2).
    25. Sarkadi A, Warner G, Salari R, Fngstrm K, Durbeej N, Lampa E, Baghdasaryan Z, Osman F, Gupta Lfving S, Perez Aronsson A, Feldman I, Sampaio F, Ssegonja R, Calam R, Bjrt A, Leiler A, Rondung E, Wasteson E, Oppedal B, Keeshin B (2020). Evaluation of the Teaching Recovery Techniques community-based intervention for unaccompanied refugee youth experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms (Swedish UnaccomPanied yOuth Refugee Trial; SUPpORT): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 21(1), 63.
    26. Luft MJ, Aldrich SL, Poweleit E, Prows CA, Martin LJ, DelBello MP, Keeshin BR, Ramsey LB, Strawn JR (2019). Thyroid Function Screening in Children and Adolescents With Mood and Anxiety Disorders. J Clin Psychiatry, 80(5).
    27. Keeshin BR, Berkowitz SJ, Pynoos RS (2019). Pediatrician's Practical Approach to Sleep Disturbances in Children Who Have Experienced Trauma. Pediatr Ann, 48(7), e280-e285.

    Review

    1. Keeshin BR, Monson E (2022). Assessing and Responding to the Trauma of Child Maltreatment. [Review]. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ), 20(2), 176-183.
    2. Shenk CE, Keeshin B, Bensman HE, Olson AE, Allen B (2021). Behavioral and pharmacological interventions for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders with children exposed to maltreatment. [Review]. Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 211, 173298.

    Letter

    1. Warner G, Keeshin B, Sarkadi A (2020). Mapping trauma support onto the shifting landscape of seeking refuge in Sweden: insights from an ongoing programme of research on refugee minors' mental health. [Letter to the editor]. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 30, 1995-1996.
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