Dr. Karen Ellen Aarestad, MD

Dr. Karen Aarestad is a board-certified internal medicine physician who earned her medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. She completed her residency training at the same institution, building a strong foundation in comprehensive adult care. With four decades of medical practice, Dr. Aarestad brings extensive experience to patient care. She speaks Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic, and Korean, enabling her to connect with diverse patient populations.

Dr. Aarestad practices at Saint Cloud VA Health Care System in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and Essentia Health Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, Minnesota. She is affiliated with Riverside Community Hospital. Her expertise includes managing heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus, two common conditions that require ongoing monitoring and specialized care. Dr. Aarestad also provides care for pregnancy-related concerns such as back pain during pregnancy. She incorporates various …treatment approaches including physical therapy and strength training into patient care plans, and utilizes diagnostic imaging like CT scans when needed. Patients have given her an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.