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Dr. Angie Beltsos, Chief Executive Physician at Kindbody and founder of reproductive health conference MRSi, has an all-inclusive philosophy.
This article was originally published on 9/12/24.? To read Inside Reproductive Health news as its released, you must be subscribed. Subscribe for free here.
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By Tara Bellucci
“Are you ready to make music together?” Dr. Angie Beltsos asked a room full of fertility professionals at the 2024 Midwest Reproductive Symposium international (MRSi) in June. She then had them all sing.
Adding music to learning situations like conferences helps with information retention, she says. It’s also good to stand up and stretch—not only your body, but your comfort zone. “I like to tell people on my team, always put yourself in a place where you're a little uncomfortable…So when you stretch and you do it, it's an icebreaker for your brain and your confidence.”
“Every person’s journey to parenthood is unique, and it’s our job to support them every step of the way.”
Beltsos’ journey, marked by a commitment to patient-centered care and a pioneering spirit, has seen her ascend to founder of MRSi and physician then practice founder, then Chief Executive Physician at Kindbody. Through these roles, she brings her “whole purpose,” leading in a way that is “low silos, high teamwork. Check your egos at the door.”
Dr. Beltsos’ early career, which began in obstetrics and gynecology, laid the foundation for her deep understanding of women’s health. However, it was her encounter with the struggles of patients trying to conceive that ignited her passion for reproductive medicine. “It was the stories of the women, the couples, who were desperately seeking to build their families that drew me into this field,” she reflects.
She recalls having one of those rare moments of clarity of purpose: "I walked by a door that said IVF lab and I was like, are you kidding me right now? Are they helping people have babies by creating embryos in that room? That is so cool. That's what I'm going to do." She herself is a mother of four: three by C-section and one by surrogacy, and a compassion-driven approach would become a hallmark of her leadership style.
Beltsos also loves teaching, and considered staying solely in academia and focusing on research. But she realized that if she made more in private practice, she could take part of her income to fund her own studies. “I am going to be an anomaly where I am a private practice doctor who's very into academics,” she says.
Fostering global collaboration
One of Dr. Beltsos’ most significant contributions to the field is the founding of the Midwest Reproductive Symposium international (MRSi). What began as a regional gathering of fertility specialists has grown into one of the most influential conferences in reproductive medicine. Dr. Beltsos envisioned MRSi as a platform for global collaboration, where professionals from around the world could share research, discuss challenges, and explore new frontiers in fertility treatment.
“MRSi was born out of a need to connect with others in the field, to learn from one another, and to push the boundaries of what we can achieve in reproductive medicine,” Dr. Beltsos explains. Her vision for MRSi was not just about scientific advancement, but also about building a community of like-minded professionals committed to improving patient outcomes.
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Under her leadership, MRSi has become a beacon for innovation, attracting thought leaders and fostering partnerships that have led to groundbreaking advancements in the field; North American Proceedings in Gynecology and Obstetrics (NAPGO) notes 30 abstracts from the 2023 conference alone. The symposium’s impact is a testament to Dr. Beltsos’ ability to inspire and unite others around a common goal in her inclusive way.
There was a party planned at this year’s MRSi, and Beltsos went around handing out invitations to the VIP event. Of course, everyone got one.
The same is true in her operating room. “Everyone in the room is respected, empowered, important. I want them to own their position, not look for me to direct them,” she says. Everyone sets up, everyone cleans after—no one, even her, is above sweeping the floor or taking out the trash. “It's a deliberate expression that I'm here with you.That idea that we're all doing this together starts to instill a culture.”
That culture is crucial to uniting everyone as a team. When you work with highly skilled and educated people, how do you get them to work synergistically? “Not by bossing them around, but by making them feel important.” The magic of teamwork, Beltsos says, is additive. One plus one equals three.
“She invests in people at every level of the team and the community around her,” says Dr. Amber Cooper, Chief Medical Officer, Genomics and Laboratory Sciences at Kindbody, who has been a colleague, mentee, and friend of Dr. Beltsos for 20 years. “She listens and strives for success in places others often don’t look. She is creative and compassionate as well as strong and determined and those around her find energy through her leadership.”
“When she asked me to join her in starting what would ultimately be Vios Fertility in 2015, and we put the first steps on the back of a napkin in 2012, it was a conversation I always came back to,” Cooper adds. “Watching her leadership style and ability to grow teams and inspire those around her showed me that it was a risk worth taking. What I have learned over those years and watching her continued leadership through the growth of Kindbody and the challenging path of trying to improve access to care and change the narrative is truly priceless.”
A new era of care
In 2022, Dr. Beltsos took on a new challenge, merging with Kindbody, a startup that is approaching fertility care with a tech-forward, patient-centric lens. Kindbody’s mission is to make fertility services more accessible, affordable, and inclusive—a vision that aligns perfectly with her values.
“We’re rethinking how fertility care is delivered. It’s not just about the treatment itself, but about the entire experience—from the moment a patient walks through our doors,” Beltsos notes. “Every person’s journey to parenthood is unique, and it’s our job to support them every step of the way.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Beltsos is optimistic about the future of fertility care. She sees a world where advancements in technology and medicine will continue to improve success rates, reduce costs, and make treatment more accessible to people everywhere. However, she also recognizes the need for continued advocacy and education to ensure that these advancements benefit everyone.
“Fertility care is evolving rapidly, but we must ensure that no one is left behind. That’s why it’s so important to continue the conversation about access, affordability, and equity,” Beltsos says.
As she continues to lead Kindbody and MRSi, Dr. Beltsos remains focused on her ultimate goal: to help as many people as possible achieve their dreams of parenthood. Her journey from a compassionate OBGYN to a leader in reproductive medicine is a testament to what can be achieved when passion meets purpose.
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