Kirsten grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she rowed in bow seat for the UW Crew. She went on earn her master's degree at the School of Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University. After graduation, she moved to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, practicing medical and surgical dermatology as a certified PA. During the summer of 2022, she split her time between working as a research assistant at Princeton and serving as a public health intern for the Garfield County Public Health Department in Colorado. She is active in several medical societies and is interested in health policy and reform, healthcare equity, and improving access to affordable care in the United States. In her free time, Kirsten loves reading, writing, exploring mountains, and spending time with her family.