Kirsten grew up in Allendale, New Jersey and attended Boston College for her undergraduate nursing program. She was trained for five years as a registered nurse directly by Dr. Joseph Lane, Chief of the Metabolic Bone Disease Service at HSS and Professor of Orthopedics at Weill Cornell. During this time she obtained her Masters in Science from New York University in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care. She enjoys playing golf around New York City.