B.S., M.S., University of New Mexico
Kirsten obtained her BS and MS in nutrition and dietetics from the University of New Mexico. She also studied breast cancer and soy isoflavones at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, before completing her dietetic internship at the University of New Mexico. She has been a practicing dietitian/nutritionist since October of 2008 working in a variety of clinical settings in New Mexico and Northern California. She has done both inpatient and outpatient medical nutrition therapy for patients aged birth thru end-of-life in the hospital setting, including critical care. Her most recent appointment was as a pediatric nephrology dietitian doing outpatient and inpatient care for children with renal diseases, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease and renal transplant. She has served as the National Kidney Foundation’s state chair of the professional practice group Council on Renal Nutrition since 2012. In 2021 she was inducted in the Pi Alpha national honor society for PAs. And in 2022 gained board certification in lifestyle medicine and now holds an additional title, DipACLM-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional.
Her love of learning introduced her to teaching first as an adjunct instructor with USF in 2015 and moving into a full-time core faculty position in 2016 where she has taught ever since. She lives in Albuquerque NM with her wonderful son and three fur children. Her favorite hobbies and activities include reading and learning, cooking and baking, hiking, and visiting gardens and parks whenever possible.
