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Kirsten is Associate Director for the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA) at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Thurston Arthritis Research Center. She has a Masters of Science in Exercise Science and more than 20 years of experience managing multidisciplinary teams toward successful research conduct in chronic pain-related disorders, as well as public health action for osteoarthritis awareness and education in several notable academic centers.

Her experience includes delivery of physical activity education and programming to individuals with various chronic pain conditions and disabilities.

She is a regular presenter for the OAAA at local and national professional meetings, and she has published numerous peer-reviewed papers, patient-advocacy articles, and book chapters on arthritis and chronic pain.

From October 2012 through November 2019, Kirsten served as the Director of GI Services for UNC Health Care, which included clinical operations for adult GI Medicine clinics, procedure units and motility units.