Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, and later completed her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems from Grand Canyon University.

She has served in the addiction treatment field as Clinical Director for an ASAM Level 4.0 inpatient addiction treatment unit, overseeing clinical operations and patient safety, and as Director of Nursing for Level 3.7/3.5 programs. She also led a hospital-based intake team responsible for crisis assessments, evaluations, triage, and placement into the appropriate level of behavioral health care.

Kristen is deeply committed to enhancing the patient experience, supporting provider teams, and advancing process improvement and efficiency to create safer, more effective systems of care. In addition to her professional roles, she serves on the Board of Directors for HIPS in Washington, DC, advancing harm reduction and advocacy efforts for vulnerable communities.