About Me
Kirstianna is the Clinical Research Coordinator overseeing Dr. Mahan’s human subject research in the Division of Peripheral Nerve and Pain Surgery. She manages clinical research operations for a diverse portfolio of studies funded by both industry and federal sources. Additionally, Kirstianna assists Dr. Mahan in collecting data for projects internal to the Department of Neurosurgery in order to improve the quality of care provided to his patients.
Before joining the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Utah in 2021, Kirstianna worked as a clinical research coordinator at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. There, she conducted vital research examining the impacts of repetitive low-level blast exposure on active duty service members, particularly in relation to mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI).
In 2020, Kirstianna earned her master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in psychological science at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. She is passionate about leveraging her background in psychology to contribute meaningfully to neurosurgical research, with a focus on improving the lives of individuals grappling with painful and debilitating conditions.