Kirsten qualified from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in South Africa in 1997. She has had a varied clinical career working in obstetrics (in rural South Africa), anaesthetics, and postsurgical intensive care, general practice, and psychiatry. She has a diploma in anaesthetics from the South African College of Anaesthetists. In 2004 she decided to pursue an interest in perinatal psychiatry through a research opportunity at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. In 2006 she began a training editorial registrarship at the BMJ for a year. After working freelance for the BMJ as an associate editor for two years she became an assistant clinical editor on the BMJ editorial staff. She edits the clinical reviews section and appraises research submissions.

Competing Interests

Have you in the past five years accepted the following from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of papers in the BMJ?

Reimbursement for attending a symposium?
Yes, I have spoken at a conference - unrelated to BMJ work - and I have received an honorarium for doing so.

A fee for speaking?
No

A fee for organising education?
No

Funds for research?
Not personally

Funds for a member of staff?
No

Fees for consulting?
No

Have you in the past five years been employed by any organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of papers in the BMJ?

Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation?
None of my personal investments involves drug, medical device or health care companies.

Do you have any other competing financial interests?
No

I have no competing interests.