Dr. Stirling earned her DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, her MD (Medical Doctor) from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and completed her General Surgery internship and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. In addition, she completed a General Practice residency in Dentistry at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she developed her interest in the associations between oral and systemic health, and had the opportunity to collaborate on a series of systematic reviews to further the understanding of oral complications in cancer patients. In her final year of residency in Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Stirling served as chief resident for the department and was recognized with awards for her academic achievement as well as her service to the community.