Dr. Kirkham grew up in Seattle, WA. He earned his undergraduate degree in Bioengineering from the University of Washington and obtained a Health/Fitness instructor certification through the American College of Sports Medicine. He then worked as a personal trainer for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary weight loss program at the PRO Sports Club in Bellevue, WA.

After his time as a personal trainer, Dr. Kirkham earned his MD from the University of Washington. He completed his internship in medicine and surgery at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA, and his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Utah. Dr. Kirkham has conducted research on the use of new imaging studies to detect arthritis of the spine, and has lectured on a variety of topics including the use of Synvisc for knee arthritis, and the use of platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) for chronic tendinitis.