She serves as Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and as a member of the Senate Health and Human Services, Insurance and Labor, and Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committees.

Senator Kirkpatrick has been an orthopaedic hand surgeon in Atlanta for over 30 years and was previously the president of Resurgens Orthopaedics. Senator Kirkpatrick is a district coordinator for the Medical Association of Georgia's Medical Reserve Corps. and is determined to contribute to Georgia's ability to respond to disaster and emergency situations. Dr. Kirkpatrick is a consultant and lecturer on patient safety in surgery. She is also a member of the East Cobb Rotary and she serves as a team leader at the Ronald McDonald House where she participates in pet therapy through the Happy Tails Pet Therapy Program.

Senator Kirkpatrick graduated from the University of Kentucky and earned her medical degree from the University of Louisville. Her husband Tom is an emergency physician.

She and Tom have two young adult children. Kay and Tom are active members of East Cobb United Methodist Church.