Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, MS, PhD, CCRT Diplomate ACVS & ACVSMR

Dr. Kristin Kirkby Shaw is a Board-certified small animal surgeon and rehabilitation specialist. Her career has focused on bridging the gap between these two disciplines, with specific emphasis on the management of osteoarthritis and chronic pain.

Kristin received her DVM, MS, and Ph.D. and completed her small animal surgical residency at the University of Florida. In 2009 she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and in 2013 she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Following her surgical residency, Kristin remained at UF as faculty in surgery and founded the University of Florida Small Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness Center (now part of the UF Small Animal Integrative Medicine Service). In 2010 Kristin moved to Seattle, where she worked as a surgeon and rehabilitation specialist in a referral practice for nine years. 

Kristin is Past-President of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians and has been an instructor for the Canine Rehabilitation Institute since 2011. In 2010 she was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award by the University of Florida, and in 2018 she was the recipient of the John J. Sherman Award for Excellence in Veterinary Rehabilitation.

She is a frequently invited speaker at national and international veterinary conferences and has authored numerous journal articles and textbook chapters. In 2019 Kristin founded CARE (www.caninearthritis.org), a website dedicated to providing practical, evidence-based resources and tools for her clients and veterinary colleagues caring for dogs with osteoarthritis. In 2021 she joined Zoetis as the company’s pain/ OA/ surgery/ rehabilitation specialist.

Kristin currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with her husband (an occupational therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist) and their black Labrador, Arrow. In her rare spare time, she enjoys international travel, running, hiking, weight lifting, and yoga.