Dr. Kristin Kirkby Shaw is a board-certified small animal surgeon and rehabilitation specialist with a clinical and research focus on orthopedic surgery and osteoarthritis management. She earned her DVM, MS, and PhD from the University of Florida, where she also completed a residency in small animal surgery. Following her training, she served as a clinical instructor at the University of Florida for two years, then spent nine years in specialty referral practice in Seattle.
Dr. Kirkby Shaw is currently an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She is a past president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians and currently serves as President of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society (2025–2026). She is also the founder of Canine Arthritis Resources and Education (CARE), an educational platform that provides practical, evidence-based resources and tools for pet caregivers and veterinary professionals managing canine osteoarthritis.
Dr. Kirkby Shaw has been an invited speaker at veterinary conferences across the U.S. and internationally. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and is the co-editor of the textbook Canine Osteoarthritis and Pain Management: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management (Wiley, 2026).
