Dr. Kimberly Shapkin, PhD, NP, GNC(c), MSCP
Transforming Nursing Education Through Innovation, Leadership, and Clinical Excellence.
Dr. Kimberly Shapkin is a PhD-prepared Nurse Practitioner, Associate Professor Teaching, and academic leader whose work spans nursing education, clinical practice, and scholarly innovation. Recognized for her transformative contributions to graduate nursing education and nurse practitioner leadership, her work bridges academia and clinical practice to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders and innovators.
About Me
I am a PhD-prepared Nurse Practitioner, Associate Professor Teaching, and academic leader committed to transforming nursing education and advancing health across the lifespan. My work spans graduate and undergraduate nursing education, nurse practitioner clinical practice, and scholarly innovation, with a focused clinical interest in women's brain health, mental fitness, and metabolic wellness.
I hold a PhD in Nursing from the University of Victoria, where my research examined healthcare professionals’ decision-making experiences affecting older people with neurocognitive disorders and comorbid conditions. I completed a Post-Master Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Alberta, an MSN at the University of British Columbia, and a BSN at the University of Victoria. I am certified in Gerontology (GNC[c]) by the Canadian Nurses Association and I am a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP).
Academic Educator
As an academic educator, I have the privilege of teaching nursing students across undergraduate and graduate programs through seminars, lectures, simulations, and clinical practice. Grounded in clinical expertise and scholarly teaching, my teaching style is pragmatic, inclusive, and student-centered. I strive to create an environment that fosters confidence, curiosity, and professional growth in psychologically safe learning environments.
Teaching Experience
- Graduate: Leadership, Innovation, and Entrepreneurial Practice
- Graduate: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology
- Undergraduate: Women's Health, Pharmacology, and Clinical Reasoning
Teaching and Learning Innovation
- Development and implementation of the Professional Practice Entrepreneurship Nursing Graduate Certificate
- Integration of high-fidelity interprofessional simulation into Nurse Practitioner education
- Building resilience and fostering emotional regulation to support student mental fitness
Educational Leadership:
- Team Lead Professional Practice Entrepreneur Graduate Nursing Certificate
- Acting Director of the NP-Led Mental Health and Wellness Clinic
- Past Team-Lead Contemporary Topics in Aging Graduate Nursing Certificate
I continue to reflect on my own learning and privileges as a third-generation white settler, and I am committed to decolonization, health equity, and community partnerships. These commitments guide my work as a relational, reflective nursing academic and nurse practitioner.
Research and Scholarship
My research explores the intersection of brain health, decision-making, and thriving through life transitions. During my doctoral studies, I researched health professionals' and nurse practitioners' treatment decision-making experiences affecting people and families living with memory loss, cognitive changes, and other comorbid conditions. My studies demonstrated the tension between analytic reasoning and relational care, underscoring the importance of empathy, time, and trust in clinical practice.
- Shapkin, K., Newton, L., MacKinnon, K., & Holroyd-Leduc, J. (2026). Nurse Practitioner’s experiences making treatment decisions for older adults with cancer and dementia. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/08445621251412229
- Shapkin, K. J., MacKinnon, K., Sangster-Gormley, E., Zakher, B., Newton, L., & Holroyd-Leduc, J. (2025). A qualitative systematic review: Experiences and perceptions of health care professionals making treatment decisions for older adults with memory loss: JBI Evidence Synthesis. https.//doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-23-00486
Additional scholarly contributions include the integration of a Nursing Student Peer Wellness Mentorship program and innovations in supporting Alberta’s Family Caregivers.
Looking ahead, my research focuses on women’s brain health, exploring how midlife experiences of anxiety, cognitive change, and hormonal transition affect mental fitness, metabolic wellness, and vitality. This work reflects my belief that health is not merely the absence of illness, but the ongoing practice of living well with clarity, curiosity, and purpose.
Clinical Practice
As a Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of clinical experience, I bring deep expertise in managing complex chronic conditions across the lifespan. My current clinical focus is women's brain health, mental fitness, and metabolic wellness, the foundation of long-term health and vitality through midlife and beyond.
Grounded in evidence-based, person-centered care, my approach integrates hormonal health, lifestyle medicine, and metabolic optimization to enhance cognition, energy, and overall well-being. I work alongside my patients to build self-awareness, strengthen stress resilience, prioritize restorative sleep, and cultivate the mindset shifts that sustain lasting health
I practice at Evolvewell Integrative Medicine Center where I collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care.
Events
Dr. Kimberly Shapkin, PhD, NP, is a dynamic and sought-after speaker who brings science, story, and soul to every stage. She speaks with clarity and heart about women’s brain health, mental fitness, and thriving through life transitions, translating complex evidence into ideas that spark curiosity and action.
Known for her engaging, down-to-earth style, Kimberly invites audiences to think differently about how we approach cognitive health, anxiety, and midlife change and how Nurse Practitioners and other healthcare professionals can lead with relational insight and purpose.
Her talks bridge science and storytelling, translating research on cognitive change, mental fitness and resilience, into powerful, practical strategies for healthcare professionals and the public.
Invite Kimberly to speak at your conference, retreat or professional event and engage your audience in meaningful dialogue about how to cultivate brain health, balance, and thriving at every stage of life.
Contact Kimberly Shapkin
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