Kimberly J. Shapkin, PhD, RN, NP, GNC(c), MSPC
Advancing Brain Health, Resilience and Metabolic Wellness
Dr. Kimberly Shapkin is a PhD-prepared Nurse Practitioner, educator, and academic leader dedicated to innovation and optimizing mental fitness and metabolic wellness. Her work bridges clinical practice, research, and academia to advance brain health, resilience, and well-being.
About Me
I am a PhD-prepared Nurse Practitioner committed to advancing brain health and optimizing 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).
Clinical Practice
As a Nurse Practitioner, I focus on mental fitness and metabolic wellness, the foundation of long-term health and vitality. Drawing on extensive experience managing complex chronic conditions, I bring expertise in brain health, gerontology, and menopause care to help people achieve balance, energy, and resilience through midlife and beyond.
Grounded in evidence-based, person-centered care, my approach integrates lifestyle and metabolic health to enhance cognition, energy, and overall well-being. I emphasize self-awareness, positive mindset, stress management, and restorative sleep to build resilience and support healthy aging.
I practice at Evolvewell Integrative Medicine Center where I collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care.
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
- Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology
- Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurial practice
Teaching and Learning Innovation
- Integration of high-fidelity interprofessional simulation into NP Education
- Building resilience and fostering emotional regulation to support mental fitness
Educational Leadership:
- Team Lead Professional Practice Entrepreneur Graduate Nursing Certificate
- Past 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. 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
- Shapkin, K. J., Newton, L., MacKinnon, K., & Holroyd-Leduc, J. (2025). Nurse Practitioners’ Experiences Navigating Treatment Decision Making when Older People are Living with Neurocognitive Disorders and Cancer. Canadian Association of Oncology Nurses Annual Conference. Banff, AB (presentation)
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.
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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