Dr. Kristin Schafgans
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Dr. Kristin Schafgans is a board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist. Based on the Vancouver side of the river, Dr. Schafgans serves the greater Portland-Vancouver metro area. Her services include IM consultations, abdominal and thoracic ultrasound, and a variety of endoscopic procedures.
Biography
Dr. Kristin Schafgans is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and she received her undergraduate education at the University of California, San Diego. She attended veterinary school at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. Following veterinary school, she completed a one year rotating internship in medicine and surgery at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. She then returned to the University of Minnesota and completed a three year residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine. She achieved board certification in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2012. She then worked at specialty practices in both Spokane, WA and Vancouver, WA for several years before joining the MOVES team in 2022.
While she enjoys all aspects of internal medicine, she particularly enjoys endoscopy and ultrasound. She is very passionate about working towards a low stress environment for her patients, so her care approach is based on quality of life for both the patient and the pet’s family. Outside of work, Dr. Schafgans enjoys the outdoor paradise that the Pacific Northwest has to offer, reading, and spending time with her husband, two children, and her cat and dog.
CV
- 2022
Joined MOVES - 2012
Achieved board certification through ACVIM - 2012
Completed residency at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine - 2009
Completed internship at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital - 2008
Earned DVM degree from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine - 2003
Graduated from University of California, San Diego with a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Economoics
Schafgans KE, Armstrong PJ, Kramek B, Ober CP. Case Report: Bilateral Choanal Atresia in a Cat. J Feline Med Surg 2012 Oct; 14(10):759-63.
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What is a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist?
A veterinary internal medicine specialist is a veterinarian who has completed advanced training in internal medicine (including a one-year internship and three-year residency) following graduation from their veterinary college. The residency training culminates with a comprehensive examination covering all aspects of veterinary small animal internal medicine. Once these requirements have been fulfilled, the veterinarian is considered to be a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).
The umbrella of small animal internal medicine includes many sub-disciplines including gastroenterology (esophageal, stomach and intestinal disease), hepatology (liver and pancreatic disease), endocrinology (hormonal disease), infectious diseases, urology (urinary tract disease), nephrology (kidney disease), respiratory medicine (nose, airway and lung disease), and hematology & immunology (blood cell and immune-disease). In many cases, the signs of a patient may include many of these organ systems. Due to their holistic approach, internal medicine specialists may also manage cases of patients with neurologic, cardiovascular or cancerous diseases, especially when these patients also share diseases within the scope of internal medicine.
Adapted from “What is a Board-Certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist?” on vetspecialists.com.