Dr. Karen Gellman

Dr. Karen Gellman was raised in Long Island, New York. She had a love of horses from an early age.

She also had a strong interest in the arts, so she earned an arts degree from Cornell University in 1979. Afterwards, she worked in theatre and fashion before deciding to make veterinary medicine her next career. She earned her DVM from Cornell in 1995. During her veterinary education, she became interested in locomotion biomechanics, which led to her earning a PhD from Cornell in 2001. Her dissertation examined the role of the head and neck in equine locomotion.

As part of her interest in movement, she took chiropractic training at Options for Animals and acupuncture training at Colorado State University.

After finishing her graduate program, she worked in private practice doing performance medicine in horses and dogs as well as teaching at a number of universities.

She has partnered with Dr. Judith Shoemaker in developing in person and online continuing education courses in the areas of biomechanics, postural control, and neuromuscular anatomy and physiology. Dr. Gellman has published extensively in these areas as well.

Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Karen Gellman as we discuss her education, clinical work, and teaching and research experience.