Vice President Medical Excellence and Education
Thrive Pet Healthcare
Naperville, Illinois, United States
Dr. Kelly Cairns is a board-certified small animal internist focused on strengthening the connection between veterinary education and clinical practice. She earned her DVM from Colorado State University and completed postgraduate training at Cornell University and The Ohio State University, obtaining Diplomate status in 2008. Her career spans diverse practice settings and academia, providing perspective grounded in both educational design and clinical realities. She has led large-scale initiatives developing integrated education models, clinical reasoning frameworks and leadership pathways that support practice-ready, confident veterinarians. Dr. Cairns is an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, President of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association and collaborates with academic and practice leaders on workforce solutions.
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose