Karen B. Shackelford, MD, pursued an extensive education prior to embarking on a successful career as an emergency room physician. Karen B. Shackelford, MD, attended The International School of Brussels a.s.b.l., a preparatory institution in Belgium that accommodates students from more than 60 countries, subsequently earning admission to Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Shortly after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Karen B. Shackelford, MD, sought to further her education. Earning the second-highest statewide score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Karen B. Shackelford, MD, received a four-year scholarship to The University of Mississippi Medical Center. Karen B. Shackelford, MD, graduated from the university with a medical degree, as well as the Fourth Year Emergency Medical Student Award.

Possessing more than a decade of experience in the medical field, Karen B. Shackelford, MD, formerly served as an Emergency Room Physician at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, an institution renowned for innovation in the field of emergency care, as well as cancer treatment, obstetrics, and cardiology. Karen B. Shackelford, MD, later held the same position at nearby River Oaks Hospital, which was established in 1978. Outside of her professional roles, Karen B. Shackelford, MD, maintains involvement in the medical community as a member of a number of organizations, including the Mississippi State Medical Association, American Medical Association, Central Mississippi Medical Society, and the American College of Emergency Physicians. In addition, Karen B. Shackelford, MD, also supports a broad array of nonprofit organizations, including the St. Richard Catholic Group, The Smile Train, Little Sisters of the Poor, and the Mississippi Museum of Art.