Dr. Kirsten Thornton completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Guelph, Ontario, in 2003. She subsequently pursued her veterinary degree in Perth, Australia, graduating with honours from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery (BVMS) in 2007. Upon returning to Ontario, Dr. Thornton completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital & Referral Centre (MOVEH-RC). After completing the internship, Dr. Thornton worked in Mississauga in both general and emergency practice.

Dr. Thornton returned to the MOVEH-RC in June 2011 to commence an ACVIM approved three-year clinical Internal Medicine Residency. As part of her residency program, Dr. Thornton researched the benefits of routine blood and urine testing in healthy cats and dogs with the goal of making recommendations on the best timing to perform testing based on a pet’s age and breed.

Dr. Thornton obtained board certification with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2014 and remains in clinical practice at MOVEH-RC where her area of interest including gastroenterology, endocrinology, and immunology. Dr. Thornton also enjoys teaching and is active within the hospital's internship and residency programs.