Shelby Smith King has distinguished herself as an orthopedic physician assistant while investing her expertise in the next generation of health care professionals. Now practicing at Rome Orthopedic Center, she cares for patients across Northwest Georgia and serves on the advisory committee for Berry's new PA program.
Before returning to Rome in 2024, Shelby practiced at Capital Ortho in Mississippi, where she assisted in surgeries, treated patients in the clinic, and provided hospital and emergency-room care. Her work also took her to a rural area, where some patients traveled two to three hours for specialty care. In 2024, Hometown Rankin magazine named her Best Physician Assistant in Rankin County.
Orthopedic surgeon Chris Kneip, who worked alongside Shelby at Capital Ortho, praised her approach to patient care: "Her demeanor with the patients is kind and compassionate, and many of my patients specifically ask to see her." He added that other medical professionals, including some with considerably more experience, regularly sought her advice.
Shelby's interest in health care took root at Berry, where she majored in biology and worked with Berry College Sports Medicine, eventually serving as program director. She also excelled on the softball field, earning Southern Athletic Association Player of the Year honors in 2014 as well as all-region and academic honors. After Berry, she worked in clinical research at Emory University School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute before earning her master's in physician assistant studies from Mississippi College. While doing clinical research at Emory, she co-authored two papers that were published in medical journals and wrote an abstract that was presented at an international conference in Poland.
Shelby has maintained close ties with Berry, providing sideline orthopedic coverage for football games, working with the medical staff to treat Berry athletes in clinic, guest lecturing, and mentoring athletes through the Viking Sports Alliance as well as students interested in becoming PAs. She serves as a clinical preceptor for the college's new PA program, working with individuals interested in orthopedics and helping welcome the program's first class at its white coat ceremony. As a clinical preceptor, she also provides PA students interested in orthopedics with the kind of hands-on professional experience that helped shape her own career.
