Dr. Kathleen Kivi was born in San Diego, California and spent most of her youth in the Southern United States. in 1994, she graduated from Belmont University in Nashville with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Chemistry. After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 2001, Dr. Kivi practiced equine and small animal medicine in the greater Toronto area for 12 years before starting her own practice in 2009.  She served as Head Ontario Commission Veterinarian at Ajax Downs and assisted periodically at Woodbine Racetrack and Fort Erie Racetrack, while also serving as a veterinary judge, educator, and treatment veterinarian for Provincial, American Endurance Ride Conference and Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) events. In 2021, Dr. Kivi became a full-time regulatory veterinarian at Finger Lakes Racetrack, where she continues to serve in her primary role. In 2023, she joined the NYRA regulatory veterinarian team and also acts as supervisory veterinarian at Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway. She currently resides in Buffalo, New York.