Marla Shapiro received her medical degree from McGill University in Montreal.
She was recognized by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for her outstanding contributions to the field with an honorary Fellowship in Family Medicine. She has also received certification from NAMS, the North American Menopause Society, recognizing her as a menopause expert. She is a Certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and a Specialist in Community Medicine as recognized by her Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.

In 2000, she became the Health and Medical Contributor for CTV's Canada AM. In addition to her weekly appearances on Canada AM, she is seen every weekend on Newsnet and as the medical consultant on CTV's National News with Lloyd Robertson. In 2003 Dr. Shapiro started hosting Balance television for living well, a 30 minute health and lifestyle shown seen daily on CTV in Canada as well as internationally.

Dr. Shapiro is also the nationally syndicated health columnist for the Globe and Mail Newspaper.

Doctor Shapiro is in private practice in Toronto. She sits on several organizations, is a member of many boards including the Regional Osteoporosis Board, consults for the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in the area of osteoporosis, lectures regularly and has broad experience in Women's Health Care.