After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Biology at Bernard Baruch College, Dr. Rita Shats earned her Doctor of Medicine degree at Ross University School of Medicine in 2003. She then completed her three-year residency at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Center of New York at the Staten Island Division in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department (Ob/Gyn). During her residency training, Dr. Shats was the Chief Resident, Research Coordinator, and Educational Activities Coordinator in the Ob/Gyn department.

She worked with Dr. Richard Grazi in Genesis Infertility Reproductive Endocrinology and completed Family Planning and Galloway Fellowship rotations at Metropolitan Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her time at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center included research involvement in multiple areas on topics such as maternal factors and effects on birth weight and gestational age as well as maternal obesity, weight gain, pregnancy, and ultrasound features of placental pathology.

Dr. Shats is a founding physician of Pavlides, Benson & Shats Ob/Gyn Associates, P.C. in Staten Island, and serves at Richmond University Medical Center as an Attending Physician, Associate Director of Gynecology, and Director of Family Planning Clinic. She is also the Director of Medical Education at the American University of Antigua & St. George School of Medicine.