[2] Shaw passed his Doctor of Medicine (MD) with Gold Medal in 1906,[2] with a thesis created from research into chronic metritis.

[2] Shaw started his career in a time when medicine and technology were undergoing rapid advancement as evidenced by the unique travelling experience he underwent at the end of his exams.

[4] In 1912, Shaw was elected to the honorary staff of Saint Mary's Hospital for Women and Children.

[2] On 25 October 1924 Shaw, while out rough shooting in the North Lancashire fells with Sir William Blair-Bell also a physician and gynaecologist.

At a later meeting between, in a casual conversation, Shaw put the idea of founding a new college with a sub-speciality to Blair-Bell.

In 1948 Shaw was awarded an honorary degree of Legum Doctor Queen's University Belfast.