Meet Our Team!

Dr. Rhonda Ellison

Owner

Dr. Rhonda Ellison was born and raised on a small farm in Balltown, Iowa. From a very young age, her love for animals was apparent. She grew up on a farm with cows, horses, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, and cats. Today she still loves ALL animals and enjoys especially working with feline/cats. She is the current owner of Calera Animal Hospital and graduated from Tuskegee Veterinary School in 1998. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1994. Her passions are riding horses, roping, and traveling. She competes in professional rodeos in the events of Team Roping and Breakaway. She continues her application for being on Survivor. Finally, when she is not at Calera Animal Hospital or Rodeoing she is working with the Air National Guard as a Public Health Officer. She has one son, J.T. who just graduated college at University of West Alabama with a Bachelor’s in Biology. He too loves the rodeo sport and competes with his mom and dad.

Dr. Kalen Morgan

Owner

Meet Dr. Kalen Morgan. She is from Marbury, Alabama. She attended her undergraduate years at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama where she majored in Biology. After graduation, she attended Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. During her summer breaks throughout her college years, Dr. Kalen worked here at Calera Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant. She trained closely under Dr. Ellison and learned many aspects of the field of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating in 2021, she returned as an Associate Veterinarian.

Here at Calera Animal Hospital, Dr. Kalen can be found in surgery or seeing patients, but on Wednesdays, you can find her out in the field on large animal calls. She is our primary large animal veterinarian who sees everything from horses and cows to chickens and llamas. One of her favorite animals to work with is cattle. She even plans to have her own herd soon.

During her spare time, Dr. Kalen enjoys being outdoors hunting and fishing or hanging out at the lake. She has 4 dogs (Jake, Stanky, Harley, and Henry) and 2 cats (Piper and Dutton). You can often find Jake and Stanky at the lake with her during the summer.

Dr. Richard Kappan

DVM

Dr. Richard Kappen has been dedicated to veterinary medicine for 22 years, providing compassionate and thorough care to pets and their families. A proud graduate of Auburn University, he completed both his undergraduate studies and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002.

Dr. Kappen prides himself on spending quality time with each client and patient, ensuring they receive his full attention. His ability to clearly communicate diagnoses, treatment options, and care plans helps pet owners feel informed and confident in their decisions.

When he’s not caring for animals, Dr. Kappen enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter every chance he gets.