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. Rachel Hathorn

DVM

Dr. Rachel Hathorn grew up in Tennessee surrounded by a wide variety of pets—dogs, cats, guinea pigs, snakes, and fish—fostering a deep love for animals from an early age. At just 11 years old, she began volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation center, caring for orphaned birds and mammals, and cementing her passion for animal care.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and her interest in veterinary medicine was solidified after witnessing a veterinarian skillfully treat her sick horses during a farm visit. This inspiring experience led her to pursue her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University, where she graduated in 2002.

Married to her college sweetheart since 1999, Dr. Hathorn balanced family life and her veterinary career while supporting her husband’s active-duty Army service. Practicing small animal medicine in five different states, she gained a wealth of experience before settling in Calera, Alabama in 2014. The couple raised three sons, all proud graduates of Calera High School.

In addition to her civilian veterinary work, Dr. Hathorn served in the U.S. Army Reserves, including two overseas deployments. Her commitment to both animals and country reflects her deep sense of service and compassion.

When she’s not at the clinic, Dr. Hathorn enjoys spending time with her family, working in her garden, and expressing her creativity through painting and drawing. Her home is always lively thanks to her three Australian Shepherds and four cats—ensuring she’s never truly alone.