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Honoring Our Founder
Dr. Jim Shields, VMD
Owner, Veterinarian
Dr. Jim Shields grew up on a dairy farm in western Pennsylvania, only five miles from where Brookville Veterinary Hospital currently stands. From the age of 12 until graduating college, he was a member of the 4-H organization, which only deepened his appreciation for animals and their care. Dr. Shields knew that he wanted to help other people by helping their animal companions—that’s why he decided to enter the world of veterinary medicine!
Dr. Shields attended Pennsylvania State University to study dairy management, then continued on to the University of Pennsylvania for veterinary school. He graduated in 1968 and launched his career in private practice. Brookville Veterinary Hospital moved from its initial location (an upstairs sunporch!) to a renovated former restaurant in 1973, and the current facility was built in 2006. Dr. Shields and his team have been serving the area’s pets and animal parents ever since. Medically, he’s fond of surgery work and he loves to pass on his knowledge to his staff and clients; Dr. Shields finds that the mentoring aspect of his job is one of his favorite parts of what he does.
Most of Dr. Shields’ free time away from work is spent with his family. He and his wife have four grown children, 13 wonderful grandchildren, and a great-grandchild! They share their home with one pet, a finicky cat named Gracie.
Today, the team at Brookville Veterinary Hospital is proud to continue the tradition of compassionate care that Dr. Shields established, honoring the values and commitment to community that defined his life’s work.
Dr. Kelen Fierst
Veterinarian
Dr. Kelen’s journey into veterinary medicine began in her childhood on a small hobby farm in Shannondale, PA. Surrounded by rabbits, poultry, and other animals, she quickly learned both the joys and responsibilities of animal care. As someone who raised and showed rabbits from a young age, she also noticed the lack of veterinary resources available for exotic pets in her community. That realization sparked her long-term goal: to provide specialized care for exotics and to ensure that these beloved animals receive the same level of attention and medical support as cats and dogs.
She pursued her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Science at Penn State before earning her veterinary degree at the University of Melbourne in Australia, graduating in 2021. Dr. Kelen then spent four years abroad working in small animal practice as well as at a feline-only shelter and clinic. Those experiences broadened her skills and deepened her compassion for both pets and the families who love them.
Today, Dr. Kelen Fierst is a trusted veterinarian at Brookville Veterinary Hospital, where she draws on her skills and years of experience caring for animals in diverse environments to benefit pets and families in the Brookville community.
In practice, Dr. Kelen especially enjoys surgery, finding it deeply rewarding to improve a pet’s health and quality of life through procedures ranging from dental care to life-saving emergency operations. She also values the diversity of her caseload and strives to make each visit as positive and stress-free as possible. Treating every pet with dignity and respect is at the heart of her approach.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Kelen enjoys a full and lively home life with her husband, Kevin. Their household includes two cats—Tilly, a devoted lap companion, and Nukka, the curious explorer—as well as Cassie, their gentle and affectionate collie. Their small farm is also home to rabbits and poultry, a reflection of Dr. Kelen’s lifelong love of animals both great and small.
Dr. Kelen’s personal passions are just as vibrant as her professional life. She raises and shows rabbits on a national level, enjoys handcrafts such as cross-stitch, crochet, and beadwork, and has fostered more than 300 cats and kittens through rescue organizations. She is also an avid traveler, with recent adventures taking her to China, New Zealand, and Vietnam—on top of visiting all 48 continental U.S. states.
For Dr. Kelen, veterinary medicine is more than a career—it’s a calling shaped by curiosity, compassion, and community. She is excited to bring her skills and heart for animals back to her hometown and to continue building lasting connections with Brookville’s clients and their pets.
23,458
Sloppy Kisses
19,389
Bellies Rubbed
27,193
Treats Given