Veterinarian Overview
Dr. Shelley Renee-Taylor Thilenius, an Atlanta native, obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Biology at Georgia State University. Her affinity for veterinary medicine started long before the college years, and she has been working in the veterinary field since the age of 16. In addition to working as a veterinary assistant in small animal practice, Dr. Thilenius completed several internships at zoological facilities, such as Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Veterinary Hospital. It was while working with a silverback Gorilla undergoing a root canal therapy, that Dr. Thilenius' affinity for dentistry was discovered. After receiving her M.S. from GSU, Dr. Thilenius moved across country to southern California, where she graduated from Western University of Health Sciences' College of Veterinary Medicine. After being awarded her D.V.M., she relocated to Chicago, IL to work in private practice before pursuing her interest in dentistry. During this time, Dr. Thilenius further advanced her skills not only in dentistry, but also in medicine and surgery. Prior to joining the team at Veterinary Dental Specialties, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital. Dr. Thilenius has a special interest in oral and maxillofacial surgery and periodontology.
