James Asa Shield Jr.

1938 - 2021

SHIELD, James Asa, Jr., M.D., was born in Richmond, Va., June 23, 1938 and died October 24, 2021. He practiced medicine as a psychiatrist from July 1970 until May 2011 at Tucker Hospital in Richmond and after 1976 Tucker Pavilion and the Tucker Psychiatric Clinic. He was predeceased by his wife, Sandra Churchill Shield; and is survived by his two children, Sandra Shield Tkacz (Michael Joseph Tkacz) and James Asa Shield III (Ann Shield); and his granddaughter, Elizabeth Custis Shield, all of whom he was enormously proud.

Dr. Shield was a graduate of St. Christopher's School, Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

During his years at St. Christopher's, he was an active fox hunter and spent a number of summers at Camp Pasquaney in New Hampshire.

While at Princeton, he was a member of Charter Club, the Triangle Club, Whig Cliosophic Society and was inducted into the scientific research honor society, Sigma Xi. He completed his internship at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia and his residency at the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital. He was a Senior Assistant Surgeon in the United States Public Health Service – National Institute of Mental Health (1968-1970) Bethesda, Md. He returned to Richmond in 1970 to practice psychiatry – which was his joy.

As an active advocate for mental health, the VCU-MCV Department of Psychiatry and psychiatric patients, he lobbied in the legislature and travelled the state. Dr. Shield was honored by the establishment of the James Asa Shield Jr. Chair of Psychiatry (2000) at the VCU-MCV School of Medicine. The MCV Foundation gave him the Michael B. Dowdy Award for Volunteer Philanthropy (2018) and he received the Richmond Academy of Medicine Distinguished Service Award (2005).

Dr. Shield's professional memberships and appointments include Special Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, Depression Research, National Institute of Mental Health, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Committee on Mental Retardation, Capital Area Comprehensive Health Planning Council, Board of Richmond Area Mental Health Association, Little Sisters of the Poor Advisory Board (Vice President), Capital Area Health Advisory Council for Planning District 15, committee assignments Richmond Academy of Medicine, Medical Malpractice Review Panel, 3rd Congressional District (Supreme Court of Virginia), Psychiatric Society of Virginia (President 1981 to 1982), President, Tucker Psychiatric Clinic, Inc. (1983 to 2003), Chief of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Tucker Pavilion CJW Medical Center (1983 to 2006), Board of Directors, CJW Medical Center (1983 to 2006), Alternate Delegate from Virginia to the House of Delegates, American Medical Association (1987 to 1994), Central Virginia Health Systems Agency (Director), Greater Richmond Chapter American Red Cross (Director) and President of the Medical Society of Virginia (1993 to 1994).

Social and charitable memberships include The Westmoreland Club (past President), The Country Club of Virginia, Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia (President 2004 to 2007), Society of the Colonial Wars, Jamestowne Society, the Richmond Hundred, The Richmond German, Omnibus Club, Soixante Plus, Societe de Cuisine, Yorktown Day Association (Board of Directors), The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and The Order of the Pine, Pig and Peanut. Publications included "Recent Advances in the Psychobiology of The Depressive Illness" (co-editor, 1971).

Dr. Shield felt strongly that he was fortunate that patients chose to see him.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 12291 River Road, Richmond, Va. 23238 at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 29. Burial will be private in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Va. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Department of Psychiatry, MCV Foundation, 1200 East Broad Street, P.O. Box 980710, Richmond, Va. 23298-0710.