When it comes to mentorship, Dr. Beth Neuman has found her calling guiding the next generation of veterinarians with wisdom, humor, and genuine care.

Dr. Neuman is the Senior Director of Mentorship at NVA General Practice and a Partner at Dove Mountain Veterinary in Arizona. But her journey to veterinary medicine wasn't a straight line. She's been a writer, a customer service agent, and a movie theater manager (yes, she even met Prince). She spent years in the veterinary field as a kennel assistant, receptionist, and technician before deciding to pursue her DVM, and that diverse background gives her a unique perspective on what it takes to thrive in this profession.

Now, she channels that experience into supporting new doctors, helping them navigate their early careers with confidence and compassion.

We asked her nine rapid-fire questions about mentorship, veterinary medicine, and what keeps her inspired.

1. Emergency medicine 🚨 or internal medicine 🩺?

Emergency. I love not knowing what might come through the door. I love the initial moment of connection with a new owner – establishing trust, developing a plan, teams pulling together to make it happen.

2. Asking for help 🤝 or figuring it out on your own 🧩?

Yes.

Only kidding. We must do both, right? My job as a mentor is to challenge you to find the answer yourself but to provide a safe space for you to ask for help if you need it. Personally, I love working collaboratively. More minds focused on a problem usually leads to some great ideas and creating unique solutions!

3. Specialty interest focus 🔬 or general practice variety 🌈?

We need both, but I am General Practice all the way. I love having specialists that can deep dive into a body system like ophthalmology and be a great referral partner, but I love approaching a pet holistically and being a primary care veterinarian in my community allows me to create relationships with a huge variety of great clients and patients.

4. Practical advice 🛠️ or emotional support 💙?

Practical advice. I’m solution-oriented. I’ll give you a hug, but then I’m going to get you focused on the next steps.

5. Encouraging risk-taking 🎲 or building confidence through consistency 🎯?

Consistency and repetition are how we get better at things. Consistency is how we develop trust with each other. But I do like to encourage some risk taking, because again, true learning happens when we stretch even just a little outside of our comfort zone.

6. Trusting your instincts 💭 or relying on diagnostics 🔬?

Instinct can be helpful, but I rely on diagnostics to ensure that I’m fully evaluating a case and making the right recommendations to my clients.

7. Stepping out of your comfort zone 🌱 or sticking to what you know best 🎯?

This might be situational, because I have a pair of joggers that date back to vet school, but I think if you aren’t uncomfortable a little bit, you aren’t learning. I love innovation and change as long as the intention is to improve!

8. WVC or VMX?

WVC – only because it’s closer to my home state and a little later in the year.

9. Learning from mistakes 📚 or celebrating wins 🎉?

We must do both. Learning from a mistake is usually the way information becomes the most ‘solid’ and unforgettable. Celebrating wins is crucial – and best done with friends and colleagues, maybe even involving a little ice cream. The lows of a mistake and the highs of a win are what makes life exciting. As a mentor, I’m here to help you make mistakes in a safe environment and pull out the learning moments.

More about Dr. Beth Neuman:

Dr. Neuman received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004, with special interests in emergency medicine, internal medicine, and spectrum of care. Before veterinary school, she lived many lives—writer, customer service agent, and movie theater manager. In fact, she regularly hosted Prince when he would rent out the entire theater in the middle of the night. She later worked as a veterinary technician before pursuing her DVM, giving her invaluable insight into veterinary practice.

Now, as Senior Director of Mentorship at NVA, Dr. Neuman supports a team of mentors as well as new graduates across Arizona with practical advice, encouragement, and humor. She's been married for over twenty years, has three children, and shares her home with two dogs, five cats, a ball python, and a revolving door of foster animals. She loves the hiking and biking trails around Tucson, but also the amazing food that the southwest has to offer.