About
Hi! My name is Dr. Bella Schuman, DVM. I have dreamed of becoming a veterinarian since I was 5 years old when a vet saved my dog in an emergency surgery. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to helping animals and their humans. I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA. I received my Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Pennsylvania State University, where I participated in animal science research projects and served as president of the animal shelter club. One of my most memorable experiences was when I spent a summer studying abroad in Thailand, where I volunteered at an elephant sanctuary and assisted veterinarians as they treated elephants, horses, dogs and cats.
I received my DVM from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. During vet school, I worked as a veterinary assistant, served on class council, and was a member of the Veterinary Business Management Association. While at Tufts, I fell in love with the city of Boston, and I am thrilled to live out my childhood dream of improving the lives of animals in my favorite city!
My veterinary passions include preventative medicine, dermatology, and soft-tissue surgeries. I am also passionate about utilizing low-stress handling techniques for my patients and have earned my level 2 Fear Free Certification. I currently live in Boston with my boyfriend and our 4 year old rescue pup, Jasmine. Outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy spending my free time reading, traveling, running with my dog, attending pilates classes, skiing, hiking, and trying new restaurants around the city!
I made this website with the primary goals of helping pre-vet students by sharing my mistakes and successes along the way, having a written journal of my experiences to look back on, demonstrating my qualifications when looking for a job in the veterinary field, and sharing my journey towards my dream job with my friends and family.
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Q & A
What are your long-term career goals?
My goals include becoming the best small animal general practitioner I can become. I plan to do this through mentorship at my job and participating in continuing education to improve my knowledge, technical skills, and client communication techniques throughout my career. Eventually, I would love to open my own practice.
Why should someone bring their pet to you?
Of course, I wanted to become a veterinarian because I love animals, but I also chose this career path because I love getting to know their humans and working as a team to come up with the best, individualized plan for their beloved pet. I understand how much people love their pets and that they know their pet better than anyone else, so my goal is always to present a range of options, so the owner can pick what fits best with their pet, their finances, and their lifestyle. I am passionate about practicing transparent medicine, and discussing the pros and cons of each treatment option. I am passionate about caring for the health of all of my patients and taking the time to answer all of their humans' questions, and I believe that my optimistic outlook shines through in all of my appointments. I also love performing soft tissue surgeries and dental procedures and am committed to providing the best care in all of my surgical procedures through careful drug selection, close anesthesia monitoring, and having a plan customized to each individual patient's needs.
How did you choose your major?
I chose Animal Science as my major because I have always loved animals. In kindergarten, that was the sole reason why I listed "veterinarian" as my dream job. However, as time went by, I realized that you must consider many more aspects of this career. I also love taking science classes, participating in surgeries, and working with people, all of which are important for pursuing a career in animal medicine. All of the images and videos included on this website demonstrate how passionate I am about this career path and that I am happiest when I am working with animals.
What accomplishment are you most proud of? Why?
I am most proud of my veterinary study abroad experience in Thailand. This trip was such an unforgettable experience because it combined traveling to Thailand, learning veterinary skills, and helping others! I spent the first half of the program at an elephant sanctuary, where I was able to help treat sick and injured elephants that had been rescued from abuse. I went to an animal clinic at an animal shelter for the second half of the program, where we learned many, useful skills including catheter placement, blood draws, blood smears, fecal flotations, vaccine injections, drug dose calculations, physical examinations, proper restraint, and subcutaneous fluid administration. You can read more about this incredible experience on the blog page of this website.
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