Dr. Neilson obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree with honors from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. Following graduation, she moved to Oregon and entered small animal private practice. After two years in private practice, Dr. Neilson was selected as the first conforming behavioral resident at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. There she successfully completed her 2-year residency in animal behavior and passed the board certification process to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
(DACVB) in 1997.

Dr. Neilson then moved back to Portland to provide consultations for pets and their owners at the Animal Behavior Clinic, Dr. Neilson frequently lectures to veterinarians about animal behavior, including teaching veterinary behavior at OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. She also acts as consultant for various companies, conducts non-invasive clinical behavioral research and is an editor of the Veterinary Medicine journal. She has published several articles and book chapters. Her first book, Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion Canine and Feline Behavior, was published in 2007.  IN 2011, Dr. Neilson joined Elanco as a Senior Veterinary Consultant, where she is responsible for communications with practicing Veterinarians.

Dr. Neilson serves on the Board of Trustees of the Oregon Humane Society and the Board of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. She served as President of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association for the 2007-08 term. Past roles include serving on the Boards of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association and American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.