Dr. Beth Phimister grew up in Marin County and has had a tough time leaving the beauty of the California coast. After graduating from UC Davis undergraduate program with a BS in Neurology, Physiology and Biology, she spent two years working for a startup drug company in Berkeley. She decided to pursue a graduate degree in veterinary medicine and graduated from UC Davis Veterinary Medical School in 2004. She met her husband at Davis while he was completing his doctorate program. They headed to Berkeley shortly afterwards. They started a family in the East Bay and haven’t left. Raising kids with her husband has led to the development of a rich local community of friends (and their pets).

Dr. Phimister has 20 years experience as a small animal practitioner working with both dogs and cats. She developed her small animal general practice skills at two local hospitals prior to a meaningful experience as a practice owner for 12 years. She made the decision to step down from ownership, making the shift away from management and back to patient care.

Dr. Phimister’s professional interests include in-depth management of medical cases, working up complicated dermatologic cases, and guidance on long term health including nutrition, behavior, pain management, and dental care. She formed a bond with a local business that works on feline behavior and enrichment, expanding her knowledge and confidence in feline handling and medicine. At one of her positions, she also supported two local rescue groups with spay-neuter procedures. Her previous experiences with clients from varied backgrounds have allowed her to broadly develop her communication and veterinary skills to support the needs of the clients and patients, treating each patient as part of a family which includes supporting needs of both the pet and the human caregivers.

In her off time, Dr. Phimister has varied hobbies keeping her busy. When not spending time with her family, she will be gardening or mushroom hunting, surfing or reading. She also enjoys playing music and watching wildlife – with much love for butterflies, crows, turkeys and hummingbirds. She is also passionate about sharing kindness and care through volunteering, supporting local charities focused on caring for the unhoused and supporting equal education for all children.