POWER ALUMNI
DR. A. OLLY NEAL
D r. A. Olly Neal’s journey to becoming one of America’s top veterinarians is a story of passion, persistence, and purpose. A proud graduate of Alcorn State University, Neal is the owner and medical director of Your Friends at Dacula Animal Hospital in Georgia, a clinic recently ranked among the Top 100 Veterinary Hospitals in the United States by USA TODAY. Raised in West Tennessee, Neal discovered his calling early while spending time on his grandparents’ farm. He always wanted to be a veterinarian and never considered being anything else. That unwavering dream led him to Alcorn State University, where he earned a degree in animal science in 2000, and later to Tuskegee University, where he achieved his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. The path was not easy. Neal faced setbacks, including not being admitted on his first attempt to veterinary school. Yet, his determination prevailed. Participation in Tuskegee’s summer enrichment program sharpened his skills and mindset,
preparing him for the rigorous demands of veterinary medicine.
Before launching his own practice, Neal spent nearly a decade in Las Vegas, gaining critical experience in emergency care, small animal medicine, and shelter work. In 2022, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by reopening and leading his own veterinary practice in Georgia. His clinic is built on a values-driven philosophy known as CARES: Compassion, Accountability, Responsibility, Empathy, and Solutions. National recognition was never the goal, but when it came, Neal embraced it as a reflection of his team and community. This isn’t just about me, he says. It’s about my staff, my clients, my family, everyone who supported me and molded me along the way. Today, as his daughter begins her own chapter at Alcorn State, Neal is focused on the future: expanding to a second location and mentoring the next generation of veterinarians, especially those from HBCUs like Alcorn and Tuskegee.
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