Assistant or Associate Professor in Equine Surgery & Education

Colorado State University; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado State University is inviting applications for a 12-month tenure-track faculty position in Equine Surgery and Surgical Education within the Department of Clinical Sciences. The role involves clinical service at the Johnson Family Equine Hospital, teaching veterinary students and residents, and participating in surgical skills training as curriculum evolves in 2026.

Strong clinical and educational leadership are expected.

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Department of Clinical Sciences (DCS) at Colorado State University invites applications for a 12-month Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Equine Surgery and Surgical Education. The successful candidate will share clinical responsibilities at the Johnson Family Equine Hospital (JFEH) with 3 tenure track surgeons and a broad-based team of experienced veterinary technicians. Currently there are 3 Equine Surgery and Lameness residents. The candidate will be primarily responsible for clinical service with a commitment of 18 - 24 weeks on duty pending other research and teaching commitments. There are no primary duty after hours requirements of the position. However, the position will back up Equine Critical Care Surgeons for orthopedic emergencies. The candidate will be expected to participate in the teaching of professional veterinary medical and graduate students, and it is anticipated they will provide continuing education to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. As CSU begins a new curriculum in the fall of 2026, this hire will be expected to participate in the surgical skills training of students starting in their first year of the curriculum. The training will occur in the "VetReady" stream of the Ascend (new) curriculum. Additional didactic contributions and participation in educational blocks are also anticipated. Finally, the successful candidate will participate in surgical skills training for second year students and Fundamentals of Surgery for Third year of the legacy curriculum as it is phased out over the next one to two years.

Location and Facilities

The DCS, and JFEH are located on the South Campus of Colorado State University and have maintained a strong tradition of excellence in Equine Surgery and Lameness with successful DVM (all 4 years) and post-graduate (house officer) training programs. In addition to hospital services and educational opportunities provided at the JFEH, growth in teaching programs is anticipated with the opening of a new building dedicated to DVM education and primary care in August 2026.

The south campus facilities maintain state-of-the-art equipment with plans to enhance these within the small animal specialty hospital over the next few years. The state-of-the-art Equine Hospital (JFEH) opened in September 2021, and the new Livestock hospital opened in June 2026. The JFEH includes new surgical facilities, a dedicated lameness facility with hard and soft surfaces, CT (to enable standing and recumbent procedures), digital radiology and ultrasound. The Translational Medicine Institute (Adjacent to the JFEH) houses an additional CT for anesthetized cases and a 3T MRI for anesthetized cases. The JFEH houses equine specialties in surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine, anesthesia, dentistry, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, and critical care and shares specialists in cardiology, dermatology, reproduction and others with the larger Veterinary Health System. The JFEH also has a vibrant primary care Equine Field and Podiatry Service. In addition to providing veterinary services to local clients CSU is a preeminent tertiary care facility with a broad-based caseload to support numerous primary (e.g., internal medicine, ophthalmology, oncology) and support (e.g., anesthesia, imaging, pathology) services.

Research Opportunities

In addition to investigator driven research, collaborative opportunities exist for partnership with clinical and basic science departments within the college, university colleagues, as well as with nearby institutions including Poudre Valley Hospital, the University of Colorado, Denver Children's Hospital, and regional biomedical facilities. The state-of-the-art research facility (C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute) adjacent to the JFEH offers additional opportunities for translational medical research and veterinary medical continuing education.

Work authorization visa sponsorship may be available based on the specific situation for the selected final candidate.

A signing bonus may be considered for successful candidates.

Essential Job Duties

Teaching :

• Clinical - Provide 18-24 weeks of clinical effort per year to include active instruction to 3rd and 4th year Veterinary Medical students and participation in the clinical training of visitors, interns and residents rotating through the Equine Surgery and Lameness service. Participation in shared backup after-hours coverage when on clinical duty is anticipated for orthopedic emergencies. Promoting minimally invasive surgery training, including training house officers in minimally invasive surgery is desired.
• Didactic - The candidate will provide didactic teaching within the Clinical Sciences graduate program and the DVM Professional curriculum.