Associate Veterinarian

Agupdate; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pet insurance

Wellness benefits

License dues covered

CE support

CE trips funded

Job summary

Striegel Animal Hospital in Carbondale, IL, is seeking an associate veterinarian to join a well-established, locally owned practice with a 70+ year commitment to quality care. The team emphasizes meaningful medicine, excellent patient care, and sustainable schedules.

The position offers a guaranteed base salary of $100,000+ for a 4-day workweek, with production bonuses. Schedule features no Saturdays and no on-call duties, plus generous professional support and growth opportunities.

Job description

COME PRACTICE DIFFERENTLY.

Excellent medicine. Real support. A schedule you can live with.

3 or 4 day workweek. No Saturdays. No on call.

NO NEGATIVE ACCRUAL

LOCALLY OWNED MENTORSHIP PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY
Private practice Tailored to you Questions are welcome

$100,000+ guaranteed base salary (4 day/week), plus production

You became a veterinarian to practice meaningful medicine, help patients, and build relationships with the people who love them. You should be able to do that without an overwhelming schedule, inadequate support, or hours of unfinished records waiting at the end of the day.

Striegel Animal Hospital is looking for an associate veterinarian who believes excellent patient care and a sustainable career should go together.

We're an independently owned small animal practice that has served Carbondale and Southern Illinois for more than 70 years. In that time, the hospital has only had three owners, and I'm the current one. We're Southern Illinois' only AAHA accredited hospital, and our whole staff is Fear Free certified. I bought this practice because I refused to compromise on the standard of medicine our patients deserve, and I built a workplace I'd want to work in myself. That's still what shapes how we schedule appointments, support our doctors, and treat patients today.

Practice Medicine, Not Every Other Job in the HospitalYou'll see 12 to 18 appointments a day, with a 1 to 4 doctor to technician ratio. Our technicians and assistants are highly trained and trusted to work at the top of their skill. They handle client education, estimates, and most callbacks, so you can focus on diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and the client conversations that actually need a doctor.

We also use AI assisted documentation and a remote DVM scribe. Most charts are closed out in under five minutes, so records don't routinely follow you home.

Our clients are engaged, informed, and generally receptive to the diagnostics and treatment you recommend, which means you get to practice real medicine, not just triage.

Urgent visits are folded into regular hours, typically zero to five per week, and are usually pets whose regular vet couldn't fit them in rather than true emergencies. There are no separate urgent care shifts and no on call responsibilities.

Bring the Medicine You're Passionate AboutDentistry, soft tissue surgery, dermatology, exotics, urgent care. Whatever draws you in, we want to help you grow it. We also offer hydrotherapy, laser therapy, and stem cell therapy, so there's room to expand your clinical interests here.

You won't be asked to fit a mold. Tell us what energizes you, and we'll help you build more of it into your career.

New Graduates and Experienced Veterinarians Are Both WelcomeNew graduates get a gradual schedule ramp up, collaborative case support, and hands on guidance in surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, and client communication. That support scales down as your confidence grows.

Experienced veterinarians get the same collaborative backup, with the autonomy to practice independently from day one.

Future Ownership Is a Real OptionA genuine path to ownership is available for the right candidate on a flexible, no‑pressure timeline.

This is not a vague promise added to a job advertisement. It is an opportunity to become part of the future of an established, locally owned hospital with more than 70 years of community history, a loyal client base, a tenured team, AAHA accreditation, and a fully Fear Free certified staff.

Ownership is not required to join us. For someone who wants it, however, the opportunity is real. The current owner is willing to remain involved as needed during a future transition, and practice financials are available to qualified candidates.

You May Be the Right Fit If You

See the whole patient, not just the presenting complaint Communicate clearly and honestly with clients and coworkers Respect and trust skilled technicians and assistants Value collaborative medicine and shared responsibility Know when to act independently and when to ask for help Want to practice excellent medicine without sacrificing your life outside the hospital Clinical experience matters, but judgment, communication, and fit matter just as much.

Schedule:

Three or four day workweek.
Four day schedule: Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Three day schedule: Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
No Saturdays. No on call. No surprises. You'll know exactly what your week looks like, and you'll have real time outside the hospital to live it.

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary based on experience and schedule
NO NEGATIVE ACCRUAL
Pet insurance
Wellness benefits tailored to YOU

We Invest in Your Growth:

We value learning and continued growth.

We cover your Illinois license, professional liability insurance, VIN membership, AVMA, ISVMA, and Southern Illinois VMA dues, plus one professional association of your choice
CE days and CE support every year, in addition to clinic sponsored CE trips that don't eat into you CE budget or time off!

Life in Carbondale:

Carbondale sits on the edge of the Shawnee National Forest, with Giant City State Park, Garden of the Gods, and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail all a short drive away. If you like hiking, boating, fishing, or just being outdoors on your days off, this area has it in spades. St. Louis is about an hour and a half up the road for a bigger city fix, and cost of living here runs well below the national average, so your salary goes further. As home to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale also has more restaurants, events, and culture than you'd expect from a town its size.

Striegel Animal Hospital is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to legally protected characteristics.