Associate Veterinarian

Westside Veterinary Hospital; Kingston (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage (medical, dental,视

Sign-on/retention bonus

Paid time off and CE time off

Pet discount program

401K with match

Job summary

Westside Veterinary Hospital in Kingston, PA, seeks an associate veterinarian to provide comprehensive care for dogs and cats, from wellness to complex medical cases. The role includes on-site diagnostics, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery in a collaborative, support-rich environment.

You will work with an experienced team to manage chronic disease, triage urgent cases, and communicate clearly with clients to support lifelong pet health. A mentorship-oriented, patient-centered culture awaits.

Qualifications

• DVM/VMD from AVMA-accredited veterinary college.
• Active, unrestricted PA license or eligibility to obtain licensure before start date.
• Proficient in small animal general practice medicine (canine and feline).
• Ability to perform soft tissue surgery and dental procedures.
• Strong client communication and triage skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive veterinary care for dogs and cats, from wellness to complex cases.
• Diagnose and treat using on-site Idexx-based diagnostics to guide treatment decisions.
• Perform soft tissue surgery and dental procedures, including radiology and extractions.
• Manage chronic disease and collaborate with a team to create lifelong care plans.
• Triage daytime urgent and same-day sick appointments and communicate with owners.

Skills

Small animal medicine

Surgical skills

Client communication

Team collaboration

Mentorship willingness

Education

DVM/VMD degree

PA veterinary license or eligibility

Tools

In-house diagnostics

Digital radiography

Ultrasound

Job description

About Westside Veterinary Hospital

Westside Veterinary Hospital is a well-established, multi-doctor small animal and pocket pet practice in Kingston, PA, serving the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. We offer preventative wellness, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, dentistry and oral surgery, on-site diagnostics, and daytime urgent/emergency care — all under one roof, with a fully equipped in-house lab, digital radiography, ultrasonography, and a modern pharmacy program for our clients.

We are a family-style, patient-centered practice guided by five Core Values that shape how every team member works: Patient Centered care, Compassion, Skillfullness (individual and team), Progressive Medicine, and Integrity. We focus on maintaining tight-knit culture where every role can contribute to comprehensive, high-standard medicine and can be truly proud of the work they do.

The Opportunity

We are growing our doctor team and hiring one to two Associate Veterinarians to help meet increasing patient care demand. This is an excellent opportunity for a veterinarian who wants full support to practice thorough, relationship-driven medicine — with in-house diagnostics, an experienced support staff, and a caseload that spans wellness, internal medicine, surgery, dentistry, urgent care, and pocket pet medicine where your own personal interests take you. We strive for a collaborative, progressive, and often fun culture and want someone eager to add to that vibe! -- birthday cakes, AAA baseball games, summer staff appreciation day at Knoebels Amusement Park, Holiday Parties, "crazy-day" luncheons, monthly board game nights, and the list goes on.

What You'll Do

• Provide comprehensive veterinary care for canines and felines, from wellness visits through complex medical cases.
• Diagnose and treat illness and injury using on-site diagnostics (in-house Idexx-based laboratory with CBC, Chemistry, InVue, Sedivue, SNAP availabe) to reach fast, informed treatment decisions.
• State of the art digital radiology and GE all-in-one Ultrasound unit updated in 2025
• Perform soft tissue surgery and dental/oral procedures, including dental radiology, cleanings, and extractions.
• Two Aesculight CO2 lasers with 20- and 35-watt capacities allowing for wide range of exciting surgeries (where interests align)
  • Spay, neuter, standard mass removals
  • Major mass removals, single and multiple mastectomies, BOAS repair, eye and eyelid surgery, vulvaplasties, amputations, gastropexies, gastrotomies, and more
  • Opportunity to perform many surgeries normally sent to referral thanks to mentorship, advanced surgical equipment, and a great tech team!
• Manage chronic disease and internal medicine cases, building individualized, lifelong care plans for patients.
• Triage and treat daytime urgent and same-day sick appointments alongside the clinical team.
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with pet owners about diagnoses, treatment options, and preventative care, building lasting client relationships.
• Collaborate closely with a team of veterinarians, technicians, and support staff, contributing to a high-efficiency, overlapping-skillset practice model.
• Maintain accurate, timely medical records and uphold the practice's standards for medicine and client communication.
  

Why Join WestSide?

• Individualized approach to medicine — treatment plans tailored to each pet, not one-size-fits-all protocols. Autonomy and collaboration combined into your personalized ideal workflow model.
• Experienced team of six full-time veterinarians and support staff, so new doctors have daily opportunities for mentorship and backup on unusual cases.
• Strong in-house infrastructure: on-site lab, digital radiography, digital dental radiology, ultrasound and a surgical suite with continuous anesthetic monitoring.
• Daytime urgent/emergency care model — no overnight, after-hour, or Sunday ICU shifts.
• A collaborative, progressive culture built around five stated Core Values that guide daily decision-making.
• Modern client tools (digital patient portal/app through Vello) that reduce phone-tag and streamline communication, refill requests, and follow-up.
• Access to ScribbleVet AI dictation tool to greatly reduce the time typing up extended examination notes and phone call reviews.

Schedule

• Hospital hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–5:45 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–4:45 PM, and Saturday 8:00 AM–11:45 AM.
• Daytime urgent and emergency care is provided during regular operating hours — there is no overnight on-call requirement.
• Flexible scheduling to allow ample work-life balance with eventual possibility of either four 9 to 10-hour shifts (standard) or three 12-hours shifts once we are fully staffed. You would be able to request your shift arrangement, and we will work towards that goal.
• Typically, one Saturday every 4 to 5 weeks based on doctor pool and ability to work solo on that day alone. All other days have multiple doctors for collaboration.
• Full or Part-time positions may apply

Compensation & Benefits

• ProSal Based pay structure with $100,000 base for new graduates and entry level positions. Additional base commensurate with experience.
• 22% Production on majority services - all details provided upon application
• Monthly production review, Quarterly review, and full financial goal setting discussions available at any time.
• Paid Time Off, CE Time Off
• Sign-On Bonus +/- Retention Bonus.
• Healthcare Coverage including major medical, dental, and vision available.
• Paid CE allowance $2500/year, with annual increases of $500 each year to a maximum of $3500/year.
• Pet Discount Program
• Yearly Holiday Bonus
• 401K with Match availability after waiting period
• Payment of AVMA, PVMA, PLIT liability insurance, DEA registration, PA license
  

Location

401 3rd Ave, Kingston, PA 18704 — serving the greater Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.

Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary college
• Active, unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in Pennsylvania (or eligibility to obtain licensure prior to start date).
  Active DEA registration, or eligibility to obtain one.
• Proficiency in small animal general practice medicine: physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment planning for canine and feline patients.
• Working knowledge of, and comfort performing, routine soft tissue surgery (e.g., spay/neuter, mass removals, laceration repair).
• Working knowledge of veterinary dentistry, including dental radiology interpretation, cleanings, and extractions.
• Ability to interpret in-house laboratory results and digital radiographs to guide same-day treatment decisions.
• Strong client communication skills, with the ability to explain diagnoses and treatment options clearly and compassionately.
• Ability to triage and manage same-day urgent/sick appointments in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Comfort working collaboratively within a multi-doctor, team-based practice model.
• Reliable, timely, and accurate medical record-keeping.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in general small animal practice (new graduates are welcome to apply; mentorship is available).
• Experience or interest in internal medicine and chronic disease management (e.g., endocrine disease, renal disease, mobility/arthritis care).
• Experience husbandry examination and basic treatment of pocket pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, and similar small companion species).
• Advanced surgical skill or interest in expanding the practice's surgical caseload.
• Familiarity with digital practice-management and client-communication tools (e.g., client portal apps, online pharmacy, text-based communication).
• Working knowledge of abdominal ultrasound techniques and basic interpretation, ultrasound-guided cystocentesis, abdominocentesis, etc.

Certifications & Credentials

• DVM/VMD/MVB degree (required).
• Pennsylvania veterinary license, active or in progress (required).
• DEA registration, active or in progress (required).
• Fear-Free certification or working knowledge of the program (preferred).

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to safely lift, restrain, and position animals of varying size and temperament, with support staff assistance as needed.
• Ability to stand, bend, and move around the clinical floor for extended periods during a shift.
• Ability to work in a clinical environment that may involve exposure to animal bites/scratches, zoonotic disease, and cleaning/anesthetic agents, with standard safety protocols in place.
• Availability to work the practice's operating schedule, including at least one Saturday morning per monthly rotation.
• Beyond technical qualifications, we're looking for a veterinarian who embodies our five Core Values:

Patient Centered — puts each individual pet's best interest at the center of every recommendation. High medical ethics for patient and client needs.
Compassionate — brings empathy to patients, clients, and teammates, especially in painful, fearful, or urgent situations.
Skillful — pursues ongoing personal and team growth, contributing to a high-efficiency, collaborative practice.
Progressive — stays current with evidence-based medicine and is comfortable leveraging in-house diagnostics to act quickly.
Honest — communicates openly and supportively with clients and teammates to achieve the best possible outcomes.