Associate Veterinarian

Tustin Legacy Animal Hospital; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Part time

Job summary

Tustin Legacy Animal Hospital in Tustin, CA, is seeking a General Practice Veterinarian. This role offers part-time hours with potential for full-time 2-3 days a week, in a privately owned small-animal hospital serving dogs and cats with a compassionate, evidence-based approach.

You will provide high-quality medical care, diagnostics, dentistry, and preventive care while building lasting relationships with families and patients in a collaborative team setting.

Qualifications

• DVM degree and valid California license to practice veterinary medicine.
• DEA license in good standing for controlled substances use.
• Excellent communication and client education skills.
• Commitment to compassionate, evidence-based veterinary care and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive wellness and medical examinations for dogs and cats.
• Develop individualized preventive-care plans and client education.
• Diagnose and treat acute and chronic medical conditions.
• Perform routine soft-tissue surgery and dental care.
• Utilize digital imaging, laboratory testing and other diagnostics.
• Communicate medical recommendations clearly to clients.

Skills

Compassionate care

Client education

Team collaboration

Evidence-based medicine

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

California veterinary license

DEA license

Job description

Description

Part Time with the Opportunity for Full Time (2-3 days a week)

Neighborhood Vets Caring for Your Pets!

Tustin Legacy Animal Hospital is seeking a compassionate and collaborative General Practice Veterinarian (DVM) to join our privately owned small-animal hospital in Tustin, California.

We are an award-winning boutique veterinary hospital dedicated to providing progressive, evidence-based medicine with personalized care for every pet and family. Our doctors and support team take the time to listen, educate, and create thoughtful treatment plans based on what each patient genuinely needs.

We believe excellent veterinary medicine should feel personal, not corporate, rushed, or one-size-fits-all.

A Little About Us

Tustin Legacy Animal Hospital is a full-service hospital serving dogs and cats throughout Tustin, Irvine, and the surrounding Orange County communities.

Our services include:

• Preventive and wellness care
• Digital imaging and diagnostics
• Veterinary dentistry
• Soft-tissue surgery
• Internal medicine
• Limited urgent and emergency care during open hours
• Individualized care for patients throughout every stage of life

Our Hospital Culture

We may be a boutique hospital, but our commitment to quality medicine is anything but small. We combine high clinical standards with warmth, humor, teamwork, and genuine relationships.

What you’ll experience:

• Neighborhood vet energy: We know our clients, remember our patients, and value becoming a trusted part of their lives.
• Thoughtful medicine: We practice evidence-based care and recommend what is appropriate, not simply what is available.
• No cookie-cutter care: Every pet, client, and treatment plan is considered individually.
• Teamwork: Great ideas can come from anyone, and we believe every team member deserves to be heard and respected.
• Communication that matters: We take time to explain the “why,” answer questions, and help families make informed decisions.
• A calm, welcoming atmosphere: Veterinary medicine can be stressful enough. We work hard to create an environment that feels supportive, organized, and kind.
• Room to be yourself: We appreciate different personalities, clinical interests, perspectives, and the little quirks that make a team fun.
• We work hard and hold ourselves to high standards, but we also believe kindness, laughter, and mutual support belong in the treatment area.

Core Values

1.We communicate directly & honestly

2.We are accountable; no excuses

3.We are committed to innovation & excellence

4.We are community-driven

5.We have a growth mindset & value education

6.Attitude is a choice; we choose positivity

7.We have fun at work!

Our Approach to Veterinary Care

We use carefully selected vaccines, medications, and products supported by research and clinical experience. We do not believe in over-vaccinating, over-medicating, or recommending services a patient does not need.

Instead, we focus on:

• Evidence-based medical recommendations
• Appropriate and effective treatment options
• Transparent conversations about costs and priorities
• Personalized plans that consider the pet and the family
• Preventive care that supports long-term health
• Helping clients avoid ineffective or unnecessary products & procedures
• Building trust through honest and compassionate communication
• We are not focused on being the least expensive hospital in town. We are focused on delivering meaningful value through quality medicine, careful recommendations, and care that is tailored to each patient.

What You’ll Do

As a General Practice Veterinarian at Tustin Legacy Animal Hospital, you will provide high-quality medical care to dogs and cats throughout all stages of life.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Performing comprehensive wellness and medical examinations
• Developing individualized preventive-care plans
• Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic medical conditions
• Performing routine soft-tissue surgical procedures
• Providing general dentistry and oral-health care
• Utilizing digital imaging, laboratory testing, and other diagnostic tools
• Managing urgent and same-day medical cases within the scope of our practice
• Educating clients about preventive care, nutrition, diagnostics, and treatment options
• Communicating medical recommendations clearly and compassionately
• Building long-term relationships with clients and their pets
• Collaborating with veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and client service representatives
• Maintaining accurate and timely medical records
• Participating in continuing education and professional development
• Contributing positively to our hospital culture and team

Who We’re Looking For

We would love to meet a veterinarian who is:

• Compassionate, thoughtful, and relationship driven
• Committed to practicing evidence-based medicine
• Comfortable collaborating and asking for input
• An excellent listener and client educator
• Respectful of clients’ individual circumstances and budgets
• Interested in building lasting relationships with patients and families
• Supportive of technicians, assistants, and client service team members
• Dependable, emotionally intelligent, and kind
• Excited to contribute to a privately owned hospital where their voice matters

Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, or equivalent
• Current California veterinary license in good standing or eligibility for California licensure
• DEA license in good standing
• Strong foundation in small-animal medicine, with at least 4 years’ experience
• Excellent communication and client-education skills
• Commitment to compassionate, evidence-based veterinary care
• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team
• Interest in preventive medicine and lifelong wellness
• Comfort managing routine medical cases