Associate Veterinarian - Medicine-First Practice with Ownership Potential

VCA Seaside Animal Hospital; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership potential

Strong technician support

In-house diagnostics

Job summary

Pine Animal Hospital in Long Beach, California is seeking an associate veterinarian to practice high-quality, medicine-first small animal medicine in an independent, doctor-led hospital.

The position emphasizes tools, team support, autonomy, and proper case workups over production quotas, with a path toward ownership for the right candidate and strong mentorship for clinical growth.

Qualifications

• DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree required.
• California veterinary license or eligibility to obtain one.
• Strong communication and client relations.
• Commitment to high-quality small animal medicine.
• Interest in collaboration, mentorship, and team-based patient care.
• General practice and/or urgent care experience preferred, but fit matters.
• Interest in dentistry, ultrasound, surgery, or internal medicine welcomed

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Mentorship

Casework up and diagnostics

Education

DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree

Tools

Point-of-care ultrasound

In-house laboratory

Digital radiography

Dental radiography

Job description

Pine Animal Hospital in Long Beach, California is actively hiring an associate veterinarian who wants to practice high-quality, medicine-first small animal medicine in an independent, doctor-led hospital.

This is not a corporate production job. This is not a quota-driven sales role. This is a role for a veterinarian who still loves medicine and wants the tools, team, autonomy, and support to work up cases properly.

Compensation is designed to reward proficient doctors while protecting work-life balance. The role includes a guaranteed base salary plus 23% monthly production. A proficient full-time veterinarian can realistically earn $150,000+ annually, and experienced associates in our model have earned $160,000+ per year.

Pine Animal Hospital also offers a potential path toward ownership or partnership for the right long-term fit. We are especially interested in veterinarians who may want to help build the future of independent veterinary medicine rather than simply take another associate position.

Why Pine Animal Hospital?

Pine Animal Hospital is an independently owned small animal hospital in Long Beach built around high-quality medicine, thoughtful diagnostics, ethical recommendations, client communication, and team support.

Our hospital offers:

• Strong technician support
• In-house laboratory and same-visit diagnostics
• Digital radiography
• Dental radiography
• Point-of-care ultrasound
• Rapid in-clinic cytology
• Integrated medical records with labs, imaging, and reports
• Specialist collaboration, including surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, and radiology support
• General practice, urgent care, dentistry, diagnostics, wellness, and integrative medicine
• Mentorship, case collaboration, and clinical development
• Paid continuing education aligned with your clinical interests
• Flexible time off and a genuine focus on long-term sustainability

We believe good doctors should not have to choose between practicing excellent medicine and having a life outside the hospital.

This position may be a strong fit if:

• You still genuinely love veterinary medicine
• You want to practice thoughtful, high-quality small animal medicine
• You are frustrated by production pressure, corporate metrics, or cookie-cutter care
• You value diagnostics, client communication, collaboration, and ethical recommendations
• You want strong technician support and a team that helps you succeed
• You are interested in clinical growth, mentorship, dentistry, ultrasound, surgery, urgent care, internal medicine, integrative medicine, or leadership
• You want a healthier work-life balance without giving up strong earning potential
• You may be interested in a future ownership or partnership path

You do not need to be actively job hunting to start a conversation. Confidential inquiries are welcome.

• DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree
• California veterinary license, or eligibility to obtain one
• Strong communication skills
• Commitment to high-quality small animal medicine
• Interest in collaboration, clinical growth, and team-based patient care
• General practice and/or urgent care experience preferred, but fit matters more than years out of school
• Interest in dentistry, ultrasound, surgery, internal medicine, urgent care, integrative medicine, mentorship, leadership, or future ownership/partnership is welcomed