Board Certified Specialty Veterinary Medical Director

VCA Seaside Animal Hospital; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

CE allowance with paid CE time

Paid parental leave

Generous PTO

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital in Hickory, NC seeks an accomplished Medical Director to lead clinical excellence across our growing specialty and emergency services.

Ideal candidates are board-certified specialists or residency-trained veterinarians with leadership experience, able to mentor staff, set medical standards, and drive strategic growth while maintaining an active clinical role.

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree required.
• Board-certified or residency-trained in a veterinary specialty with leadership potential preferred.
• Active NC veterinary license or eligibility to licensure.
• Commitment to evidence-based medicine and client communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide medical leadership and oversight across emergency and specialty services.
• Establish and uphold medical standards, protocols, and best practices.
• Mentor veterinarians, interns, and support staff.
• Partner with hospital administration on strategic planning, recruiting and growth.
• Maintain an active clinical caseload aligned with your expertise.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, high‑performing hospital culture.

Skills

Leadership experience

Board-certified in vet med

Mentoring

Communication skills

Education

DVM or equivalent veterinary degree

Job description

Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital is seeking an accomplished Medical Director to provide clinical leadership for our growing specialty and emergency hospital in Hickory, North Carolina.

This opportunity is ideal for a board-certified specialist or residency trained veterinarian with a strong background in specialty and/or emergency medicine and a passion for leadership. Whether you're looking to take the next step into hospital leadership or continue building on an established leadership career, you'll have the opportunity to influence medical excellence, mentor an exceptional team, and help shape the future of our hospital while maintaining an active clinical role.

The Medical Director serves as the clinical leader of the hospital, setting medical standards, supporting a collaborative culture, and partnering with hospital leadership to drive excellence in patient care, team development, and operational success. This is a hands‑on leadership role with dedicated administrative time built into the schedule.

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree
• Board-certified specialist or residency trained veterinarian with demonstrated expertise in specialty and/or emergency medicine will be considered
• Active North Carolina veterinary license (or eligibility for licensure)
• Previous leadership experience preferred, or a strong desire to grow into a medical leadership role
• Commitment to evidence-based medicine and exceptional client communication
• Passion for mentorship, collaboration, and developing high‑performing teams

Key Responsibilities

• Provide medical leadership and oversight across emergency and specialty services
• Establish and uphold medical standards, protocols, and best practices
• Mentor and support veterinarians, interns, and support staff
• Partner with hospital administration on strategic planning, recruiting, and growth initiatives
• Maintain an active clinical caseload aligned with your expertise
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high‑performing hospital culture

What We Offer

• Base salary range of $180,000–$275,000, commensurate with specialty, experience, and clinical production, plus an additional Medical Director stipend
• 25% production model, no negative accrual
• $50,000 Sign‑on bonus
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• CE allowance with paid CE time
• Paid parental leave and generous PTO
• Professional autonomy with strong operational support
• The opportunity to shape and grow specialty and emergency services in a key regional hospital
• Why Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital?
• Established referral and emergency hospital serving western North Carolina
• Advanced diagnostic equipment and modern facilities
• Collaborative team of specialists, emergency clinicians, highly skilled technicians, and dedicated support staff
• Strong leadership committed to high‑quality medicine and sustainable practice
• Located in Hickory, NC, with easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Norman, Asheville, and Charlotte

Ready to Lead?

Whether you're a board-certified specialist or a residency‑trained specialist with the leadership skills to guide a multidisciplinary team, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on a growing specialty and emergency hospital.

About Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital

Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital is a multi‑specialty practice with specialists in internal medicine, surgery, behavior, rehabilitation and 24‑hour emergency and critical care housed in a beautiful newly built 12,000‑square‑foot hospital in Hickory, NC.

We have a spacious hospital with a fully staffed ICU with DVM and highly skilled 24 hr support team to manage a high volume patient case load with 12 exam rooms. In hospital we have comprehensive in‑house laboratory equipment that includes chemistry, cbc, epoc, blood gas, sedivue, fecal imagyst, telecytometry, ability to have consultation and recommendation from boarded radiologist and clinical pathologist for best in the moment patient care, oxygen therapy (multiple snyder icu cages and high flow). We have the ability to provide superior specialty care with computed tomography, fluoroscopy, digital radiology, color‑flow doppler ultrasound, endoscopy, minimally invasive surgical equipment, and comprehensive surgical instrumentation. We are able to provide radioactive iodine therapy for cats with hyperthyroidism and have a fully equipped rehabilitation suite with k‑laser, e‑stim, oasis underwater treadmill as well as exercise treadmill for assisting patients with pre and post op recovery.

We have a team of highly skilled board‑certified specialists, emergency clinicians, veterinary technicians, and support staff that believe in compassionate care, always being prepared, supportive, excellence and quality in everything we do for our patients and encourage individuals who embrace a fast‑paced atmosphere with honesty, positive attitude and transparency.

• DVM/VMD degree from an AVMA accredited college (or successful completion of the ECFVG or PAVE program)
• Active license in good standing to practice in the state in which candidate will be employed (or the ability to obtain a license in that state)