Medical Director DVM, VMD

VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Headspace access

401(k) with company match

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago in the West Loop seeks a Medical Director who will lead medical quality while continuing to practice veterinary medicine. You will set clinical standards, guide decision-making, and mentor the team, collaborating with specialists to deliver compassionate care for dogs and cats in a high-volume hospital.

This leadership role includes ongoing professional growth, a supportive team environment, and the resources of a national veterinary care network.

Qualifications

• DVM degree and licensure to practice veterinary medicine.
• Minimum of veterinary leadership experience or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to establish clinical standards and oversee medical quality.
• Strong communication and collaborative leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead medical direction and establish clinical standards while continuing to practice medicine.
• Guide medical decisions and support team development and patient care.
• Collaborate with specialists to deliver high-quality care for dogs and cats.
• Mentor staff and contribute to hospital growth and quality initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentorship

Communication

Veterinary medicine

Education

DVM degree

Job description

Medical Director

VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago | Chicago, IL | West Loop

Join us as a Medical Director at VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago , located in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop neighborhood. You’ll quickly discover that you’re supported by world-class medicine, technology, facilities, and a talented team. As Medical Director, you’ll have the opportunity to practice medicine while helping shape the medical quality, direction, and future of the hospital, with the support and resources you need to lead effectively.

At VCA, the future of veterinary medicine is in our hands.

Questions? Please email Laurel Norman at [e-mail].

We are offering a 75k signing bonus for an MD who can join our team in 2026!

Why Lead the Team?

• Lead While Practicing Medicine: Help establish the medical direction, clinical standards, and quality of care at the hospital while continuing to practice veterinary medicine.

• Support to Help You Succeed: Benefit from dedicated support in hospital operations, marketing, Human Resources, payroll, and other administrative functions, allowing you to focus on medicine, team development, and patient care.

• A Collaborative, Talented Team: Work alongside a skilled team of veterinarians, credentialed technicians, veterinary assistants, and client service representatives who value collaboration, learning, and high-quality medicine.

• Comprehensive Care for Companion Animals: We primarily treat dogs and cats, with additional care for small mammals and other exotic species led by a doctor with expertise in these areas.

• Advanced Medical Services: Through our partnership with an outside board-certified cardiologist, we offer in-house cardiology services, including echocardiograms and evaluations. Our hospital practices hands-free radiology and anticipates offering full abdominal ultrasonography.

• A Commitment to Patient Comfort: We incorporate Fear Free and low-stress handling techniques into our daily practice, with the goal of becoming fully Fear Free certified.

• Client-Centered Care: We prioritize client education, transparent treatment recommendations, and strong relationships built on trust.

• A Prime Chicago Location: Located near Washington Boulevard and Elizabeth Street in the West Loop, our hospital is surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, nightlife, and parks. Two CTA subway stations and numerous bus routes are within a 10-minute walk.

Schedule

Our flexible schedule is designed to support work-life balance while maintaining excellent patient care and team collaboration.

• Typically a four-day workweek, Monday through Saturday.

• Two 8-hour shifts, generally 8 AM-4 PM, and two 12-hour shifts, generally 8 AM-8 PM.

• One dedicated surgery day per week, typically an 8-hour day.

• Saturdays generally rotate among doctors, with each doctor working approximately one to two Saturdays per month.

• No on-call hours.

The schedule and clinical responsibilities can be discussed with the hospital team to ensure alignment with the needs of the Medical Director role.

Cases

VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago is a general practice hospital focused on wellness, preventive care, diagnostics, and comprehensive medical services for dogs and cats.

Our caseload also includes small mammals and other exotic species, supported by a doctor with expertise in these patients. Through our partnership with a board-certified cardiologist, we provide advanced cardiac evaluations and echocardiograms.

As Medical Director, you’ll have the opportunity to guide medical standards, support clinical decision-making, encourage continued learning, and help the team deliver thoughtful, high-quality care across a diverse caseload.

Who We Look For

• People obsessed with pets and their care.

• Dedicated experts who want to provide world-class medicine and uphold high clinical standards.

• Collaborative leaders who enjoy mentoring colleagues, developing talent, and working as part of a team.

• Curious lifelong learners who want to grow and thrive in a dynamic, fulfilling career.

• Empathetic partners who build strong relationships with clients and Associates through trust, communication, and respect.

• Leaders who value accountability, encourage collaboration, and help create a positive environment where the entire team can succeed.

Total Rewards

As a member of the VCA family, eligible full-time employees will be rewarded with a comprehensive package, including:

Compensation

• Salary negotiable based on experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other relevant credentials.

• Generous signing bonus of 75k for those who can join our team in 2026!

• Salary range for Medical Director is 140-160k

• Medical Director stipend (12k), paid biweekly, and eligibility for a Medical Director annual bonus (an additional 10-15k annually)

• Sign-on, relocation, and longevity bonuses may be available.

• This position may also be eligible for additional variable pay programs.

Health & Well‑being

• Innovative Associate health and well‑being resources, including Headspace, Fidelity financial wellness tools, and additional mental health resources.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance, including infertility and gender affirmation benefits.

• Paid parental, vacation, and sick leave.

Professional Development

• Continuing Education allowance and paid Continuing Education days.

• WOOF University, offering abundant continuing education for doctors and the care team.

• Opportunities to participate in a robust Clinical Studies program.

• Access to professional resources, clinical collaboration, and ongoing leadership development.

Discover additional benefits: Benefits | VCA Careers (https://www.vcacareers.com/global/en/benefits)

Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited university or equivalent.

• Licensure in good standing to practice in Illinois, or the ability to obtain licensure.

• Commitment to practicing the highest standard of medicine and upholding the veterinary code of ethics.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with an interest in supporting team development and clinical excellence.

About VCA

VCA is a leader in veterinary care and is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. With a network of 1,000 animal hospitals, we impact pets, people, and our communities by delivering world‑class medicine with hometown care to over 4.5 million pets annually.

Trusted and empowered, our 35,000 Associates collaborate and unleash their unique power to achieve the best outcomes. With access to extensive resources, we continuously learn and share knowledge to build fulfilling careers, push our profession forward, and make a lasting impact on our shared future.

VCA is part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, working toward A Better World for Pets. Learn more at www.vca.com or find us on social media.

Learn more about the hospital:

VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago (https://vcahospitals.com/animal-care-chicago)

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com