Veterinary Criticalist

Star Valley Veterinary Clinic; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation assistance

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

CE allowance/PD support

Professional liability coverage

Licensing/membership support

Internship teaching opportunities

Job summary

SAGE Veterinary Centers - San Francisco is seeking a board-certified or residency-trained Veterinary Criticalist to join our advanced critical care team in a hybrid hospitalist/inpatient and receiving role. You will mentor interns and collaborate across specialties in a state-of-the-art facility in San Francisco.

We offer a strong team culture, abundant diagnostic capabilities, and opportunities to practice endoscopy or basic emergency surgery while contributing to high-level patient care.

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure.
• Board Certification in Emergency and Critical Care or residency trained and board eligible.
• Strong clinical and communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Interest in teaching and mentoring veterinary interns.

Responsibilities

• Manage high-acuity hospitalized and critical care patients within a busy specialty and emergency hospital.
• Balance inpatient/hospitalist responsibilities with receiving and consultation cases.
• Provide advanced critical care and coordinate comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients.
• Collaborate with Internal Medicine, Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Medical Oncology, Anesthesia, Radiology, and Emergency teams.
• Utilize CT, MRI, minimally invasive surgery, and ICU support to guide care.
• Teach and mentor interns through the hospital's internship program.

Education

DVM or equivalent veterinary degree

Board Certification/Residency in Emergency & Critical Care

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration

Teaching & mentoring

Job description

Hospital Name: Sage Veterinary Centers - San Francisco

Job Type: Veterinarian - Specialty

Employment Type: Permanent

Description & Requirements

Veterinary Criticalist

Base Salary: $225,000–$250,000 based on experience and qualifications
Full-Time opportunity in San Francisco, California
Schedule: FT

SAGE Veterinary Centers in San Francisco is seeking a board-certified or residency-trained Veterinary Criticalist to join our outstanding specialty and emergency team. This is an opportunity to practice advanced critical care within a highly collaborative hospital while taking on a role that blends inpatient medicine, receiving, teaching, and opportunities to utilize additional clinical skills.

Our culture is at the heart of what makes SAGE San Francisco different. We foster an environment where specialists, emergency clinicians, veterinary nurses, and support teams work closely together to provide exceptional medicine and patient care. We're committed to the growth and well-being of our colleagues and believe the strongest medicine happens when great teams work together.

The role is designed as a hybrid hospitalist/inpatient and receiving position, allowing you to manage complex hospitalized patients while remaining involved in the broader hospital caseload. Our robust internship program also creates meaningful opportunities to teach and mentor the next generation of veterinarians, with the ability to capture revenue associated with supervising interns seeing cases.

For Criticalists with additional interests or ancillary skills, there are also opportunities to practice in areas such as endoscopy and basic emergency surgery, allowing you to build a role around your clinical interests.

You’ll work alongside specialists in Medical Oncology, Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Surgery, Radiology, Anesthesia, and Critical Care, as well as an experienced ER team that includes multiple internship-trained emergency doctors.

The hospital is supported by a highly trained team of RVTs and a specialty‑specific CSR for each service. Clinical infrastructure includes a fully equipped ICU, three modern surgical suites with minimally invasive surgery capabilities, C‑arm, EEG/EMG unit, on‑site CT, and GE Signa 1.5T MRI.

To learn more about SAGE San Francisco and see the hospital, click here .

Location Highlight

Located in San Francisco's vibrant Mission District, SAGE offers an opportunity to live and work in one of California's most dynamic neighborhoods. Mission Dolores Park, exceptional dining and retail, and an incredibly pet‑friendly community are all within easy reach, while biking, hiking, surfing, and weekend adventures to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Napa/Sonoma, and the California coast are all part of the lifestyle.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off, short‑term and long‑term disability, and life insurance.

• Base salary of $225,000–$250,000 based on experience and qualifications
• Sign‑on bonus
• Relocation assistance
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• FSA/HSA options
• 401(k) with employer match
• CE allowance and professional development support
• Professional liability coverage
• Licensing and professional membership support
• Teaching and mentorship opportunities through the hospital's internship program
• Opportunities to utilize ancillary clinical skills such as endoscopy and basic emergency surgery
• Access to the broader SAGE and Ethos Veterinary Health specialty network

In your day‑to‑day, you will:

• Manage high‑acuity hospitalized and critical care patients within a busy specialty and emergency hospital
• Balance inpatient/hospitalist responsibilities with receiving and consultation cases
• Provide advanced critical care and coordinate comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients
• Collaborate closely with Internal Medicine, Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Medical Oncology, Anesthesia, Radiology, Emergency, and other specialty teams
• Utilize advanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities available within the hospital, including CT, MRI, minimally invasive surgery, and advanced ICU support
• Participate in interdisciplinary case management and rounds to ensure continuity of care
• Teach and mentor interns through the hospital’s robust internship program
• Supervise interns seeing cases and participate in clinical teaching opportunities
• Utilize additional clinical skills, such as endoscopy or basic emergency surgery, when applicable
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with clients regarding critical illness, treatment options, prognosis, and ongoing care
• Mentor veterinary nurses and support team members involved in critical care
• Build strong relationships with referring veterinarians and serve as a trusted critical care resource for the community
• Pursue continuing education and professional development opportunities through SAGE and the broader Ethos network
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative hospital culture focused on clinical excellence, compassion, and continuous learning

What You Bring

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure
• Board Certification in Emergency and Critical Care or residency trained in Emergency and Critical Care and board eligible
• Strong clinical and communication skills with a compassionate, client‑centered approach
• An interest in managing complex inpatient and critical care cases
• A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for working within a multidisciplinary specialty environment
• An interest in teaching, mentorship, and developing veterinary interns
• Additional skills or interests in areas such as endoscopy or emergency surgery are welcomed
• Commitment to exceptional patient care and the highest standards of veterinary medicine
• A passion for continuous learning, teamwork, and advancing specialty medicine

Join Us

At Ethos, this isn't just a job—it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level while helping shape the future of veterinary care.

At SAGE San Francisco, you'll join a deep bench of specialists, an experienced ER team, highly trained RVTs, and a hospital equipped for advanced critical care and complex medicine. You'll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with colleagues, teach through our internship program, and shape your practice around your clinical interests.

Whether you're passionate about critical care, enjoy teaching, or want the flexibility to incorporate additional skills into your practice, SAGE San Francisco offers a unique platform to practice exceptional medicine while living in one of the most vibrant and adventurous cities in the country.

If you're looking for a collaborative environment where your expertise, growth, and clinical interests are valued, we'd love to connect.