Professional Practice Assistant or Associate Professor-Live Animal Surgery

The Department of Veterinary Clinical and Life Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Utah State University seeks a Professional Practice faculty member to serve as Course Coordinator and Instructor of Record for Live Animal Surgery I and II (VM 7351 and VM 7352) in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum.

The faculty member will provide surgical instruction and clinical oversight for a hands-on course in which veterinary students perform common small animal surgical procedures under supervision. Primary procedures include canine and feline ovariohysterectomy and orchiectomy. Patients may include animals being prepared for adoption, including animals with limited or incomplete medical histories. The course is designed to develop foundational surgical skills and day-one competencies essential for entry-level veterinary practice, emphasizing safe surgical technique, sound clinical judgment, appropriate decision-making, and recognition of when additional assistance is warranted.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the clinical judgment, composure, and leadership necessary to supervise multiple simultaneous surgical procedures while maintaining patient safety and a positive learning environment. The faculty member will lead a multidisciplinary instructional team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, including a lead veterinary technician assigned to the course, and support staff. The position requires sound clinical judgment, clear communication, and the ability to guide learners through challenging or unexpected clinical situations while reinforcing surgical competence, confidence, and professional accountability.

• Surgical Instruction and Student Development
• Coordinate and deliver Live Animal Surgery I and II as Course Coordinator and Instructor of Record.
• Provide direct instruction, supervision, and constructive feedback as students prepare for, perform, and recover patients from surgical procedures.
• Teach surgical principles, aseptic technique, tissue handling, hemostasis, perioperative care, and related clinical skills.
• Develop and assess day-one surgical competencies, emphasizing progressive student responsibility, safe surgical practices, clinical decision-making, and readiness for entry-level veterinary practice.
• Assess student performance, assign grades, track individual surgical experiences and competency development, and support remediation when needed.
• Model professionalism, clinical reasoning, teamwork, composure, and patient-centered care.
• Foster a respectful, supportive learning environment that encourages student confidence, accountability, and progressive independence.

• Oversee patient selection, preoperative assessment, perioperative management, postoperative recovery, and clinical documentation for teaching cases.
• Recognize and manage common comorbidities, anesthetic risks, and routine perioperative complications.
• Determine when a patient should proceed with surgery, receive additional evaluation, or have the procedure postponed.
• Provide direct clinical intervention when patient safety or learner competence requires it.
• Coordinate anesthesia, analgesia, and postoperative monitoring with appropriately qualified veterinary personnel to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.

• Lead and coordinate the instructional team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and support staff during multiple simultaneous surgical procedures.
• Establish clear expectations, communication, and workflows that support effective instruction, student learning, and patient safety.
• Coordinate course preparation, case scheduling, instructional staffing, and clinical resources with CVM leadership and staff.
• Collaborate with faculty in related curricular areas, including clinical skills and anesthesia, to promote continuity in student learning.
• Participate in course evaluation, competency assessment, and continuous improvement of the surgical teaching experience.
• Adapt instructional approaches, scheduling, and operational practices as the curriculum and program mature.

• Participate in departmental and college service appropriate to the appointment.
• Contribute to curriculum development and program assessment related to veterinary education.
• Support relationships with animal welfare organizations and community partners involved in the surgical teaching program, as assigned.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), VMD, or equivalent veterinary degree.
• Eligibility for veterinary licensure in Utah; Utah licensure required before performing clinical duties.
• Demonstrated clinical experience independently performing routine canine and feline ovariohysterectomies and orchiectomies.
• Ability to assess surgical and anesthetic risk, recognize common comorbidities, and manage routine perioperative complications.
• Experience working effectively with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and clinical support staff.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to maintain composure in a dynamic clinical teaching environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to teaching and mentoring veterinary students and fostering a respectful, supportive learning environment.
• For appointment at the rank of Professional Practice Associate Professor, candidates must meet the minimum qualifications and demonstrate a record of clinical and/or teaching experience commensurate with USU standards for that rank.

• Board certification in an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty relevant to this role.
• Experience in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter, shelter medicine, or community surgical programs.
• Experience teaching, supervising, or evaluating veterinary students, interns, or clinical staff.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary clinical or surgical teams.
• Familiarity with competency-based veterinary education, student assessment, and remediation.
• Experience coordinating surgical caseloads, clinical resources, or multiple concurrent procedures in a teaching or high-volume clinical environment.

Along with the online application, please attach:

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. This position requires moderate physical activity, including the handling of objects up to 25 pounds and/or standing or walking more than one hour per day.

The Department of Veterinary Clinical and Life Sciences (VCLS) is the academic home for faculty and staff engaged in veterinary medical education, research, diagnostic services, and outreach at Utah State University. The department supports the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, biomedical graduate education, and a broad range of research activities. VCLS is also home to the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which provides essential diagnostic services supporting animal health, agriculture, and public health. As the College of Veterinary Medicine continues to grow, VCLS offers faculty opportunities to contribute to an innovative veterinary curriculum, develop collaborative research programs, and help shape the future of veterinary education in Utah.

Utah State University's College of Veterinary Medicine is home to Utah's first four-year DVM program. The College welcomed its inaugural class in fall 2025 and is building a comprehensive veterinary education program designed to prepare practice-ready graduates. Its innovative curriculum combines foundational sciences, hands-on clinical skills training, and a distributed clinical education model that provides students with experiences in veterinary practices, specialty hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, shelters, and other clinical settings. With a new veterinary medical education facility, expanding faculty, and growing clinical partnerships, the College offers a unique opportunity to join a developing program and contribute to its long-term success.

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

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*updated 10/26

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*updated 08/2026