Clinical Assistant or Associate Professor Shelter Medicine and Community Practice

Overview

This is a full-time, fiscal-year, non-tenure-track professional practice faculty appointment in the Department of Veterinary, Clinical, and Life Sciences within the Utah State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The faculty member will be embedded at the Humane Society of Utah, located at 4242 South 300 West, Murray, Utah 84107, and will support USU’s Distributed Veterinary Teaching Program through direct clinical instruction, student supervision, and contributions to shelter and community veterinary services. The position reports to the Director of the Distributed Veterinary Teaching Program and works closely with the Humane Society of Utah Medical Director to coordinate clinical responsibilities.

Responsibilities

This position has a 40% teaching, 50% clinical veterinary service, and 10% service role split.

Responsibilities

Teaching and Clinical Training (40%)

• Serve as Instructor of Record for VM7440: Shelter Medicine, Surgery, and Community Practice, ensuring structured, supervised clinical training aligned with rotation objectives.
• Provide direct clinical instruction, supervision, and mentoring during four-week student rotations, including case-based teaching, procedural coaching, and progressive entrustment consistent with student competency development.
• Complete timely formative and summative assessments of student clinical performance using USU evaluation tools and documented feedback consistent with DVTP expectations.
• Train Humane Society of Utah veterinarians and staff involved in student supervision on USU clinical teaching expectations, evaluation standards, feedback practices, and required documentation.
• Coordinate communication with DVTP leadership regarding student clinical progress, performance, professionalism, and any required remediation.
• Promote a professional, respectful, and inclusive learning environment.
• Ensure clinical experiences align with USU curriculum objectives and accreditation standards.
• Provide input on rotation structure, content, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in biannual joint steering committee meetings.

Clinical Shelter and Community Practice (50%)

• Provide veterinary medical and surgical services within shelter and community practice settings to build caseload and capacity for a student learning experience.
• Perform and supervise procedures consistent with shelter medicine standards, including spay/neuter.
• Apply population medicine principles and humane animal handling practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state veterinary laws and regulations.
• Practice in harmony with, and model, the AVMA COE accreditation standards.

Service (5%)

Serve on departmental committees or other special projects as requested by the VCLS department head.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent degree from an AVMA-accredited institution.
• Minimum of three years of relevant clinical veterinary experience.
• Proven commitment to clinical teaching and student mentorship.
• Demonstrated professionalism, including strong communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills in a clinical setting.
• Eligibility to become licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Utah within 30 days of start date.
• Qualified to obtain and maintain DEA registration and any required state licenses to handle controlled substances.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in shelter medicine, community practice, or population medicine.
• Prior teaching or precepting experience.
• Board certification or board eligibility in an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty applicable to shelter medicine.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• CV/Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
• Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application
• **Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
• Advertised Salary Commensurate with experience

ADA

The position requires the ability to perform the physical, mental, and professional activities necessary for veterinary clinical practice and student instruction, with or without reasonable accommodation. These activities may include:

• Standing and walking for extended periods.
• Bending, kneeling, reaching, crouching, and working in confined or restricted clinical spaces.
• Safely handling, positioning, restraining, and examining animals of varying sizes, physical conditions, and temperaments.
• Moderate lifting of up to 50 pounds, as well as carrying, pushing, or pulling animals, equipment, and supplies, with assistance or mechanical support when appropriate.
• Performing veterinary procedures that require manual dexterity, fine motor coordination, visual acuity, and sustained attention.
• Using surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment, computers, and other veterinary medical technology.
• Wearing personal protective equipment as required for clinical, safety, and biosecurity purposes.
• Evaluating clinical information and making timely, evidence-based medical and surgical decisions.
• Managing multiple patients, students, and competing priorities while maintaining accuracy, safety, and quality of care.
• Supervising, instructing, and providing constructive feedback to veterinary students with varying levels of clinical experience.
• Communicating clearly and professionally with students, colleagues, veterinary staff, clients, adopters, and community partners.
• Responding appropriately to urgent, unexpected, or emotionally difficult situations, including animal suffering, euthanasia, resource limitations, and challenging interpersonal interactions.
• Maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, composure, and sound judgment during periods of increased workload or stress.
• Adapting to changing clinical circumstances, instructional needs, protocols, and organizational priorities.
• Working collaboratively within the reporting and operational structures of Utah State University and the Humane Society of Utah.

College/Department Highlights

Utah State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (USU CVM) and the Humane Society of Utah (HSU) share a practical, service-driven mission: improve animal health and welfare while preparing the next generation of veterinary professionals. This role is a rare chance to do two things at once: deliver high-quality, humane clinical care that matters to the community right now and help train the people who will be delivering that same kind of care for years to come. USU CVM offers the resources, stability, and collaborative culture of a land-grant institution with a strong tradition of applied education and statewide engagement; HSU brings a mission-centered, community-facing setting with meaningful caseload and daily opportunities to make a difference for animals and the people who care for them. Beyond the work itself, living along Utah’s Wasatch Front offers an exceptional quality of life—welcoming communities, strong schools, a growing food/arts scene, and quick access to year-round outdoor recreation, from hiking and biking to world-class skiing. Utah is also a gateway to some of the country’s most iconic landscapes, with renowned national parks and state parks that make it easy to take a long weekend and get temporarily lost exploring red rock, alpine trails, desert canyons, and big-sky quiet included. When the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games return in 2034, you will see the community rally, the venues come alive, and Utah welcome the world, with volunteer opportunities providing a direct way to be part of the experience. The region’s culture of civic engagement and service makes it easy to build community, put down roots, and feel that both your professional work and your daily life contribute to something larger.

As a benefitted faculty member at Utah State University—a premier land-grant institution with a statewide mission of learning, discovery, and engagement—you’ll also have access to a strong total rewards package