Professional Practice Assistant or Associate Professor-Live Animal Surgery

Professional Practice Assistant or Associate Professor-Live
Animal Surgery

Requisition ID: 2026-10915

of Openings: 1

Location: US-UT-Logan

Category: Faculty

Position Type: Benefited Full-Time

Job Classification: Faculty

College: College of Veterinary Medicine

Department: Veterinary Clinical & Life Sciences

Advertised Salary: Commensurate with experience

Overview

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.

Responsibilities

Teaching (90%)

• 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.

Clinical Oversight and Patient Safety

• 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.

Instructional Team and Course Operations

• 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.

Service (10%)

• 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.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in

the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"

• Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your

application in the Candidate Profile under "Documents 1-10"

• Teaching Philosophy to be uploaded at the beginning of your

application in the Candidate Profile under "Documents 1-10"

• Contact Information for 3 Professional References to be typed

at the beginning of the application

Document size may not exceed 10 MB.

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience

ADA

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.

College/Department Highlights

About the Department of Veterinary Clinical and Life
Sciences

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.

About the College of Veterinary Medicine

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.

University Highlights

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.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries.
For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The
Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in
2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when it named Utah State the best employer in
Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally,
USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university's ADA coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at 435-797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.

*updated 10/26

To apply, visit https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/10915/professional-practice-assistant-or-associate-professor-live-animal-surgery/job?in_iframe=1

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The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU's non-discrimination policies:

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Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322

titleix@usu.edu

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For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

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U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 | OCR@ed.gov

*updated 08/2026

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