Medical Director, Public Clinic

Medical Director, Queens Access to Care Public Clinic

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 30,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals. 

We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary

Animal Care Centers of NYC is on the prowl for a Medical Director who seeks to find a career where they are reminded of why they went to vet school – to help animals and the people who love them.

The Queens Access to Care Medical Center is focused on preserving the human-animal-bond. This is a hospital with an urgent care model that is not motivated by profit but by personal and professional values. You can practice medicine to the benefit of the patient without having to turn away a client, or euthanize a patient because they can’t afford the cost of care.

We are able to offer a unique business model that allows us to be truly affordable (think, $500 for a blocked cat) because of collaborative partnerships with city government, public, and private foundation support. We seek to forge relationships with private veterinary hospitals to provide an outlet for veterinarians to offer care to their patients who are facing a financial euthanasia for a treatable and fully recoverable medical condition.

Animal Care Centers of NYC has recently opened a 50,000 square foot shelter in Ridgewood, Queens that boasts this 4,000 sq foot hospital with a large surgical suite, dental suite with x-rays, ultrasound, in-house lab and radiology capabilities. This is not a wellness-based or preventative care clinic. Our focus is “secondary” care with a good prognosis for complete recovery. Clients come to us on a referral basis only. Pyometra, foreign body, urinary tract obstruction and similar conditions are what we can treat, with the aspirations to move into limited orthopedics. We will also offer affordable dental clinics and grooming.

The Medical Director will play an important role in directing patient care, establishing protocols, liaising with referring doctors and triaging cases we can successfully manage. It is a hybrid role that entails 40% direct patient care, 40% administrative & budgetary duties, and 20% doctor oversight.

Our ideal candidate can confidently handle challenging medical and surgical cases without mentorship or supervision and work within the resources we have. You won’t be referring cases for MRI’s or specialist consults, you will be using your powers of sound reasoning, good judgement and draw on your experience as a seasoned and confident practitioner.

We welcome input from day one with an opportunity to shape the trajectory of this new concept in affordable care.

Anticipated opening: Mid Summer 2025

If the model is successful, another medical center will open in the Bronx in late 2026, so there is room for growth.

Responsibilities:

• Successfully mitigate a variety of medical and surgical cases with varying levels of acuity.
• Fiscal oversight and grant management.
• Liase with partner hospitals and referring veterinarians.

Other Responsibilities:

• Work with LCSW and Practice Manager on case selection (we can’t serve everyone, sadly- at least not yet).
• Establishing and maintaining best practices while working within our budges and resources.
• Mentorship and oversight of staff veterinarians.
• Fear Free certification within 30 days of hire. 
• Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor

Salary and Benefits:

$157,590 Annually 

Animal Care Centers value work/life balance and offers a generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, 40 hours of paid CE time, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff training to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.  

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax-free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Please see the attached flyer for more details on our benefits package.

Qualifications:

• DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree required. 
• Licensure in NYS to practice veterinary medicine required. 
• DEA eligible required.
• Demonstrated competency in soft tissue surgery, orthopedics a plus. 
• 5 years experience in a management role for a shelter or veterinary hospital overseeing veterinarians.
• Experience with budgets and financial management. 
• Especially good in dealing with animals AND people!
• Strong surgical and diagnosic skills.
• Can confidently work alone. 
• Good written and oral communication skills. 
• Leads not manages. 
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, able to multi-task and prioritize. 
• Dependable, reliable, and efficient. 
• Contributes positively to create a culture of comradery and cohesion.
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

Work Environment

At ACC it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy clinic in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals of various temperaments and/or clients. Working in an animal clinic will include exposure to fur, odors, potential zoonotic diseases, and other airborne particles in abundance.

Reports To:  Sr. VP Animal Health & Welfare

Overtime: This position is exempt from overtime