Veterinary Intern – Humane Colorado - Animal Shelter

Description

Launch your career as a new veterinarian where it matters most. Humane Colorado is seeking passionate, purpose-driven DVM graduates for our full-time Veterinary Internship program. Work alongside seasoned professionals in a dual-rotation program between shelter and community medicine where you'll gain extensive training, mentorship and hands-on experience with surgery, diagnostics, and clinical case management—while directly impacting the lives of underserved pets and families in Colorado.  Veterinarians that complete this year long internship leave the program confident in HQHVSN, advanced dentistry, emergency surgery, managing urgent conditions and contagious diseases.  If you’re ready to make a real difference through medicine, compassion, and collaboration—this is your calling. 

Purpose of Position: The primary responsibility of Veterinary Interns at Humane Colorado is to learn and grow in your practice as a veterinarian; including demonstrating steady advancement in your knowledge and skills, preparing in advance for procedures you’re scheduled to be performing, and stepping up to manage clinical and surgical cases while asking the questions necessary to ensure you’re practicing good medicine.

Veterinary Interns at Humane Colorado rotate between shelter medicine & surgery at the Leslie A. Malone Center and community medicine & urgent care at Humane Colorado’s Veterinary Hospital at Spur.

Responsibilities

Shelter Medicine and Surgery at the Malone Center

• Provide veterinary care in fast-paced, mission-driven shelter environment. Working in partnership with teams across Humane Colorado, you will help homeless pets find homes and owned pets keep their homes, prevent and alleviate suffering, enhance the dignity of our patrons, and collaborate with our veterinary community.
• Provide outstanding veterinary care to homeless and owned pets, including physical exams, diagnostics, treatment plans, shelter and owner requested euthanasia, and necropsies.
• Perform surgical procedures on a regular basis including HQ/HV spay/neuter, dentistry, and various soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
• Lead the management of cases, advocating for the best outcome for individual animals within Humane Colorado’s scope of care.
• Practice incremental medicine, using critical thinking and decision-making skills within Humane Colorado’s scope of care.
• Participate in euthanasia and euthanasia decision making through a compassionate, thoughtful approach within the shelter and with patrons seeking end of life services for their pet.
• Effectively and compassionately communicate with owners of pets and the community.
• Partner with other departments to effectively and efficiently coordinate care and quarantine of infectious disease animals.
• Contribute to and support a culture of learning generally, and specifically for colleagues, other veterinary interns and externs, and veterinary support staff.
• Work with investigations staff regarding the evaluation, documentation, and testimony about the condition of animals involved in cruelty and neglect cases, including testifying if needed.
• Consult and provide assistance to patrons and external veterinarians regarding animals cared for by Humane Colorado.
• Contribute to and help maintain a culture of collaboration and teamwork within Veterinary Services and across Humane Colorado.
• Contribute to initiatives to improve processes and procedures.
• Manage and maintain accurate medical and surgical records.
• Remain current on trends in veterinary medicine, and in shelter medicine in particular.
• Participate in regularly scheduled Doctor Meetings and Journal Clubs.
• Present one case in “grand rounds” style and give one presentation about a shelter-related topic to members of other departments.

Humane Colorado’s Veterinary Hospital at Spur

• Provide access to high quality veterinary urgent care using an incremental care approach for underserved populations in our community. Through your work, you will help to prevent and alleviate suffering of animals in our community, maximize our impact, enhance the dignity of our clients, and work collaboratively with the veterinary community.
• Perform comprehensive patient examinations and develop diagnostic and/or treatment plan options using an incremental care approach for patients with urgent/sick care needs.
• Perform and interpret diagnostic studies including diagnostic imaging, bloodwork and in-house cytology.
• Perform surgical procedures including various soft tissue surgeries and limb amputations.
• Perform comprehensive dentistry procedures, including surgical extractions.
• Provide euthanasia services.
• Work collaboratively with the Customer Service Representatives, Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants and Veterinarian colleagues.
• Deliver effective and compassionate communication to the members of the community that we serve.
• Manage and maintain accurate medical records using a cloud-based/digital practice management software system.
• Collaborate with veterinarians within the community to provide access to veterinary care to underserved clients and their pets.
• Interact and communicate with members of the general public to promote and discuss access to veterinary care using an incremental care approach.
• Contribute to and lead initiatives to improve processes and procedures.
• Work effectively and collaboratively with all departments within the organization.
• Participate in regularly scheduled Doctor Meetings and Journal Clubs.
• Provide appropriate and constructive feedback to management in a timely and proficient manner.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and Humane Colorado business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources

Organizational Key Competencies

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Position Key Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Critical Thinking
• Team Player
• Conflict Management
• Community Partnerships
• Fiscal Responsibility

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Volunteers
• 4th year veterinary students occasionally

Travel

• This position may require travel to different work sites

Full Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Employee Discounts
• Holiday Pay
• Veterinary Interns are eligible for Gradifi Student Loan Repayment Program 
• 401(k) with matching
• And more!

Compensation: $60,000 annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Exposure to radiation in association with performing radiology procedures. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care. Frequent lifting of animals and objects up to 40 pounds with reasonable accommodation.

 We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on May 1, 2025. 

Requirements

Position Qualifications

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• High emotional intelligence
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing
• Effective time management skills with the ability to triage cases and workload
• Ability to work well within a fast-paced environment
• High attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Required

• Doctoral degree in veterinary medicine
• Eligible to obtain a Colorado Veterinary License

Desired

• Demonstrated interest in shelter medicine, community and incremental medicine and/or access to veterinary care

Salary : $60,000