Description

Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

The Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch is seeking a board-certified Small Animal Surgeon or surgery residency-trained veterinarian to expand our Surgery service in a thriving, privately owned multidisciplinary specialty and emergency hospital on Florida’s Gulf Coast.  Residents completing a surgical residency are encouraged to apply, and we welcome the opportunity to support the transition from residency to specialty practice.  This is a rare opportunity to build and grow a high-impact specialty service with clinical autonomy, strong referral demand, and future ownership potential. You will play a central role in advancing specialty care in the region while working alongside a highly skilled and supportive team of specialists.

About Our Hospital

The Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch is a privately owned, 18,500-square-foot specialty and emergency hospital located one hour south of Tampa and minutes from Sarasota and Bradenton.  There is a high demand in our region for both soft tissue and orthopedic surgeons.  Our hospital is fully equipped for advanced surgical procedures, including:  CT, endoscopy, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, Arthrex TPLO and Ortholine systems, Mindray Veta 5 anesthesia machines with ventilators, and ForceTriad energy platform with LigaSure vessel sealing.  We also offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation and high-flow nasal oxygen therapy.  We have a well-stocked In-house animal blood bank.

Our multidisciplinary team currently includes specialists in:

• Critical Care
• Radiology
• Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Cardiology

Schedule

Flexible scheduling designed to support work-life balance:

• Part-time or full-time
• 3–5 days per week
• Limited on-call hours

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus production
• No negative accrual
• Signing bonus and relocation assistance
• 100% employer-covered health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Simple IRA with employer matching
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Continuing education allowance and paid CE days
• Professional dues and licensure covered
• AVMA malpractice insurance
• Uniform allowance
• Access to advanced equipment and collaborative specialty support
• Private Practice Advantage

Unlike corporate hospitals, we offer:

Clinical autonomy
Direct access to hospital leadership
Flexibility to shape and grow your service
Potential future ownership opportunities

Why Join Us?

We are a privately owned, veterinarian-led hospital committed to supporting our doctors and staff while providing exceptional patient care. You will have the resources, experienced support staff, and autonomy needed to practice high-quality medicine.  Hospital owner Dr. Wendy Ellis has served the Bradenton–Sarasota community for over 20 years and remains deeply committed to maintaining a positive, collaborative workplace culture.  We understand that compensation, schedule, and professional goals are key considerations when exploring a new opportunity and welcome confidential conversations prior to a formal interview.

If you have any questions at all about this position, please feel free to call/text Dr. Wendy Ellis at 941-266-0335 (cell) or email at [email protected] or Devon Diaz DVM, MS, DACVECC (Director of Specialty Growth and Development) 813-601-9697 (cell) or [email protected]

Requirements

DACVS or surgery residency trained veterinarian.