Wheaton Animal Hospital - Medical Director

Job Description

Job Description

Wheaton Animal Hospital , located in Kensington, Maryland just outside of Washington D.C. and Baltimore, has been providing quality, compassionate care for Maryland's pets since 1947. Treating dogs, cats, and exotic animals, our team is staffed by compassionate professionals focused on providing pet care in a relaxed environment. Our facility offers modern technology and a wide range of services, including wellness care, surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, and emergency care. With more than sixty years of experience, the Wheaton Animal Hospital team are tried and true specialists whose goal is the safekeeping of our small animal patients.

Wheaton Animal Hospital in Kensington, Maryland is seeking a  Medical Director to lead our established, collaborative veterinary team!

We're looking for a passionate veterinarian who enjoys practicing high-quality medicine, mentoring fellow doctors, and helping shape the future of a well-respected community hospital. Whether you're an experienced Medical Director or a seasoned veterinarian ready to take the next step in your leadership career, we'd love to meet you!

For more than 50 years, Wheaton Animal Hospital has been a trusted part of the Kensington and Wheaton communities, providing compassionate, comprehensive veterinary care. Our full-service hospital primarily serves dogs and cats while also offering care for a diverse exotic animal caseload.

Exotic animal experience is NOT required! While our hospital has a well-established exotic animal clientele, we are equally excited to welcome a Medical Director whose clinical interests focus exclusively on canine and feline medicine. For those interested in exotics, the opportunity to incorporate exotic medicine into your caseload is available, but entirely optional.

• Leadership Opportunity: Help guide the medical direction of an established hospital while mentoring and supporting an experienced veterinary team.

• Collaborative, Experienced Team: Work alongside tenured professionals who value teamwork, strong client relationships, and individualized patient care.

• Flexible Scheduling: Enjoy a schedule designed to support work-life balance while balancing clinical and leadership responsibilities.

• Practice High-Quality Medicine: Our full-service hospital offers preventive care, dentistry, digital radiography, ultrasound, soft tissue surgery, diagnostics, and urgent care.

• Exotics Are Optional: Interested in exotic animal medicine? Fantastic! Prefer to focus solely on dogs and cats? That's absolutely fine, too!

• Established Community Reputation: Join a trusted hospital with a loyal client base and decades of meaningful relationships in the community.

• Make a Lasting Impact: Play an important role in shaping hospital culture, supporting medical excellence, and helping the practice continue to grow.

Wheaton Animal Hospital provides comprehensive veterinary services, including wellness and preventive medicine, dentistry, surgery, diagnostic imaging, and medical management of complex cases.

For veterinarians with an interest in exotic animal medicine, our hospital also serves birds, reptiles, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, rodents, fish, and other exotic species.

Experience treating exotic animals is considered a bonus, never a requirement for this leadership opportunity.

Position Summary:  

The primary purpose and function of the Medical Director is to manage the hospital and ensure the highest quality of veterinary care, exceptional client service, associate engagement and maximum productivity of the veterinary medical team. The Medical Director advocates for pets and their quality of life; builds a long term bonding relationship with clients; contributes to the development and maintenance of the human-pet bond; and educates clients and hospital associates on all aspects of pet health. The Medical Director partners with the Practice Manager as well as the Director of Operations to operate an effective and productive veterinary medical team, ensure a safe and engaging hospital environment, and improve both the medical quality and business performance of the hospital. Additionally, the Medical Director acts as a driving force behind a positive, high-performing culture that aligns with VetEvolve's guiding principles of Care First, Better Together, Grow Forward, and Own It.

The ratio of time spent on leadership duties and practicing Veterinarian responsibilities will vary depending on the hospital situation; the Medical Director must use good judgment in prioritizing their duties on any given day, ensuring hospital productivity.  On average the ratio is expected to be about 1/3 leadership duties and 2/3 Veterinarian duties. 

Primary Responsibilities  

• Partner with the Practice Manager to oversee hospital operations, ensuring high-quality patient care, exceptional client service, and strong team engagement. 
• Lead and mentor veterinarians and staff to achieve clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and a positive workplace culture. 
• Train, coach, and develop associates; participate in recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and corrective actions when needed. 
• Support and enforce practice protocols, medical standards, and compliance with state, federal, and corporate policies. 
• Oversee scheduling, workflow, and staffing to meet client and hospital needs efficiently. 
• Lead regular doctor meetings to communicate priorities, share updates, and ensure alignment across the medical team. 
• Attend department and team meetings, both in person and virtually, to stay informed, collaborate effectively, and support broader practice alignment. 
• Partner with leadership to support marketing initiatives, financial goals, and strategic objectives. 
• Provide high-quality veterinary care and exceptional client service while maximizing efficiency, productivity, and practice profitability. 
• Practice veterinary medicine in compliance with the State Veterinary Practice Act, Federal and State controlled substance regulations, and all local, state, and federal laws. 
• Perform complete diagnostic workups, establish accurate histories and physical exams, develop thorough treatment plans, and deliver appropriate urgent, preventive, and ongoing care. 
• Prescribe and administer drugs, vaccines, and other therapies as appropriate; perform surgery, dental procedures, and other treatments using standard protocols, instruments, and equipment. 
• Maintain accurate and complete medical and controlled substance records, including inventories, ordering, dispensing, and disposal; ensure proper storage, security, and handling of controlled substances and promptly report any loss or theft. 
• Develop, implement, and enforce SOPs and staff training to ensure compliance, safety, and quality standards. 
• Effectively communicate diagnoses, treatment plans, and home care instructions to clients and the veterinary medical team; address and resolve client concerns. 
• Promote the safety of pets, clients, and team members by ensuring safe restraint techniques, adherence to practice guidelines, and maintaining clean, organized, and sterile treatment, exam, and laboratory areas. 
• Build strong, lasting relationships with clients and gain their trust and compliance. 
• Demonstrate integrity, ethics, and embody VetEvolve's core values of Care First. Better Together. Grow Forward. Own It.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:  

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) or equivalent, with an active or eligible state license. 
• Minimum 5 years of clinical experience; prior leadership or management experience preferred. 
• Strong medical, surgical, and diagnostic skills across companion animal practice. 
• Excellent communication, leadership, and mentoring abilities. 
• Collaborates effectively in a fast-paced, client-centered environment. 
• Commitment to maintaining professional ethics, safety, and high-quality patient care. 
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and safely handle dogs weighing up to 130 pounds.  
• Comfortable standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and reaching for extended periods during the workday. 
• Professional, neat appearance consistent with hospital standards. 

Compensation and Benefits:   

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage. In addition, employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan. Other benefits include paid time off, paid holidays and access to employee assistance program. 

Hours:   

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule and be available for scheduling during all hours the practice is open to support hospital operations.

Apply here or contact Meaghan Mostriansky at View email address on ziprecruiter.com for more information and a confidential, exploratory conversation!