Associate Veterinarian

Job Description

Atlas is excited to be working with a family-owned small-animal hospital in Chicago that is looking for an Associate Veterinarian to join its team. The hospital treats cats and dogs and combines general practice with same-day urgent care, so your days will include both planned preventive care and sick patients who need answers that day.

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The caseload covers wellness exams, vaccinations, puppy and kitten care, medical workups, general surgery and walk-in urgent cases. Preventive care is planned around each patient rather than following a fixed protocol. Integrative therapies, including acupuncture, are available alongside conventional treatment, which gives you more options for chronic and complex cases.

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Appointments run in 30-minute slots, and doctors have medical and surgical autonomy over how they work up and manage their cases. The hospital is open weekdays from 8am to 6pm and Saturdays from 8am to 3pm. It is closed on Sundays and has no overnight emergency service.

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The owner has more than 15 years of experience across general practice, emergency and urgent care, and specialty medicine. She completed a small-animal internship and has formal training in veterinary leadership. Mentorship is a real part of how she runs the hospital. The current doctor team includes a recent graduate, and the owner supports veterinarians at every career stage, whether they need structured guidance or want room to work independently. Three veterinarians are supported by around a dozen veterinary nurses and client service staff, with two to three nurses per doctor on every shift. Nurses work to the full extent of their skills, so doctors can spend their time on diagnosis, treatment and client conversations rather than tasks that can be delegated.

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The hospital is closely tied to its community. Its clients come from several surrounding neighborhoods, and the team takes part in local outreach, events and client education. The schedule is a four-day week with rotating Saturdays. This role will suit a veterinarian who enjoys a mix of wellness and urgent cases, takes time to explain recommendations to clients, and wants to grow within a small team led by an experienced clinician.

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Key highlights

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• Family-owned small-animal hospital in central Chicago
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• General practice combined with same-day urgent care
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• Medical and surgical autonomy over case management
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• 30-minute appointment slots
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• Two to three veterinary nurses per doctor
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• Owner-led mentorship, drawing on experience in general practice, urgent care and specialty medicine
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• Integrative options, including acupuncture, offered alongside conventional medicine
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• Four-day working week with rotating Saturdays
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• Closed Sundays, with no overnight emergency work
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• Suitable for both experienced veterinarians and new graduates
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• Active involvement in local outreach and client education
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About you

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• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree
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• Illinois veterinary licence, or eligibility to obtain one
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• Comfortable handling both wellness appointments and same-day urgent cases
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• Clear communicator who explains findings and options so clients can make informed decisions
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• Works well with nurses and client service staff, and relies on them to run appointments efficiently
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• Open to mentorship and feedback, at whatever stage of your career you are
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• Interested in community work and client education
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Benefits

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• Base salary with production, no negative accrual
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• 401(k) with employer match
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• Health, dental and vision insurance
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• Life insurance
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• Paid time off
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• Continuing education allowance and professional development support
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• Flexible scheduling
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• Discounted pet care for employees
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