Director and Associate/Full Clinical or Tenure Track Professor of Shelter Medicine at InsideHigherEd

Director and Associate/Full Clinical or Tenure Track Professor of Shelter Medicine

Location:
Knoxville, TN, United States
Open Date:
Nov 1, 2025
Description:

The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) is seeking applications from an innovative and collaborative veterinarian board-certified by the ABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice) to lead its shelter medicine service and outreach activities.  The service currently consists of two clinical faculty, two veterinary nurses, and one administrative staff. The team provides spay/neuter training and didactic education to DVM students, clinical services and consults to local animal shelters and rescues, outreach clinics to the community, and conducts research.  The ideal candidate would have experience leading teams, strengthening current relationships and programs, and developing new activities that are needed for DVM training and the community. The college would like to increase its outreach to the community in the areas of shelter medicine and access to care.  Startup funds are available to aid in outreach program development or preliminary research project funding.     

The Director of Shelter Medicine will collaborate with other groups in the CVM including the Center for Veterinary Social Work, The Program for Pet Health Equity, the Office of Outreach and Global Engagement, the Office of Advancement, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. 

Allocation of responsibilities would be commensurate with either a tenure track or clinical track position and would include:

 

Administrative Service and Program Development (45%)

·         Provide leadership and strategic direction for the shelter medicine program in the areas of clinical service and teaching, research, and outreach   

·         Lead the vision, creation, and implementation of community outreach and teaching programs 

·         Supervise Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee (CAIT) program and staff

·         Establish and oversee a shelter medicine residency program

·         Oversee financial accounts and budget  

·         Lead and assist others with grant writing to solicit and maintain program donors 

 

Clinical Service (15-35%)

·         Conduct shelter consultations throughout the region and provide recommendations for improvements, outbreak management, design and implementation of SOPs and best practices

·         Provide back-up for spay/neuter service as needed

·         Provide clinical service for access to care clinics

 

Didactic teaching (5-10%)

·         Teach in elective courses in the professional veterinary medicine curriculum with other Shelter Medicine faculty  

·         Provide lectures for the core DVM curriculum 

 

Research (5-25%)

·         Conduct collaborative research on topics associated with administrative and clinical activities or other innovative topics.

 

Academic service (5%)  

·         Serve on CVM and university committees. 

·         Demonstrate leadership in the discipline of shelter medicine through participation in the Assoc of Shelter Veterinarians and/or other relevant organizations.  

·         Design and participate in continuing education to local and regional groups 

Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee flagship campus, and is a beautiful and friendly place to live. It is a short drive to the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as a number of dog-friendly state parks and recreation areas. Outdoor recreational opportunities include, but are not limited to, hiking, biking, trail running, climbing and water sports. Knoxville has a diverse and inclusive culture, a vibrant downtown with excellent shopping and restaurants; bustling farmer’s markets featuring locally grown organic produce, meats and crafts; live music of all genres, ballet, and theater; frequent art and cultural festivals; and men’s’ and women’s’ NCAA and semiprofessional sporting events.  

 

Qualifications:
Required

DVM or equivalent degree  

Board certification in shelter medicine (ABVP)

Minimum of 5 years of veterinary clinical experience  

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively  

Leadership and program development experience

 

Preferred

A post-graduate degree in shelter medicine practice, preventive medicine, epidemiology, population medicine, public health, and/or information systems  

Didactic and/or laboratory teaching experience

 

Application Instructions:

Qualified individuals are invited to submit an application consisting of: 1) letter of professional goals, 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) names of three professional references to https://apply.interfolio.com/176180. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For further information, please contact Dr. Rajeev Nair at (865) 974-8387 or by email at [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to [email protected], or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to [email protected], or by phone at 865-974-0717.