24000002A4 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Typical Responsibilities:

• Direct Veterinary Care: The Clinical Veterinarian, along with veterinary support staff and LAF husbandry staff, is responsible for observing, diagnosing, treating, and controlling the health conditions of the animal colonies that are involved with research and teaching. S/he develops and implements disease prevention and diagnosis procedures and programs; S/he develops and maintains records for the veterinary care programs. The Clinical Veterinarian directs veterinary support staff and end-users in the treatment of sick animals, ensuring all appropriate charts and records are maintained. S/he consults with and instructs investigators and support staff on the diagnosis and treatment of animals; prevention of infections and infestations; selection and administration of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers; and planning and conduct of animal surgical procedures. S/he provides specialized diagnostic services including the examination of animals, animal tissues and body fluids for the isolation and identification of pathogens, abnormalities, injuries, or research related complications.The Clinical veterinarian will share on-call evening, weekend and holiday duties with other OLAC veterinary staff.
• Animal Care Program Development, Implementation, and Maintenance: The incumbent provides professional veterinary expertise and professional direction for the Animal Care Program. The S/he assists in the preparation of grant applications for facilities improvement and resource grants. S/he works closely with administrators, faculty, animal care staff, and the UTK IACUC to evaluate facilities and practices and to recommend practical and effective animal care and use procedures, maintenance systems, and facility needs which may include specialized facilities, equipment, and services related to, for example, surgical suites, quarantine, biological containment, laboratory, necropsy, and diagnostic and medical treatment facilities. S/he participates in the creation, development, periodic review, and revision of facility specific, departmental and IACUC standard operating procedures. S/he assists in development of training programs and participates in training of individuals who work with animals to meet regulatory and accreditation requirements for such training.
• Regulatory support: The Clinical Veterinarian helps provide regulatory oversight for the ~20,000 animals housed at over 18 facilities and used in the Animal Care Program at UTK each year to ensure that it meets regulatory and accreditation requirements. S/he maintains in-depth familiarity with regulatory guidelines and laws to help in identifying any non-compliant animal care and use elements or procedures. S/he provides veterinary consultation for all animal care and use protocols, and works with the IACUC office to perform/participate in facility inspections and semi-annual program review. S/he serves as a voting/alternate member of the IACUC. S/he serves as a voting/alternate member of the IBC.
• Other duties as assigned: The Clinical Veterinarian may provide research support services including research project development, providing quotes for supplies and time needed to complete research projects, and technical services for project completion (anesthesia, surgery, and other procedures). Teaching/instruction for undergraduate, graduate, professional students may occur, as requested.The incumbent mentors students, peers and junior employees in research animal welfare and regulatory compliance. S/he also ensures that occasional small tasks in the program are filled. This includes ordering and maintaining inventory, maintaining a clean and orderly work environment, animal husbandry, and other duties, as needed. The incumbent maintains a license to practice veterinary medicine and attends annual continuing education courses where topics include the clinical care and surgery of animals, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance.

Desired Competencies:

• Skills: Adept at working in highly fluid, complex and ever-changing environment related to time management and organization; Advanced interpersonal communication skills including written and verbal communication skills are required; Attention to detail; Demonstrated problem-solving skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and calendar systems.
• Abilities: Ability to work collaboratively in a research and teaching environment with culturally diverse populations and with individuals of varying educational and professional backgrounds (e.g., Animal Technicians, Veterinarians, Research Technicians, Principal Investigators); Understand and interpret formalized policies, guidelines, rules, and regulations; Be flexible and work independently under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Ability to develop knowledge and skills related to the specialty field of laboratory animal medicine, if not already attained.
• Knowledge of: veterinary medicine, including surgery, pathology, toxicology, pharmacology, parasitology, and physiology for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of laboratory animals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduate Veterinarian with a DVM/VMD Degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited institution or passage of the Foreign Veterinarian Equivalency Examination and specialty training in laboratory animal medicine. License to practice veterinary medicine in a state or territory of the US is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• USDA accreditation is desirable.
• Board certification in laboratory animal medicine by ACLAM or board eligibility is highly desirable.
• Experience in independent or collaborative research is highly desirable.
• Prior experience in a land-grant academic environment is a plus.

The Veterinary Medical Center is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year. Occasional weekend, evening, or holiday work is required of this position.