"Director of the Veterinary Health Center and Professor (Open Rank & Track)"

Hiring Department

Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery

Job Description

Position Overview:

The College of Veterinary Medicine at MU is on a mission to educate and train outstanding clinicians and scientists, generate new knowledge, engage stakeholders, and foster economic growth, all of which promote and protect the health and welfare of animals and people. Our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional program boasts a unique curricular structure, which provides nearly two years of hands-on training in the college’s general and specialty clinics. Additionally, the College is a leader in the training of Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students in the areas of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Pathobiology. Simply put, our mission is to Teach, Heal, Discover, and Serve.

The Director of the Veterinary Health Center (VHC) serves as the chief administrative officer responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial leadership of the VHC, a premier academic veterinary medical center. This role is pivotal in advancing the College of Veterinary Medicine’s mission to teach, heal, discover, and serve by ensuring the delivery of exceptional clinical services, fostering a dynamic learning environment, and supporting innovative research.

This position will have a great impact on the mission of the College of Veterinary Medicine:

• Teach: Enhances clinical education by providing a robust, well-managed environment for student learning, house officer learning, and faculty instruction.
• Heal: Ensures the delivery of high-quality veterinary care that improves animal health and well-being.
• Discover: Supports research by facilitating clinical trials, data collection, and collaboration with academic departments.
• Serve: Elevates the standard of care for animal patients and strengthens community trust through compassionate service.

About the Veterinary Health Center:

Veterinarians throughout the Midwest refer patients to the Veterinary Health Center for specialized diagnoses and treatment. With sophisticated therapeutic and diagnostic equipment, including an underwater treadmill, gait analysis monitors, advanced imaging, and groundbreaking equine lameness diagnostic methods, we are a regional center for animal health care. Additionally, the VHC offers primary care services across the spectrum of treated species. Clinical services are provided by faculty, house officers (interns and residents), technicians and other nursing staff, and students.

• The VHC is divided into small animal, shelter medicine, equine, and food animal hospitals. The equine and food animal hospitals provide both in-clinic and ambulatory services.
• The VHC generates approximately $25 million annually in clinical revenues.
• In Fiscal Year 2025, the VHC had a caseload of 31,592 cases. The Small Animal Hospital accounted for approximately 80% of the total caseload, with the Large Animal Hospitals (Equine and Food Animal combined) accounting for the remaining 20%.
• The VHC has 55 board-certified clinicians in 19 clinical services.
• The VHC receives referrals from over 1,200 veterinary clinics.
• The Oncology service houses all three oncology sub-specialties: medical, surgical, and radiation oncology; and is equipped to perform leukapheresis for cancer immunotherapy.
• Our Radiology Department is one of the most advanced and comprehensive veterinary imaging centers in the country. Equipment of note includes PET/CT, digital 3T MRI, equine standing CT, and high-resolution fluoroscopy.
• In Fiscal Year 2025, the Shelter Medicine program performed 4,131 surgeries for our shelter partners. In addition to spay and neuter, these surgeries include (but are not limited to) dental cleaning/extractions, enucleations, amputations, orthopedic repairs, and lump removals.
• The VHC is home to a full-service on-site pharmacy and a dedicated social worker who provides client support and programming.
• The VHC has access to a wide range of diagnostic testing through the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL), another service operation of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Position Responsibilities:

The Director will oversee all aspects of the VHC’s operations, including hospital administration, financial management, clinical service delivery, client relations, and staff development. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with a strong background in veterinary clinical operations, business administration, and team leadership.

• Responsible for strategic plans, initiatives, and operational alignment:
  • Develop and implement strategic plans that align VHC operations with the college’s strategic plan, mission, and goals.
  • Lead initiatives to improve operational efficiency, patient outcomes, and client satisfaction.
  • Foster and encourage behaviors with the VHC team that align with the vision, mission, and values of the University of Missouri, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the practice of veterinary medicine.
• Oversee VHC operations, compliance, and communications:
  • Oversee the VHC’s budget, financial planning, and revenue cycle management, monitor financial performance, and implement strategies to optimize revenues and sustainability.
  • Collaborate with college and university finance teams to ensure fiscal accountability and transparency.
  • Engage in effective communication and build relationships with the referral community and the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association.
  • When concerns arise, correspond and communicate with clients of the VHC to address the situation.
  • Ensure compliance with university policies, AVMA best practices, and state and federal regulations including overseeing outside review and inspections of the VHC, fiscal oversight of the VHC budget, and the audit and review of medical records.
  • Manage and provide direct supervision to a management team that includes a Hospital Administrator, Pharmacy Manager, Radiology Supervisor, Social Worker, Veterinary Technician Supervisors, and other support staff.
  • Work collaboratively with CVM leaders in areas such as fiscal and business operations, human resources, and strategic communications to accomplish VHC goals and align activities with college initiatives, policies, and practices.
• Lead the VHC in identifying new opportunities, operational efficiencies, and ways to operate more effectively and sustainably, while simultaneously improving the experience for clients, students, and staff:
  • Unlock new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and visibility across the hospital and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
  • Elevate the VHC’s performance and ensure alignment with the college’s mission.
  • Execute focused reviews of workflows and resource utilization across all hospital units.
  • Implement best practices and process improvements that reduce costs and improve service delivery.
  • Provide strategic oversight of staffing models, scheduling, and service coordination to maximize productivity and patient care.
• Support the educational mission of the VHC:
  • Encourage and support a mentality of continuous improvement, growth, and professional development across all levels of the VHC.
  • Work in tandem with the Department Chair of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery to facilitate teaching, research, and service activities of the department.
  • Based on incumbent interest, continue to engage with their medical specialty through involvement in resident training and / or clinic rotations.

This position will report directly to the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Veterinary Health Center is housed within the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. This position works in close collaboration with the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Department Chair of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, the CVM Business Officer, and the Assistant Director of Human Resources, as well as others across the college and university.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree (such as VMD, BVSc).

Candidates will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:

• Eligibility for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in Missouri
• Residency training and Diplomate status in a veterinary specialty recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) or the European Board of Veterinary Specialization (EBVS)
• Advanced education or credentials in business management, practice management, or veterinary operations
• Prior experience in management or leadership in a veterinary teaching hospital, an academic veterinary medical setting, or a large veterinary medical facility or practice
• Background in strategic visioning, planning, and implementation
• Ability to be an effective collaborator and successfully work with other leaders to accomplish goals and objectives
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage a variety of stakeholder and constituent groups.
• Interest in and passion for academic veterinary medicine and its goals of teaching, research, and service

Application Materials

Interested candidates should be prepared to attach:

• Letter stating professional interests and career goals
• Curriculum Vitae

Please contact Noah Hartsfield, HR Recruiter, at hartsfieldn@missouri.edu or 573-882-3761 with any questions or to learn more.