Veterinary Student Externship

About the hospital: Lake Forest Animal Hospital located on the outskirts of Lynchburg, Virginia is looking for a veterinary extern to join our team!

Located in a historic, highly recreational community and bordered by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Forest Animal Hospital is a small animal veterinary practice offering general practice, emergency, surgery, and dental services. Its team of veterinarians has a wealth of experience, one of whom — along with the practice manager — has been working there since it first opened. To date, many of its clientele have been bringing their pets to Lake Forest just as long for all of their veterinary needs. Lake Forest Animal Hospital has gained a reputation for its excellent care, recently earning the Lynchburg Living Bronze award for their level of dedication.

Externs looking for a strong, established team to join will benefit from the practice’s broad portfolio of capabilities, its advanced equipment, and its reputation for compassionate care. Its veterinarian team is supported by a technician or assistant, and any major procedures will see doctors supported by two or three support staff. The practice also has two full-time groomers as well as a separate boarding facility with its own staff. Its dental suite is a recent addition to the facility, providing a great opportunity for doctors to build their skills in that area. In addition to the dental suite, the team uses ultrasound often to elevate the diagnostic evaluation of patients, which leads to better patient outcomes.

Why consider an externship with Lake Forest Animal Hospital?

• Mentorship from multiple strong veterinarians who are excited to welcome a student
• Team has strong clinical skills in the areas of wellness and dentistry
• Gain experience with basic soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries
• Fully equipped with in-house lab capabilities, digital x-ray, ultrasound and therapeutic laser
• Excellent culture, collaborative environment, and low turnover

What we offer externs:

• Stipend to offset the cost of housing and travel
• Opportunities to connect with multiple VetEvolve practices

Why VetEvolve:

• VetEvolve's Support from the Start program is designed to provide new veterinarians with mentorship, hands-on training, and a customized post-grad experience to build a strong foundation. This includes assigned mentors, individualized mentorship plans, and opportunities for specialized training and continued education to help you develop your skills and confidence while fostering a healthy work-life balance.
• Industry leading Veterinarian and support staff retention rates - Hear why our Veterinarians are "Happy Here" on our videos page.
• We invest in our team members’ professional growth and mental wellbeing, and many of our team members hold Compassion Fatigue Professional certifications.
• We live by our core values: Serve, Evolve, and Trust.
• “They allow me the freedom to practice as I see fit…We can make almost all of our main decisions ourselves, at the clinic level. Their up front focus on honesty and improving over time keeps surprising me each time they demonstrate it. Veterinary medicine is not always the prettiest, easiest, happiest, or most satisfying line of work as we all know, but I can't imagine doing it for any other group. VetEvolve has been able to retain a small feel over time, as it grows, which is huge for me.” - VetEvolve network DVM. Reach out to us to hear more from our Veterinarians about how we strive to provide team members environments where they feel “Happy Here”.
• Repeat winner of Virginia’s Best Places to Work (we are based in Virginia).

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited Veterinary School (VMD or DVM degree path)

Apply here or contact Ashley Anderson at anderson@vetevolve.com for more information.

Interested in Joining Our Team?

We’re always excited to connect with veterinary professionals who are passionate about providing exceptional care and building strong client relationships. Even if we don’t have a current opening that matches your background, we’d love to hear from you!

No matter what type of role you're looking for, feel free to submit your resume and contact info here. We’ll keep your information on file and reach out if a role becomes available that fits your skills and interests.

Veterinarian – Lake Forest Animal Hospital | Lynchburg, VA
Discover a fulfilling career in a scenic, supportive community.

Lake Forest Animal Hospital, nestled on the outskirts of Lynchburg, Virginia, is seeking a dedicated Veterinarian to join our friendly and experienced team! Located just off the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway, our practice offers the perfect blend of quality veterinary care and access to outdoor adventure in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Why Lake Forest Animal Hospital?

At Lake Forest, we pride ourselves on fostering a positive, collaborative culture. Our veterinary and support teams are highly tenured, fun to work with, and deeply committed to patient care. Our efforts haven’t gone unnoticed—we’re proud recipients of the Lynchburg Living Bronze Award for excellence in veterinary services.

What You’ll Find Here:

• A supportive team of 3 full-time veterinarians, seeking a 4th to complete the crew

• A brand-new, state-of-the-art dental suite

• Recently built, separate kennel facility to reduce hospital noise and stress

• A leadership team passionate about mentorship, professional development, and optimizing hospital flow

• Easy access to outdoor recreation—from hiking and biking to kayaking and camping

Who We’re Looking For:

• A full-time or part-time Veterinarian

• Open to both new graduates and experienced clinicians

• A team player with a growth mindset and a commitment to high-quality medicine

About VetEvolve

Lake Forest Animal Hospital is part of the VetEvolve network, a group of locally led practices focused on making sure our teams are “Happy Here.” We believe that happiness at work is personal, and we’re committed to supporting your evolving needs at every stage of your career.

“They allow me the freedom to practice as I see fit… VetEvolve has retained a small practice feel while growing—something that’s very important to me.” – VetEvolve Veterinarian

We live by our values: Serve. Evolve. Trust. These principles guide how we care for our patients, collaborate as teammates, and support one another.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary for experienced veterinarians: $140–175K (based on skillset, experience, and schedule)

• Additional earning potential: $180K+ via a no-negative-accrual bonus plan (optional)

• Relocation stipend and multi-year commitment bonus available (negotiable)

• Comprehensive benefits package including:

  • Paid vacation & sick leave

  • Health, dental, vision insurance (generous employer contribution)

  • Supplemental insurance options

  • Full coverage of licensing, liability, and professional dues

  • 401(k) with employer contribution

  • 100% paid short-term disability premiums

Growth & Development

• Customized continuing education packages + 1 full week paid CE time annually

• Support From the Start wet lab-based mentorship for new grads

• Access to MentorVet, Vet Specialists On Demand, and wellness coaching resources

• Internal CE including annual retreats, webinars, and local hands-on events

Ready to Learn More?
We’d love to learn about your goals and show you how we can support them. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for your next career move, we welcome the chance to talk.

Contact fong@vetevolve.com for more information and a confidential, exploratory conversation.