Associate Veterinarian

• Salary: $125,000-$175,000 ProSal with no negative accrual
• Bonus: Sign-on bonus & relocation assistance available
• Address: 7372 Woida Rd N Baxter, MN 56425
• Schedule: 4-day workweek (7:30am – 5:00pm)
• Hours of Operation: 
  • Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Lakeland Veterinary Hospital is hiring an Associate Veterinarian to provide comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care to a variety of animal patients.

What to Expect

• 4:1 Staff-to-Doctor Ratio: you’ll have support from experienced staff (including 3 CVT’s) that are highly utilized, allowing you to focus on what you do best: practicing medicine!
• All the benefits you deserve—health, dental, vision, retirement—plus: Comprehensive Benefits Package, which includes sign-on bonus, relocation assistance, 100% paid short-term disability, 401k with 3.5% employer match, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and YMCA membership.
• Paid time off (PTO): Enjoy generous time off with up to 5 weeks of PTO each year, plus additional paid CE days. Take the time you need to rest, recharge, and invest in your growth.
• Mentorship: We welcome all experience levels to apply – whether you’re looking to expand your skills in surgery, dentistry, or explore new areas of interest, we’ll support your growth every step of the way. Dr. Deb is passionate about teaching and mentoring, and we are dedicated to helping you succeed in your career.
• Gold-standard medicine with clinical autonomy: We practice high-quality medicine following AAHA guidelines while encouraging collaboration among doctors and respecting each veterinarian's individual approach.
• Community-focused shared emergency coverage: We proudly partner with several neighboring veterinary hospitals to provide after-hours emergency care for the Brainerd Lakes community. This collaborative model allows local pets to receive care when they need it while keeping on-call responsibilities light and well-balanced for our doctors.
• Future buy-in opportunities and leadership/ownership pathway: Elevate your career through our buy-in partnership program, allowing you to gain ownership benefits while maintaining clinical autonomy.

Requirements

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or VMD degree from an accredited institution
• Valid veterinary license in the state of Minnesota

About Lakeland Veterinary Hospital

For more than 40 years, Lakeland Veterinary Hospital has proudly served the Brainerd Lakes community by providing compassionate, high-quality care for pets and the people who love them. As an AAHA-Accredited small animal hospital, we are committed to practicing exceptional medicine while fostering a culture where collaboration, respect, and work-life balance are just as important as clinical excellence. Our team genuinely enjoys working together, supporting one another, and creating an environment where both our people and our patients can thrive. That commitment has earned us recognition throughout the community, including being voted Best Veterinary Clinic and Best Grooming in the Brainerd Lakes Best Of competition.

Our purpose-built, modern facility is designed to support efficient, high-quality medicine and is equipped with digital radiography, digital dental radiography, ultrasound, therapy laser, an in-house IDEXX laboratory, Cornerstone paperless medical records, ScribbleVet AI-assisted documentation, six exam rooms, two fully equipped surgical suites, dedicated ICU and isolation areas, high-speed dental equipment, and advanced anesthetic monitoring. Whether you're performing surgery, working up complex medical cases, or practicing preventive care, you'll have the technology and support you need to provide outstanding patient care.

At Lakeland, you'll have the opportunity to practice a wide variety of medicine, including wellness and preventive care, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, dentistry, urgent care, emergency stabilization, and advanced diagnostics. We primarily care for dogs and cats, but we welcome veterinarians who have an interest in expanding services to pocket pets or exotics. New doctors receive a customized onboarding experience with longer appointment times and dedicated mentorship to help build confidence while maintaining a manageable caseload.

Our team is one of our greatest strengths. We believe great culture doesn't happen by accident—it is built through trust, communication, and a shared commitment to helping one another succeed. From daily huddles and regular doctor and staff meetings to fun traditions like summer boat outings, Fourth of July celebrations, and winter wreath-making, we've created a workplace where colleagues become friends and people truly enjoy coming to work.

Lakeland Veterinary Hospital is led by Dr. Deb Piepgras, a Brainerd native who earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota in 2000 and has spent her entire career caring for pets in the Brainerd Lakes community. As owner and Medical Director, Dr. Deb is passionate about mentoring veterinarians, fostering a collaborative team environment, and practicing thoughtful, high-quality medicine. She especially enjoys solving challenging medical cases and helping patients who can't tell us what's wrong, while empowering her team to continue growing throughout their careers.

About The Brainerd Lakes Area

Nestled in central Minnesota, the Brainerd Lakes Area is known for its stunning scenery, more than 500 lakes, and year-round outdoor recreation. From boating, fishing, and hiking in the summer to skiing, snowmobiling, and cozy cabin getaways in the winter, there’s something for everyone. The area also offers a vibrant community with local shops, restaurants, and family-friendly events, making it a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

We’d love to chat with you about our clinic and the community we serve. Connect with us today—we can’t wait to meet you! 

➡️Check out our Website & Facebook & Instagram!

We are dedicated to establishing a culture that celebrates all forms of diversity and allows us to be an inclusive service provider in this community.

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