Apprentice Veterinarian

Position Overview:

Plateau Valley Animal Hospital is seeking a recent veterinary graduate to join our growing Western Colorado practice as an Apprentice Veterinarian, with the potential to advance into a full Associate Veterinarian role. The Apprentice Veterinarian will split time between our Collbran and Rifle clinics, with travel between locations necessary.

The Apprentice Veterinarian role provides a new graduate with a 6-month structured mentorship and practical training opportunity designed to build the confidence and skills needed for a successful career in mixed-animal practice. While traditional internships are designed to provide more advanced training in a specific species or specialty, this apprenticeship is designed to mentor the new veterinarian in developing the ability to perform a full range of professional veterinary duties, including but not limited to, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and surgery of both large and small animals. 

Under the guidance of the Practice Owner, Associate Veterinarian, and management team, the apprentice is never alone when making decisions or performing tasks, with the goal of gradually building confidence and independence in practice. 

We are looking for an Associate Veterinarian who:

• Is committed to developing skills in both large and small animal, in-clinic and ambulatory, care.
• Is self-motivated and proactive in seeking the caseload and supervision needed to develop proficiencies.
• Enjoys serving and living in a rural community.
• Values teamwork and collaboration.
• Approaches patient care with hands-on compassion.
• Is able to stay on task and work energetically for an entire shift, sometimes exceeding ten hours per day and in adverse weather conditions.

About Our Practice:

Plateau Valley Animal Hospital is a single-owner, two-location, mixed-animal practice in rural western Colorado, based in the communities of Rifle and Collbran. Over the past decade, the practice has experienced significant growth, and our team currently includes two veterinarians and approximately ten dedicated support staff. Our mission is simple: to provide exceptional care at an affordable cost while always prioritizing the personal connection between doctors, clients, and their animals.

We take pride in being a privately owned practice, not part of a corporate chain. This independence allows us to make decisions based on what’s best for our patients, clients, and team—not on production quotas or shareholder expectations. We value teamwork, respect, and accountability, and strive to maintain a friendly, rural, neighborly environment. 

Plateau Valley Animal Hospital is a conservative-minded practice that focuses on evidence-based veterinary care and does not subscribe to alternative medical approaches. As part of serving a small, conservative community, we value a professional appearance and demeanor that is consistent with the culture of our clients, colleagues, and community. We are family-first oriented, striving to schedule our staff in a way that supports a healthy balance between work and personal life. We believe this approach promotes a healthier lifestyle and a positive work environment. 

Key Responsibilities :

• Provide medical, surgical, and diagnostic care with 24/7 direct and indirect veterinarian mentorship.
• Offer preventive and wellness services while educating clients on optimal pet care.
• Maintain accurate medical records and ensure quality standards of care.
• Collaborate with veterinarians, technicians, and support staff to ensure smooth clinic operations.
• Participate in emergency, on-call, or overnight rotations.

Qualifications:

• DVM/VMD from an AVMA-accredited institution.
• Colorado veterinary license (or eligibility to obtain).
• Excellent communication and client service skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a supportive team.
• Be comfortable with rural practice settings and community-style veterinary care.

What We Offer:

• Strong mentorship program through a structured Ladder of Responsibilities
• Potential for full-time Associate Veterinarian position at end of Apprenticeship
• Supportive, team-oriented environment
• Work-life balance in a welcoming small-town community, supported by a 4-day work week and a shared on-call rotation that prioritized the apprentice veterinarian’s case load diversity
• Compensation package of approximately $33,000 for the six-month apprenticeship: 
• Base salary of $4,000 per month
• Paid time off
• Furnished, 2-bedroom Collbran home, all utilities and rent paid
• Fuel stipend for travel expenses between clinics

If you’re passionate about rural mixed-animal practice and want to join a supportive, privately owned team, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your résumé, cover letter, and three professional references to Plateau Valley Animal Hospital, 28485 Hwy. 6, Rifle, Colorado 81650 or drclintdennison@gmail.com. In your cover letter, tell us a bit about your experience, your areas of interest, and why rural Colorado veterinary medicine appeals to you.

To learn more about our practice, please visit our website at https://www.plateauvalleyanimalhospital  and check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PlateauValleyAnimalHospital. The Apprentice Job Description, including the progressive Ladder of Responsibilities, is posted on our website under the Employment tab.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will be scheduled accordingly.