Assistant or Associate Professor in Equine Surgery and Education

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Department of Clinical Sciences (DCS) at Colorado State University invites applications for a 12-month Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Equine Surgery and Surgical Education. The successful candidate will share clinical responsibilities at the Johnson Family Equine Hospital (JFEH) with 3 tenure track surgeons and a broad-based team of experienced veterinary technicians. Currently there are 3 Equine Surgery and Lameness residents. The candidate will be primarily responsible for clinical service with a commitment of 18 - 24 weeks on duty pending other research and teaching commitments. There are no primary duty after hours requirements of the position. However, the position will back up Equine Critical Care Surgeons for orthopedic emergencies. The candidate will be expected to participate in the teaching of professional veterinary medical and graduate students, and it is anticipated they will provide continuing education to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. As CSU begins a new curriculum in the fall of 2026, this hire will be expected to participate in the surgical skills training of students starting in their first year of the curriculum. The training will occur in the “VetReady” stream of the Ascend (new) curriculum. Additional didactic contributions and participation in educational blocks are also anticipated. Finally, the successful candidate will participate in surgical skills training for second year students and Fundamentals of Surgery for Third year of the legacy curriculum as it is phased out over the next one to two years.

The DCS, and JFEH are located on the South Campus of Colorado State University and have maintained a strong tradition of excellence in Equine Surgery and Lameness with successful DVM (all 4 years) and post-graduate (house officer) training programs. In addition to hospital services and educational opportunities provided at the JFEH, growth in teaching programs is anticipated with the opening of a new building dedicated to DVM education and primary care in August 2026.

The south campus facilities maintain state-of-the-art equipment with plans to enhance these within the small animal specialty hospital over the next few years. The state-of-the-art Equine Hospital (JFEH) opened in September 2021, and the new Livestock hospital opened in June 2026. The JFEH includes new surgical facilities, a dedicated lameness facility with hard and soft surfaces, CT  (to enable standing and recumbent procedures), digital radiology and ultrasound. The Translational Medicine Institute (Adjacent to the JFEH) houses an additional CT for anesthetized cases and a 3T MRI for anesthetized cases. The JFEH houses equine specialties in surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine, anesthesia, dentistry, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, and critical care and shares specialists in cardiology, dermatology, reproduction and others with the larger Veterinary Health System. The JFEH also has a vibrant primary care Equine Field and Podiatry Service. In addition to providing veterinary services to local clients CSU is a preeminent tertiary care facility with a broad-based caseload to support numerous primary (e.g., internal medicine, ophthalmology, oncology) and support (e.g., anesthesia, imaging, pathology) services.

In addition to investigator driven research, collaborative opportunities exist for partnership with clinical and basic science departments within the college, university colleagues, as well as with nearby institutions including Poudre Valley Hospital, the University of Colorado, Denver Children’s Hospital, and regional biomedical facilities. The state-of-the-art research facility (C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute) adjacent to the JFEH offers additional opportunities for translational medical research and veterinary medical continuing education.

For full consideration, applications must be submitted through Workday by 11:59pm (MT) on Monday, November 16, 2026. Email or mail-in applications will not be accepted. This position will be open until filled.

Work authorization visa sponsorship may be available based on the specific situation for the selected final candidate.

A signing bonus may be considered for successful candidates.

Essential Job Duties: 

Teaching:

• Clinical – Provide 18-24 weeks of clinical effort per year to include active instruction to 3rd and 4th year Veterinary Medical students and participation in the clinical training of visitors, interns and residents rotating through the Equine Surgery and Lameness service. Participation in shared backup after-hours coverage when on clinical duty is anticipated for orthopedic emergencies. Promoting minimally invasive surgery training, including training house officers in minimally invasive surgery is desired.

• Didactic – The candidate will provide didactic teaching within the Clinical Sciences graduate program and the DVM Professional curriculum. The candidate will also be expected to actively participate in journal club and other resident training opportunities. Candidates are also invited to participate in the ongoing DVM curriculum renewal process or ASCEND curriculum.
• Laboratory – The candidate will provide laboratory training in the Surgical Skills portion of the ASCEND VetReady stream (new curriculum), Second Year Foundations Surgical Skills, and the Fundamentals of Surgery Laboratory in third year. They will also participate in the Third Year Large Animal Procedures Laboratory and the Equine Advanced Procedures Laboratory. Experience and skills associated with minimally invasive surgery in the teaching of veterinary students would be beneficial.

Research:

• The candidate is expected to develop a research program with both independent and collaborative efforts directed at advancing knowledge in the area of equine surgery and/or surgical education. Training house officers in developing research skills toward publication as required by the ACVS is an expectation.

Service/Outreach:

• Clinical Assignment – Provide 18-24 weeks of clinical effort to the JFEH per year. Participation in shared backup after-hours coverage for orthopedic emergencies when on clinical duty is anticipated.
• In addition to being able to manage all varieties of surgical cases, a strong interest in upper respiratory, laparoscopy/thoracoscopy and soft tissue surgery is desired to enable the advancement of soft tissue surgery cases in the JFEH.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires).

Minimum Qualifications: 

• DVM or equivalent veterinary professional degree.
• Board Certification in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) or equivalent.
• Surgical skills education training experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree or research focused post-doctoral fellowship.
• Experience instructing veterinary students, interns, and residents in the practice of equine surgery and lameness.
• Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship Training.
• Expertise and clinical interests in soft tissue surgery, particularly in upper respiratory and minimally invasive abdominal/thoracic surgery.

Salary Range

Assistant Professor $148,000 – $160,000
Associate Professor $170,000 – $182,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Employee Benefits

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Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.