Co-Owner Veterinarian
Compensation
Pay not listed
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Job Description
- Co-Owner / Partner DVM Opportunity
- Lake Country Veterinary Care | Marcellus, New York
- Compensation: Competitive base salary plus production, profit participation, and long-term ownership opportunity
- Location: 2527 Cherry Valley Turnpike, Marcellus, NY 13108
- Schedule: 4 days per week, plus rotating Saturdays
Become a Practice Owner
We're seeking an experienced DVM who is ready to take the next step toward practice ownership. Lake Country Veterinary Care is looking for the right veterinarian to step into a leadership and co-partnership role alongside an existing veterinary partner, with the opportunity to pursue meaningful ownership through Veterinary Practice Partners (VPP).
This is an exciting opportunity to help lead a well-established small-animal hospital that has served the Central New York community since 1985. As a Partner DVM, you'll help guide the hospital's clinical direction, support an experienced team, identify opportunities for growth, and contribute to the practice's long-term success.
We're looking for someone who enjoys practicing high-quality medicine but also has an entrepreneurial mindset, takes initiative, and wants to be involved in the decisions that shape a hospital's future.
You won't just practice at Lake Country. You'll help lead it, grow it, and share in its success.
About the Hospital
Lake Country Veterinary Care is a full-service small-animal hospital located in Marcellus, New York, near the beautiful village of Skaneateles and approximately 20 minutes from Syracuse.
Serving the community since 1985, the hospital has built longstanding relationships with generations of local families by providing compassionate, individualized veterinary care. Our patient population consists of approximately 64% dogs, 35% cats, and 1% pocket pets.
Our medical services and capabilities include:
- Preventive and wellness care, internal medicine, and advanced diagnostics
- Soft-tissue surgery, including spays, neuters, mass removals, cystotomies, gastrointestinal procedures, exploratory surgeries, and amputations
- Comprehensive dentistry with digital dental radiography
- Digital radiography with radiology consultation services
- Ultrasound and advanced imaging consultations
- IDEXX in-house laboratory equipment, including Catalyst One, ProCyte, SediVue, and SNAP Pro
- Companion Class IV therapeutic laser and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Rehabilitation, acupuncture, pain management, and integrative medicine
Oxygen Cages and Cardiology Consultation Services
- Mobile internal medicine services offering advanced ultrasound, endoscopy, rhinoscopy, and cystoscopy
- Optional house-call opportunities
Our Team and Culture
Our collaborative team includes 3 DVMs, 5 Licensed Veterinary Technicians, 2 Veterinary Assistants, and 3 Client Service Representatives.
We pride ourselves on maintaining a close-knit, down-to-earth culture built on honest communication, mutual respect, humor, and teamwork. Our experienced support staff allows our doctors to focus on medicine while providing personalized care and building meaningful client relationships.
Doctors typically see 12–14 patients per day with 30-minute appointments. Surgical days may include 3–5 procedures or 1–2 comprehensive dental procedures, depending on clinical interests and experience.
With an established client base, experienced team, broad medical capabilities, and a trusted reputation within the community, Lake Country has a strong foundation for continued growth. We're looking for the right veterinary partner to help take it forward.
About the Area
Marcellus offers the charm of a close-knit community in Central New York's beautiful Finger Lakes region, just minutes from Skaneateles Lake and approximately 20 minutes from Syracuse and Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
The Surrounding Area Offers
- Boating, fishing, kayaking, and waterfront recreation on the Finger Lakes
- Hiking, skiing, state parks, and year-round outdoor activities
- Local wineries, breweries, restaurants, and boutique shopping
- Syracuse University athletics, concerts, theater, and entertainment
- The New York State Fair and numerous community festivals
- Access to Cornell University and its veterinary resources approximately one hour away
- It's a wonderful place to put down roots, enjoy a balanced lifestyle, and build lasting relationships within the community.
What to Expect
Ownership: Opportunity to pursue co-ownership alongside an existing veterinary partner through VPP's structured partnership model
Clinical Autonomy: Freedom to pursue professional interests, introduce new services, and help shape the hospital's medical offerings
No On-Call: No overnight on-call responsibilities, with emergency and specialty hospitals available in the surrounding region
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement benefits
- PTO, paid holidays, and your birthday off
- Annual CE allowance and paid CE days
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Pet-care discounts, uniform allowance, and bereavement leave
- Professional licensing, dues, and AVMA PLIT coverage
- Professional and leadership development opportunities
Ownership and Partnership with VPP
Veterinary Practice Partners believes veterinary hospitals thrive when doctors have a meaningful voice in how their practices operate. Our partnership model allows veterinarians to pursue ownership while maintaining clinical autonomy and benefiting from the resources of an established veterinary organization.
We don't rebrand our partner hospitals. Lake Country Veterinary Care continues to operate under the name and reputation its community has trusted for more than 40 years.
What Makes This Opportunity Unique
Shared Leadership: Work collaboratively with an established veterinary partner rather than taking on the responsibilities of ownership alone
Meaningful Ownership: Opportunity to pursue an equity interest and participate in the hospital's long-term financial success
Business Involvement: Participate in strategic planning, financial performance discussions, staffing decisions, and growth initiatives
Growth Opportunities: Help expand appointment availability, develop new services, strengthen community relationships, and grow the practice
Operational Support: VPP provides resources in finance, HR, recruiting, marketing, operations, and leadership development
Professional Development: Gain experience in the business side of veterinary medicine while continuing to practice clinically
You lead the medicine and help shape the hospital's future. VPP provides the operational and business support to help you succeed.
Prior ownership experience isn't required. We're looking for a veterinarian with the clinical experience, leadership potential, and desire to become an invested partner in the practice.
Primary Responsibilities
- Clinical Leadership
- Establish and uphold high medical standards and practice protocols
- Provide exceptional medical, surgical, and dental care
- Guide case management and clinical decision-making
- Maintain accurate medical records and appropriate charge capture
- Identify opportunities to improve patient care and clinical efficiency
- Team and Practice Leadership
- Collaborate with the existing veterinary partner on hospital leadership and strategic direction
- Support hiring, onboarding, and retention of veterinarians and support staff
- Mentor associate veterinarians and support team development
- Contribute to scheduling efficiency, workflow improvements, and operational decisions
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture
- Financial Oversight and Practice Growth
- Participate in annual planning, financial performance reviews, and business strategy
- Identify opportunities for sustainable revenue growth while maintaining medical excellence
- Help expand appointment availability and improve client access to care
- Evaluate opportunities to introduce new services, technology, and equipment
- Support marketing, community engagement, and client retention initiatives
Requirements
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) degree or equivalent
- Active New York veterinary license or ability to obtain
- 5+ years of small-animal clinical experience preferred
- Strong surgical and dental skills with the ability to independently manage a varied caseload
- Interest in practice ownership, leadership, and business development
- Strong communication, relationship-building, and mentoring skills
- Proactive, adaptable, and solutions-oriented mindset
- Ability to collaborate effectively with an existing veterinary partner and hospital leadership
- Willingness to contribute to the hospital's continued growth and expanded appointment availability
- Prior leadership or practice ownership experience preferred but not required
Ready to Become a Practice Owner?
Lake Country Veterinary Care offers a unique opportunity to combine the rewards of practicing veterinary medicine with the professional and financial opportunities of practice ownership.
With an established hospital, experienced support team, existing veterinary partner, and the resources of Veterinary Practice Partners behind you, this is an opportunity to help lead a practice without having to navigate ownership alone.
If you're an experienced veterinarian who is ready to take the next step, help shape a hospital's future, and participate in its long-term success, we'd love to connect!
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where individuals are respected, supported, and encouraged to grow.
Key Responsibilities
The Co-Owner Veterinarian will provide high-quality medical, surgical, and dental care while collaborating with an existing partner to lead hospital operations and strategic growth. Responsibilities include mentoring staff, managing clinical standards, overseeing financial performance, and fostering a positive team culture.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Key Skills
General Practice Career Context
The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active General Practice listings this role was benchmarked against, 78% have no call, 48% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 8.8 / 10 · top 5% in veterinary | ranked against 4,509 Veterinary listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | not listed | General Practice median $145k (middle half $138k–$158k)45 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost of living | New York index 107.9 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| General Practice listings in New York | 6 active | 170 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 78% no call · 48% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | New York healthcare professional listings: 38% state a sign-on bonus (median $75k) · 15% offer loan repayment279 active listings, Oct 2026 |
| Veterinary Practice Partners | #12 of 15 for pay | Top Employers work-life index |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Co-Owner Veterinarian at Veterinary Practice Partners a 8.8 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Veterinary — ranked against 4,509 active Veterinary listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements, no night shifts.
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