Associate Veterinarian
Angel Animal Hospital / Integrative Veterinary Services of Missouri (IVSMO)
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Job Type: Full-time preferred (part-time considered for the right candidate)
Compensation: Guaranteed base plus 20% production commission, plus benefits (details below)
Contact: Dr. Gary Nie, [email protected]
A Rare Opportunity: Step Into a Thriving Practice, Not Build One From ScratchAngel Animal Hospital and Integrative Veterinary Services of Missouri (IVSMO) are looking for an Associate Veterinarian ready to grow into an established client and patient base — one built over nearly 20 years of integrative practice — while also gaining broad experience on the conventional side of a full-service small animal hospital. IVSMO is one of the few veterinary services in the country built almost entirely around integrative and natural medicine, rather than a conventional, symptom-based approach.
This isn't a typical associate position where you spend years slowly building a caseload. Dr. Gary Nie is looking for the right person to mentor directly, hand over relationships with some of the practice's top-spending clients, and develop into the next generation of natural/holistic/integrative veterinary care in Springfield. For a veterinarian serious about integrative medicine, there are very few places to learn a complete, established system this way.
About Us
Angel Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital serving dogs and cats. Within the hospital, IVSMO is our integrative veterinary service, dedicated to helping animals use their body's own innate ability to heal and optimize health. We take a Whole Body approach, integrating natural modalities — acupuncture, chiropractic, ozone therapy, PEMF, essential oils, homeopathics, herbs, biofeedback, frequency therapy, and more — with conventional veterinary medicine when necessary.
Our Mission: We understand our clients want to give their pets a long, healthy, happy, high-quality life. We share that goal, and we pledge to always act in our patients' best interest and advocate strongly for their healthcare — because our clients are the heart of our practice and the reason we're here.
What We Value
- Integrity — doing the right thing every time, putting our own interests aside for what's best for the patient
- Caring & Accountable — taking intentional steps to provide the best care and the most accountable work for our clients and community
- Effective Communication — listening intentionally, showing empathy, and providing clear, straightforward education
- Curious & Courageous — always learning, always looking for better ways to practice medicine
The Role
As Associate Veterinarian, you'll split your time between the integrative/natural and conventional sides of the practice. The balance shifts as you train: early on you'll lean more conventional while you learn Dr. Nie's system and work toward certification. As your training progresses, he transitions more of his integrative caseload to you — building toward the steady-state split described below.
Integrative Care (target: roughly 30–50% of your caseload once trained)
You'll step directly into a caseload built over two decades — including some of the practice's most engaged clients, who represent the highest per-visit spend in the hospital. Dr. Nie will mentor you personally: starting with shadowing, introductions to established clients, and hands-on teaching of the practice philosophy and Whole Body approach to natural healing that has shaped IVSMO since its founding. You'll learn the full system — the exam and adjustment, the therapy cadence through the intensive treatment period, diagnostics, and the nutritional program with ongoing support and maintenance. As your confidence and autonomy grow, Dr. Nie remains available to consult on cases — this is a long-term mentorship, not a handoff and goodbye.
Conventional Care (the remainder of your time)
You'll support scheduled appointments, drop-offs, and occasional urgent care on the conventional side of the hospital. Depending on your interests and abilities, there's opportunity to take on surgery and dental cases as well. This gives you a well-rounded caseload and a second, steady stream of production.
We do not currently offer emergency or weekend care, so there is no on-call responsibility.
Growth Path
As trust and the practice grow, a longer-term ownership conversation is possible over time. It is not a condition of the role or a promise attached to hiring.
What Makes This Different
- You inherit trust, not just a job. IVSMO clients represent the highest per-visit spend of any service line in the practice. These relationships took 20 years to build — you get to start from there, not from zero.
- Real mentorship, not a sink-or-swim associate role. Shadowing, client introductions, philosophy, and case discussions — for as long as you need them, at the pace that builds real confidence.
- A defined path in a growing modality. Very few veterinarians practice integrative medicine as their primary approach rather than as an add-on. You'll learn a complete, established system directly from a practitioner who has built one over nearly two decades, while demand for this kind of care continues to grow.
- Two ways to earn. Production on both the integrative book you take over and the conventional work you do, combined into one income.
- Livable schedule. No emergency, weekend, or on-call obligation.
What We're Looking For
- DVM/VMD from an accredited veterinary college
- Missouri veterinary license, or eligibility to obtain one promptly
- Experience preferred, but the right new graduate will be strongly considered
- A genuine, strong interest in integrative, natural, and holistic veterinary medicine
- Existing certification in veterinary acupuncture and/or chiropractic is a plus, but not required — a clear commitment to pursuing these certifications promptly is required. (IVSMO sponsors your certification, subject to a modest continued-employment commitment.)
Compensation & Benefits
- Commission: 20% of production on both integrative and conventional work
- Because you step into an established, high-value caseload from day one, we offer a guaranteed base (or monthly draw) during your initial ramp while you learn the integrative system, so your income is secure from the start rather than a slow build.
- Benefits include a health insurance contribution, 401(k), continuing-education allowance and CE days, professional dues, and paid time off. Specifics will be confirmed with the candidate.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume to Dr. Gary Nie at [email protected].
There is no application deadline and no fixed start date — we're looking for the right fit, not a fast fill.
Angel Animal Hospital / Integrative Veterinary Services of Missouri (IVSMO) — Springfield, Missouri