Description
Veterinary Neurologist – Build a Neurology Service Your Way!
Ready to leave corporate medicine? VMC offers contract buyout assistance for specialists seeking the autonomy and opportunity of a privately owned practice.
The Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch is seeking a board-certified or residency-trained Small Animal Neurologist to join our privately owned, multidisciplinary specialty and emergency hospital on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Residents completing a neurology residency are strongly encouraged to apply, and we welcome the opportunity to support the transition from residency into specialty practice.
This is a rare opportunity to help develop a new Neurology and Neurosurgery service with clinical autonomy, strong referral demand, advanced hospital resources, flexible scheduling, contract buyout assistance, and potential future ownership opportunities.
About Our Hospital
The Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch is a privately owned, veterinarian-led, 18,500-square-foot specialty and emergency hospital located approximately one hour south of Tampa and minutes from Sarasota and Bradenton.
Our established referral network spans more than six counties, providing the incoming neurologist with the opportunity to quickly develop a strong caseload.
Our hospital is equipped with:
128-slice GE CT
MRI (coming soon)
Fluoroscopy
Endoscopy
Multiple ultrasound units
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Mechanical ventilation
High-flow nasal oxygen therapy
In-house animal blood bank
Fukuda telemetry
Advanced surgical and critical care capabilities
Comprehensive in-house diagnostics
Our multidisciplinary specialty team currently includes:
Critical Care
Diagnostic Imaging
Surgery
Ophthalmology
Cardiology
Build the Neurology Service You Want to Practice In! We are not simply looking for someone to fill a position. We want to provide the resources and support necessary to build an outstanding Neurology and Neurosurgery service.
The incoming neurologist will have meaningful input into:
Equipment selection
Neurology and neurosurgery protocols
Technician staffing and training
Scheduling and workflow
Development of the service
Future growth and recruitment
Our goal is to support both medical neurology and neurosurgery, including spinal and intracranial procedures based on the interests and experience of the specialist.
Neurology-specific support will include:
MRI capability coming soon
Advanced CT already available on site
Support for spinal and intracranial neurosurgery
Dedicated neurology technician staffing as the service develops
24/7 ER and ICU support
Board-certified Critical Care specialists
Mechanical ventilation and advanced respiratory support
In-house blood bank
Strong regional referral network
Immediate demand for Neurology services
Opportunity to select additional neurology and neurosurgical equipment
Schedule
We believe specialists should have a schedule that allows them to build a rewarding career without sacrificing their personal life.
Options include:
Part-time or full-time
3–5 days per week
Flexible scheduling based on professional and personal goals
Compensation and Benefits
Considering a move from corporate practice? Contract buyout assistance is available for qualified specialists.
We offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
No negative accrual
Signing bonus
Relocation assistance
Contract buyout assistance for qualified specialists
100% employer-covered health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision
Simple IRA with employer matching
Paid vacation and holidays
Continuing education allowance
Paid CE days
Professional dues and licensure covered
AVMA malpractice insurance
Uniform allowance
Access to advanced equipment and collaborative specialty support
The Private Practice Advantage
Unlike many corporate specialty hospitals, VMC offers the ability to directly influence how your service operates.
You will have:
Clinical autonomy
Direct access to hospital ownership and leadership
Flexibility to shape your schedule and service
Input into equipment and staffing decisions
The ability to build and grow your own specialty department
Potential future ownership opportunities
Decisions regarding your service can be made directly with hospital leadership rather than through multiple layers of corporate administration.
Why VMC?
We are a privately owned, veterinarian-led hospital committed to supporting our doctors and staff while providing exceptional patient care. You will have the resources, experienced support staff, specialty collaboration, and autonomy necessary to practice high-quality medicine while helping advance specialty care throughout the Sarasota-Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch region.
Hospital owner Dr. Wendy Ellis has served the Bradenton-Sarasota veterinary community for more than 20 years and remains actively involved in maintaining a positive, collaborative workplace culture. We understand that compensation, schedule, clinical autonomy, professional goals, and quality of life are major considerations when exploring a new position. We welcome confidential conversations before a formal interview for anyone interested in learning more about the opportunity.
Interested in Learning More?
Please feel free to call, text, or email:
Dr. Wendy Ellis
Owner, Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch
Cell: 941-266-0335
Email: ellis.vmc@gmail.com
Dr. Devon Diaz, DVM, MS, DACVECC
Director of Specialty Growth and Development
Cell: 813-601-9697
Email: drdiaz.vmc@gmail.com
We would be happy to have a confidential conversation about your professional goals and what you would want your ideal Neurology service to look like.
Requirements
Requirements
DVM
DACVIM (Neurology) or residency trained
