New ER Doctor (NERD) Program: Starts October 2026, Practicing Veterinarians

Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)•Houston, TX

10h•Onsite

About The Position

The VEG New ER Doctor (NERD) program is designed to transform practicing non-emergency veterinarians into exceptional, confident VEG ER doctors. This six-month deep dive into the action of emergency is a structured, immersive program like no other that allows participants to transition into full-time ER doctors at VEG after successful completion. Integrating academic and clinical teachings with individualized mentorship, this program fuels a passion for ER and creates a deeper meaning around life-saving veterinary heroics. If you’re hungry to learn how to do ER, perform surgeries, advance your endoscopy skills, learn about exotics, and discover the unique rewards of customer-focused care in an open concept hospital, we find a way to say yes to training you in our NERD program. VEG was born in 2014 with a mission to help people and their pets when they need it most. This meant challenging the status quo and fixing everything that was wrong with the ER experience. Since then, VEG has expanded rapidly, with hospitals nationwide open 24/7, 365 days a year, and created a better emergency experience—not only for people and their pets, but also for everyone who works here—our VEGgies! At VEG, we find a way to say yes to the career you want in veterinary emergency medicine. This means transforming how ER works, from our open-concept hospitals, where you can handle emergency cases of every kind (even exotics!) to our immersive, customer-focused experience, which helps us give people and their pets the care they deserve. This also means saying yes to creating the greatest experience possible for our VEGgies. Yes to working in an environment where you can find your place and feel valued for the amazing work you do. Yes to having unparalleled opportunities for learning and mentorship so you can grow where you want to go in your career. And yes to making an impact here in ways you never thought possible. VEG is a 2025 and 2026 certified Great Place to Work®.

Requirements

A passion for helping people and their pets
A valid DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree
Be a practicing veterinarian for 1+ years
A desire to live and breathe emergency medicine
A valid license to practice veterinary medicine, as well as a valid DEA registration in the state you will be completing your program by your start date
Ability to stand for prolonged hours, kneel, and work on the floor, as well as ability to lift up to 25 kg on own and able to support up to 40 kg with assistance
Must be willing to work in a noisy environment with strong or unpleasant odors
Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays on a rotating or as needed basis based on hospital needs
Work well in a fast-paced environment with people from all backgrounds and different personality types
Can commit to a predetermined schedule for a consecutive six-month period

Nice To Haves

Empathetic, instinctively taking a people-centric approach, whether supporting your colleagues or making an effort to understand different perspectives
Have a sense of humility; acknowledging mistakes, sharing credit with others, and lifting up your team’s’ accomplishments
Feel a strong sense of ownership over your work, taking responsibility for outcomes and staying committed to achieving long-term, impactful results
Curious by nature; you ask insightful questions and continuously seek out opportunities to learn and grow your skills and knowledge

Responsibilities

Work side-by-side with experienced VEG doctors who will mentor you through real ER cases, offering guidance and feedback every step of the way.
New ER Doctors (a.k.a. NERDS!) get up-close, firsthand ER experience, working 3-4 hospital shifts per week (days, swings, and nights), as well as through weekly case discussions, literature reviews, and hands-on training at state-of-the-art facilities.
Learn best practices for client-centered communication and care, the VEG Way.
Earn over 160 RACE-approved CE hours in just six months, including hands-on training and weekly didactic learning.
Participate in CE highlights such as Abdominal, thoracic and cardiac point-of care ultrasound, Exotic companion animals in the ER, Flexible GI endoscopy, Small animal emergency surgery, Small animal critical care lab, and RECOVER ALS and BLS Rescuer CPR certification.