Associate Veterinarian

Job Title:

Associate VeterinarianPosting Date:

April 2026

Job Department:

Animal HealthSchedule:

Full TimeJob Type:

On-siteLocation:

National Aquarium Pier 3 501 E Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202/ACRC 901 E. Fayette St Baltimore, MD 21202

JOB SUMMARY:

The National Aquarium is seeking an Associate Veterinarian, responsible for providing exemplary clinical and preventative medicine care for all our collection (invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and rehabilitating animals. The Associate Veterinarian will take a significant role in the clinical training of the Veterinary Fellow in collaboration with the Senior Veterinarian and Director of Animal Health. The Associate Veterinarian has managerial oversight for all aspects of the veterinary student preceptorship program, including recruitment, onboarding, directing work, and performance reviews. Responsible for maintaining detailed electronic medical records. Works collaboratively with the other veterinarians and the Director of Animal Health on determining and implementing policies and procedures. Provides rotating, 24/7 on-call coverage for emergencies and rehabilitation efforts.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Essential responsibilities include: Provide exemplary clinical and preventative medical care for all our collection (invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and rehabilitating animals, through strong team-based approaches and communications.

• Perform clinical exams on collection animals including interpretation of diagnostics and ability to review and interpret water quality. Perform gross necropsies, cytologies, and appropriate sample collection for all classes of animals.
• Develop management and treatment plans including incorporation of water quality and life support system into medical plans.
• Create and maintain clear, concise, and detailed electronic medical records.
• Provide 24/7 on-call coverage for collection animals as well as stranded marine animals.
• Participate in coverage for stranding events, including field response as well as on-site intake exams for rehabilitation animals which usually occur outside of normal working hours.
• Ensure compliance and maintenance of standards of overseeing regulatory agencies (AZA, APHIS/USDA, NOAA, etc.)
• Monitor disease trends and husbandry practices as they relate to disease prevention in the collection and work with husbandry managers to address emergent issues and develop collaborative solutions.
• Participate in formation and implementation of standard operating procedures that ensure the highest standard of care. Oversee, review, and implement appropriate animal acquisition, disposition, and quarantine protocols to support NA operations
• Coordinate animal acquisitions and dispositions, including record transfer and pre-shipment diagnostics, ensuring adnce with all state and federal testing requirements, in collaboration with partner institutions, while professionally representing NA.
• Serve as a responsible authority for ensuring complete legal and regulatory compliance in the issuance of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection by staying current on evolving regulations and industry best practices and ensuring compliance.
• Collaborate closely with husbandry staff to ensure all quarantine requirements are met, reviewing historical records, physical examination findings, relevant diagnostic testing, histopathology when available, and husbandry observations to make informed determinations regarding appropriate clearance from quarantine.

Promote and maintain the safety and well-being of animals, critical life-support systems, as well as staff and guests, through shared responsibility and interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Ensure compliance with state and federal radiation safety regulations including appropriate PPE, dosimeter usage, and proper collimation technique.
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all chemicals used in facility projects to identify hazards and minimize risks to collection animals, rehabilitation animals, and life support systems.
• Provide in-house training on zoonotic disease prevention, infectious disease outbreak coordination, and other topics relevant to the collection.
• IPM Actively contribute to and advance multidepartment team objectives, including staff education activities and research initiatives.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of high-quality welfare standards grounded in species-appropriate, evidence-based practices by advancing animal health standards, strengthening behavioral husbandry and enrichment initiatives, and providing oversight of nutritional frameworks.
• Represent National Aquarium in monthly pathology rounds and bi-annual morbidity and mortality reviews conducted in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University providing input to support high standards of diagnostic review and animal welfare.
• Act as a key liaison for the animal health team on the Welfare Committee, ensuring policy and welfare initiatives that ensure alignment with best practices and standards in health Perform and supports research projects and case.

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