Description
Join Our Team at Safe Haven Veterinary Hospital— Opening Spring 2026!
Western Pennsylvania’s Only Independently Owned, Multi-Specialty Veterinary Hospital
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Now Hiring: Board Certified or Residency-Trained Veterinary Criticalist
Join us in creating Western Pennsylvania’s only independently owned specialty and referral hospital — a place where you can practice gold-standard medicine with full support and zero corporate oversight. We are seeking a board-certified or residency-trained critical care specialist who values autonomy, innovation, and the opportunity to help shape and develop your service, the hospital, and the way medicine is practiced.
Highlights
- State-of-the-art ICU designed for efficiency, visibility, and patient comfort
- Adjacent isolation ward with dedicated air handling and treatment flow to ensure safety and biosecurity
- Advanced monitoring and life support equipment — ventilator, telemetry, oxygen cages, and continuous ECG
- In-house MRI, CT, ultrasound, and full diagnostic suite for rapid case workups
- 24-hour nursing care by highly trained and compassionate technicians
- No administrative bureaucracy — your clinical expertise drives medical decisions
- Collaborative, supportive environment with other specialists
- Flexible scheduling and a strong emphasis on work-life balance
Our Mission: Your pet is our pet.
At Safe Haven Veterinary Hospital, compassion and excellence go hand in hand. We are proud to be the only independently owned, multi-specialty veterinary hospital in Western Pennsylvania — and one of the few across the entire Western PA and Eastern Ohio region.
In a world increasingly dominated by corporate ownership, we stand apart — veterinarian-owned, veterinarian-led, and purpose-driven. That independence means you’ll practice medicine your way, supported by highly skilled colleagues and advanced equipment — without corporate oversight or metrics-based pressure.
Our leadership team consists of veterinarians and medical professionals, not corporate executives. We believe in collaboration, transparency, and practicing medicine the way it was meant to be practiced: with skill, compassion, and integrity.
Why Independence Matters
True medical freedom: You have the autonomy to practice medicine guided by your clinical expertise and the patient’s best interests — not production goals or corporate oversight.
Your voice carries weight: With a streamlined structure and no unnecessary layers of management, your input directly shapes our hospital’s protocols, priorities, and growth.
Veterinarian-led decision making: Hospital policies, equipment selection, and staffing decisions are made by veterinarians for veterinarians.
Meaningful work-life balance: We are committed to sustainable scheduling, adequate staffing, and a culture that respects your personal time and well-being.
Team-based culture: Collaboration and mutual respect define our daily operations — not competition or quota pressure.
Why Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers a low cost of living (ranked among the top 10 most affordable major U.S. cities), making it an excellent place to live and work.
Pittsburgh is a great value for professionals relocating: the cost of living in Pittsburgh is approximately 2% lower than the U.S. national average.
Housing costs in Pittsburgh are about 11% lower than the national average in one metric, while groceries run around 2% below average.
The city is known for:
Outstanding public and private schools
- Nationally recognized healthcare systems — UPMC and Allegheny Health Network
Pittsburgh experiences four distinct seasons—vibrant falls, snowy winters, spring greenery, and warm summers.
- Outdoor and recreational opportunities abound:
o The city’s signature trail system, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, winds along the riverfront and offers easy access to biking, running and nature.
o Within roughly 1.5 hours’ drive, you can reach top ski resorts and mountainous terrain for skiing or winter sports.
City life meets small-town ease: Three rivers (the Allegheny River, the Monongahela River, and the Ohio River) converge in downtown; a lively theatre district; unique restaurants across neighborhoods; and major professional sports teams (e.g., the Pittsburgh Steelers in football, the Pittsburgh Penguins in hockey, the Pittsburgh Pirates in baseball) add cultural and social appeal.
Our Facility
Our 30,000-square-foot, purpose-built specialty hospital was designed to deliver advanced medicine in a comfortable, compassionate environment for both patients and staff.
Key features include:
- In-house MRI (not a mobile trailer), CT, radiology, ultrasound, and endoscopy
- On-site, advanced laboratory for rapid diagnostics
- Large ICU offering 24-hour monitoring and patient care.
- Private euthanasia suite, designed with empathy and respect.
- Indoor, climate-controlled dog walk area, allowing safe and comfortable recovery and exercise year-round.
- Open-concept hospital design with abundant natural light and large, ergonomic treatment areas to encourage collaboration and reduce stress.
Multiple employee breakrooms and bathrooms — thoughtfully planned because comfort, rest, and space matter.
Separate waiting rooms for each specialty service, ensuring that clients coming for routine care are not exposed to trauma or critical patients.
Planned specialties include Surgery, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Ophthalmology, and Cardiology — with room for continued growth as we expand.
We are proud to offer a benefits package that reflects our values: rewarding excellence, promoting balance, and treating every team member with respect and fairness.
Benefits
- Generous signing bonus to welcome you to our growing team
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and specialty
- Profit-sharing option — because when the hospital succeeds, you share in that success
- Comprehensive health insurance through UPMC, offering exceptional access and coverage — a significant upgrade from what many corporate hospitals provide
- Dental and vision insurance
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
- Straightforward production structure with no hidden non-production deductions — full transparency, always
- Emphasis on work-life balance through reasonable scheduling, ample staffing, and supportive leadership
CE stipend
Generous pet care discounts
Join Us
If you are passionate about exceptional veterinary medicine and want to be part of something truly unique — where your voice shapes the hospital’s future — we’d love to hear from you.
For more information or a confidential conversation, contact Gregg Peterson, COO at [email protected]
Compensation is highly competitive and tailored to your expertise, with an annual base salary ranging from $175,000 to $300,000. Final salary is determined after a careful review of your experience, qualifications, and professional achievements.
Title: Veterinary Criticalist Wanted for Premier Privately Owned Specialty Hospital
Job Summary: Competitive Salary, Excellent Benefits Package, Signing Bonus, Profit Sharing Option, Clinical Freedom
