At Illinois, you’ll find competitive salaries …
… and a host of benefits not typically found in private practice:
- 26 vacation days, 14 paid holidays, and 24 sick days per year
- Outstanding retirement benefits plans
- Excellent health, dental, and vision coverage
- Paid parental and bereavement leave
More Perks:
- Eligibility for the federal Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program
- Potential to augment income through outside consulting
- Access to world-class performing arts center, Big Ten sports, and fitness and recreation centers
- Friendly and affordable community with cosmopolitan features
You’ll find supportive leadership, a collaborative environment, and opportunities for personal and career growth.
- You’ll work with veterinary colleagues representing more than 20 specialty areas, including:
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- ◦ Five diplomates in veterinary emergency and critical care
- ◦ Four anesthesiologists
- ◦ Collaborative colleagues in neurology who share a robust and diverse caseload
- ◦ And experienced and dedicated technical staff
Choose from a complete cadre of state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment, including:
- 128-slice CT and 3T MRI for diagnostic imaging
- Harmonic scalpel offering a variety of choices for dissection, resection, and hemostasis
- Zeiss Opmi operating microscopes with dual head-to-head configuration
- Nanoscope and vet microplating system
- 3D printing for surgical planning
- Arthrex Vet Systems arthroscopy suite
- BioMedrix I-Loc® IM fixator and Total Hip Replacement systems
- LCP and LCDCP internal fixation plating systems
- Synthes battery-operated surgical drills, Aesculap Acculan TPLO saws, sagittal and sternal saws, and all required types of hand equipment/tools
- Additional equipment is available upon request
You’ll love working in our 9,000 sq. ft. small animal surgical wing, built in 2021, with eight operating rooms, 2 C-arm fluoroscopic units, and an interventional suite.
You’ll have autonomy in clinical decision-making and scheduling and a plentiful and diverse caseload.
A complete renovation of the orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation spaces within the hospital is under way.
Every hospitalized orthopedic patient receives a rehabilitation assessment and treatment and goes home with individualized exercise instructions.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Tisha Harper is a board-certified small animal surgeon specializing in orthopedics and rehabilitation. She earned her DVM from the University of the West Indies and completed a small animal surgery residency at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a Diplomate of both the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and also holds certification as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP). Dr. Harper has over 20 years of experience in academic veterinary medicine. She rejoined the Illinois faculty in October 2025 after several years in private practice.
Dr. Bridget Morton holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in public health and biosecurity from St. Louis University. After earning her veterinary degree from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, she completed a rotating internship at The Ohio State University followed by a small animal surgery residency and master’s degree at the University of Illinois.
She spent several years as a small animal surgeon in a private specialty practice in Florida before returning to join the Illinois faculty in 2025.
Dr. Sydney Rosen earned her veterinary degree from Colorado State University, where she also conducted a two-year clinical trial evaluating custom orthosis and prosthesis use in canine patients and worked as a small animal emergency surgery technician. She completed a small animal rotating internship at The Ohio State University followed by a small animal surgery internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, California.
She joined the faculty at the University of Illinois in 2026 after completing a surgical residency and master’s degree there. She is a PennHIP certified veterinarian.
Kim Knap (at right) has cared for patients at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital since 2001 as a certified veterinary technician. She helped found the hospital’s rehabilitation service and has gained certifications as a canine rehabilitation practitioner, canine strength and conditioning coach, and osteoarthritis case manager. Now an instructor at the college, she recently completed a Master of Veterinary Science degree.
Austin Powell (left) is a certified veterinary technician who joined the rehabilitation service in 2025.
Kellie Gard, who is the clinical service coordinator for the orthopedics service, has been a certified veterinary technician at the college since 2012.
She says, “Orthopedics has always been fascinating to me. The idea that we can help fix an animal and usually send them home the next day is truly amazing!”
Plus seven house officers dedicated to the small animal surgery services.
In total, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital employs more than 80 veterinary faculty members, around 50 residents and interns, and more than 100 certified veterinary technicians.
Salary: The budgeted salary range for this position is $160,000 to $200,000. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including equivalent years in rank, training, and field or discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable positions. The University of Illinois offers a competitive benefits package. A summary explanation of these benefits can be found at https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/benefits.
We Want You!
The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine values work-life balance and collegiality. We are a friendly and interactive hospital, and we seek new colleagues who excel clinically and academically while having fun at work and building strong relationships with coworkers.
Join Our Supportive and Inclusive Community
Together we create a workplace culture that fosters respect, inclusion, trust, and support for personal and professional growth. The more diverse our community, the stronger we are. We practice compassion and selfcare. We celebrate successes, knowing that our most valuable asset is our people.
More about our college and university
- The University of Illinois is an internationally ranked public, land-grant university.
- The College of Veterinary Medicine has growing and innovative educational, research, and clinical service programs.
- The Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine has 100 faculty members and 50 residents and interns.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.