Veterinary Oncology Clinician Assistant

Veterinary Oncology Clinician Assistant

• 537633
• Roanoke, Virginia
• Animal Cancer Care & Research Ctr.
• Staff
• College of Veterinary Medicine

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Job Description

Are you enthusiastic, eager to learn, and ready to be part of something meaningful? Join the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center in Roanoke as a Clinician Assistant and immerse yourself in the fast-paced world of specialty veterinary oncology.This is far more than a shadowing opportunity-you will work side-by-side with specialists in radiation and surgical oncology, support real clinical care, interact with clients, assist with medical documentation, and help keep patients and families moving smoothly through their cancer-care journey. For a motivated future veterinary or medical school applicant, this role offers exceptional hands-on exposure, mentorship, teamwork, and the chance to make a genuine difference every day.

The Animal Cancer Care and Research Center (ACCRC) in Roanoke, Virginia is seeking a bright, personable, dependable, highly organized, and eager to learn individual to join our specialty oncology team as Clinician Assistant. This is a unique position combining the responsibilities of a clinical scribe, client service representative, and veterinary clinical assistant. The Clinician Assistant works side-by-side with our veterinary specialists throughout the clinical day, helping with medical documentation, client communication, patient coordination, and basic patient care. Exceptional interpersonal skills are essential for this position. Our Clinician Assistants interact extensively with pet owners, including families navigating difficult and emotional cancer diagnoses. We are looking for someone who communicates warmly and professionally, enjoys working with people and pets and can help provide an exceptional experience for our clients while keeping the clinical team organized and efficient. Clinician Assistants spend much of their day working directly alongside specialty doctors during real clinical practice. You will observe patient examinations, diagnostic and treatment discussions, clinical decision-making, client consultations, and advanced specialty cancer care while simultaneously serving an important role on the clinical team. The position also provides opportunities for hands-on exposure to different areas of specialty medicine. Depending on training, experience, and the needs of the clinical team, Clinician Assistants may assist with patient care and occasionally scrub in to assist the Surgical Oncology team during surgical procedures under supervision.Unlike traditional shadowing, this is an active position in which you will develop practical experience with medical terminology, medical documentation, electronic medical records, client communication, patient care, teamwork, and the day-to-day operation of a specialty referral hospital.

Job Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To:

The Clinician Assistant accompanies clinicians throughout the clinical day and helps keep patients, clients, medical records, and follow-up care organized.

Responsibilities include:

• Accompany clinicians during patient appointments and document medical information in real time, similar to a medical scribe using Scribble Vet or other AI programs.
• Record patient histories, physical examination findings, assessments, treatment discussions, and follow-up plans as directed by the clinician.
• Interact frequently with clients in person, by telephone, and through email while providing professional, compassionate, and responsive client service.
• Assist with approved follow-up calls and emails, pending diagnostic results, and follow-up recommendations.
• Help clients navigate the next steps in their pet''s care and coordinate scheduling needs with the appropriate clinical liaison.
• Assist with preparation and editing of clinical summaries, clinician reports, and discharge instructions.
• Document clinician phone calls and client conversations accurately in the medical record.
• Communicate relevant information between clinicians, veterinary technicians, client service staff, and the clinical liaison.
• Maintain patient tracking systems and help ensure that diagnostic results, follow-up recommendations, and client communications are completed promptly.
• Take relevant clinical photographs during examinations and appropriately upload and label them in the medical record.
• Assist clinicians and treatment teams with basic patient handling and clinical activities appropriate to training and experience.
• When appropriate, scrub in and assist the Surgical Oncology team during surgical procedures under the direction and supervision of the surgical team.
• Organize medical records, including referring veterinarian records, diagnostic reports, pathology reports, photographs, and follow-up communications.
• Update Clinical Summaries/Referral documents using pathology, imaging and other medical information.
• Become proficient with hospital software systems such as EzyVet, Jira, and others used by the ACCRC and Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
• Assist with educational materials for veterinary students and interns as needed.
• Support additional administrative, clinical, operational, research, and patient-care activities throughout the ACCRC.

An important part of this position is serving as an additional advocate for our patients and clients-helping ensure that pending diagnostic results, follow-up recommendations, client communications, and other important aspects of patient care are addressed and communicated in a timely manner.

Who We are Looking For

The ideal candidate enjoys interacting with people just as much as working with animals. Because you will frequently communicate with clients and work closely alongside doctors and other members of the clinical team, excellent interpersonal and client service skills are a must.

You should also be comfortable working in a busy specialty hospital where priorities can change quickly and where attention to detail matters.

Why Join the ACCRC?

The Animal Cancer Care and Research Center provides advanced cancer care for companion animals while supporting the clinical, teaching, and research missions of Virginia Tech.

You will work closely with specialists in Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and other areas of veterinary medicine and gain firsthand exposure to oncology, diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, surgery, medical documentation, client communication, and specialty hospital operations.

For someone aspiring to attend veterinary or medical school, this position offers something difficult to obtain through traditional shadowing alone: the opportunity to work alongside specialty doctors every day, observe advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures, gain exposure to the operating room and surgical oncology, and become a meaningful member of the patient-care team.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Excellent interpersonal, people, and client service skills.
• Ability to communicate with clients in a warm, compassionate, confident, and professional manner.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Excellent computer literacy and ability to learn and troubleshoot new software systems.
• Strong typing skills; 60+ words per minute expected.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to remain professional and organized in a fast-paced and, at times, stressful clinical environment.
• Comfortable working around and safely handling veterinary patients.
• Ability to work collaboratively with doctors, technicians, client service staff, students, and other members of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability and willingness to learn new concepts quickly.
• Willingness and ability to occasionally travel to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Blacksburg, VA to support the surgical oncology clinician as needed.
• Genuine interest in veterinary medicine, human medicine, healthcare, or a related field and a strong desire to learn and succeed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Veterinary clinic or hospital experience.
• Medical office or healthcare experience.
• Electronic medical record experience.
• Familiarity with medical terminology, documentation, or medical coding.
• Previous customer service or client-facing experience.

Previous veterinary or medical experience is helpful but not required for an exceptional candidate with strong communication skills, initiative, and the ability to learn quickly.

Pay Band

3; salary

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Starting at $36,501; commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

September 28, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Grace Smith at gksmith@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

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