Board-Certified or Residency-Trained Ophthalmologist, Red River Animal Emergency Hospital & Referral Center, Fargo, ND
Let’s get this out of the way! When you pictured the next big move in your career, Fargo, North Dakota may not have been the first city and state that came to mind.
We get it!
You have options. Veterinary specialists are in demand everywhere, and there are ophthalmology jobs in major cities across the country. You could probably find a position near a beach, a mountain, a major airport, or a restaurant with a reservation list longer than our winters.
But here’s what Fargo has that many of those places do not:
A hospital that is independently owned by local veterinarians with ownership opportunities
A real opportunity to build and shape a brand-new specialty service
No after-hours or weekend on-call
A dedicated Ophthalmology suite ready for the right doctor to develop
A strong ER and referral hospital with an established regional caseload
A leadership team ready to invest in the equipment, staffing, and resources needed to support your service
And a community that needs, values, and supports specialty care
Also, for the record, Fargo is much more than the movie, dontcha know!
Red River Animal Emergency Hospital & Referral Center is seeking a board-certified or residency-trained Ophthalmologist to build and lead our Ophthalmology service.
This Is a “Build Something Meaningful” Opportunity
Unlike some of our other specialty services, Ophthalmology would be a new service for RRAEH. That means we are looking for someone who is driven, compassionate, collaborative, and excited by the opportunity to build something that our hospital, referring veterinarians, clients, and patients truly need.
You would not be building from nothing.
You would be joining a well-established, independently owned emergency and referral hospital that has served North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota for over 20 years. We have a busy 24/7 ER, strong regional referral relationships, two Criticalists, 13 experienced ER doctors, a residency-trained Surgeon, and a leadership team committed to supporting specialty medicine. We are also actively hiring for Internal Medicine, Oncology, and Critical Care.
We have the hospital, the space, the referral relationships, and the regional need. Now we are looking for the right Ophthalmologist to help create and grow the service.
This is an opportunity to make an immediate and meaningful impact in a region where access to veterinary specialty care is limited and highly valued.
Why This Role Is Different
Red River Animal Emergency Hospital & Referral Center is independently and locally owned. Our owners work in the hospital and in the community, which means decisions are made by people who understand the medicine, the team, and the realities of daily hospital life.
We are not looking for someone to fit into a rigid corporate template. We are looking for someone who wants to practice excellent medicine, collaborate with a strong ER and specialty team, and help shape an Ophthalmology service around what patients, clients, referring veterinarians, and the Ophthalmologist actually need.
You will have:
The opportunity to build and lead a brand-new Ophthalmology service
Dedicated Ophthalmology suite space
No after-hours, weekend, or holiday on-call requirement
Strong referral relationships across North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota
A busy ER and referral hospital to support caseload development
Clinical autonomy and direct access to hospital leadership
Opportunity to join the ownership group
Flexible scheduling focused on sustainability and quality of life
A leadership team willing to invest in the equipment, staffing, and resources needed to build the department
About the Hospital
RRAEH is North Dakota’s only 24/7 emergency hospital and referral center. We have been serving the region since 2005 and continue to grow as a multi-specialty hospital.
Our hospital includes:
Large state-of-the-art ICU
Extensive in-house laboratory
16-slice helical CT
Ultrasound and echo services
GI endoscopy
Blood bank with a dedicated donor program
Digital EMR and treatment sheet system
Multiple surgery suites
Radiology suites and mobile generator capabilities
Oxygen kennels, nasal oxygen capabilities, high-flow nasal oxygen, and Snyder oxygen units
ICU/mechanical ventilator and multiple anesthesia ventilators
Hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, and TPE capabilities
Large conference room for in-house and regional CE events
Dedicated Ophthalmology suite space
And if your Ophthalmology service needs something else to provide exceptional care, we are open to that conversation.
Who We’re Looking For
We are open to both early-career and experienced Ophthalmologists.
You may be a new Ophthalmologist looking for a supportive first role where you can build confidence, develop your service, and have the autonomy to shape something from the beginning without being thrown into an unsustainable schedule.
Or you may be a seasoned Ophthalmologist who has practiced in a larger system and is ready for more autonomy, more influence, less red tape, and the ability to build something meaningful in a hospital that is ready to support you.
Either way, the right person is driven, compassionate, collaborative, communicative, and excited by the opportunity to bring Ophthalmology care to a region where the need is real.
This role is ideal for someone who is a self-starter and enjoys building relationships with referring veterinarians, educating clients and teams, developing protocols, and helping create a service that reflects how they believe specialty medicine should be practiced.
Compensation and Benefits
We know specialists have options, and we are prepared to be competitive for the right candidate.
Our compensation package is flexible and will be tailored to experience, schedule, production goals, and long-term fit.
Benefits include:
Guaranteed base salary plus production with no negative accrual
Sign-on/retention bonus up to $100K
Relocation assistance up to $20K
Flexible schedule
No on-call requirement
Ownership opportunity
Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
401(k) with employer match
Generous CE allowance
Paid time off
State licensing, professional memberships, AVMA PLIT, and DEA license coverage
Short-term and long-term disability coverage
Uniform allowance
Pet care discount
Employee assistance program
Now, About Fargo
No, Fargo is probably not the first place most specialists search when they open a job board.
But maybe that is exactly why this opportunity is worth a closer look.
The Fargo-Moorhead area offers a lifestyle that is increasingly hard to find: a growing metro area with excellent schools, universities, restaurants, breweries, concerts, festivals, sporting events, year-round outdoor recreation, lakes nearby, and a strong sense of community.
It also offers something many larger cities cannot: affordability, short commutes, room to breathe, and the chance to be part of a hospital and community where your work is noticed and appreciated.
We are not going to pretend Fargo is Miami, Denver, Seattle, or San Diego.
It is Fargo. And we think that is a good thing.
Let us fly you out. Meet the team. Tour the hospital. See the space. Explore the community. Let us show you why people who give Fargo a chance often end up surprised by how much they like it here.
Check out these links if you still don’t believe us!
· RRAEH - Living and Working in Fargo!
· https://gfmedc.com/living-here/
Curious? Let’s Talk.
Serious inquiries are welcome. Casual curiosity is welcome too.
If you are even slightly wondering whether this could be the right next move, we would love to start a conversation.
Contact Alex Wigglesworth at alex.wigglesworth@rraeh.com.