Dr. Joe Fabrizi

Finding Balance in Veterinary Medicine

For Dr. Joe Fabrizi, the path to professional fulfillment meant recognizing when change was necessary. After graduating in 2021, he began his career at a small animal veterinary practice in Northern Virginia. After two years at that practice, he realized the commute, late hours, and workload were preventing him from having a healthy work-life balance.

“My wife and I were both exhausted,” Dr. Fabrizi recalled. “With our young son at home, we knew this couldn’t continue. He needed a present father, my wife needed a husband — something had to change with our current situation.”

Through a colleague at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Fabrizi learned about VetEvolve and an opportunity at Companion Animal Clinic in Blacksburg. The move would bring him back to familiar surroundings in the New River Valley, but more importantly, it promised something he’d been seeking: genuine work-life balance.

VetEvolve: Where Actions Match Words

Dr. Fabrizi had heard positive things about VetEvolve’s people-first approach, and he quickly realized that it’s not just lip service but something put into practice every day.

“Our profession often talks about the importance of a healthy work-life balance,” Dr. Fabrizi said, “but when push comes to shove, few job opportunities really follow through on it. VetEvolve has been a breath of fresh air in that regard. I’ve personally seen the positive impacts in my own life, but also my family and friends have noticed the positive impact it has had.”

That impact comes from intentional practice management. Time is built into each day for completing notes and conducting client callbacks. When weekend shifts are necessary at Companion, veterinarians get an extra day off during the week to compensate — an uncommon benefit specialized to the practice that makes a big impact. It means less stress, less taking work home, more time to focus on patients during work hours, and more time to be fully present for family and personal life outside of work hours.

Now a father of two young boys, this balance has become even more crucial for Dr. Fabrizi.

“I love what I do, and I take a lot of pride in my role as a veterinarian and the impact it has on our community, but ultimately my family is my priority,” Dr. Fabrizi said. “VetEvolve has given me more time with them and the capacity to be there in a way I wasn’t before.”

Collaborative Medicine and Professional Growth

At Companion Animal Clinic, Dr. Fabrizi has found that having adequate time allows for a more thorough approach to medicine. He believes medicine was designed to be a collaborative effort — between doctors, practices, and with clients and their pets and families. For example, at Companion, every radiograph gets a second opinion and there’s time to properly mentor newer team members.

The practice environment has also allowed him to further develop his interests in soft tissue surgery through mentorship — an area where he previously had limited experience. VetEvolve didn’t create more hours for each day, but they helped reclaim time by creating a positive work-life environment.

“VetEvolve gives you time back,” Dr. Fabrizi said. “We all know the mental load this profession can place on people. Having the space to learn and grow both professionally and personally makes a tremendous difference.

Culture of Transparency

When considering the move to VetEvolve, Dr. Fabrizi admitted to having concerns. He was feeling stretched thin at his previous position. He thought “Maybe it’s like that everywhere. Maybe it would be worse. Would the promise of better work-life balance be the reality?”

VetEvolve’s commitment to transparency stood out from the start. Before joining, he had dinner with the practice manager, other doctors, and VetEvolve leadership.

“The open and honest communication was something I valued, and more than that, it showed me how important it was to VetEvolve,” Dr. Fabrizi said. “Nothing was hidden. Gathering around the table for a meal created a chance for open conversation, where I could ask questions about the practice’s culture, and they could learn more about me in a way that was more natural.”

Today, Dr. Fabrizi is thrilled to be part of the dedicated team at Companion. He’s able to properly align his work and family responsibilities. He’s just as devoted to his work with pets and their families but can nourish the parts of his life away from work as well.

“A healthy work-life balance helps me be a better veterinarian, husband, and father”.

Dr. Fabrizi maintains his passion for photography as a hobby on the side and plays pickleball several times a week. These outside interests, he believes, make him a better veterinarian.

“Having time for hobbies, friends, and family is about more than just fun— it’s about being whole as a person. That’s something VetEvolve truly understands.”