Description
Associate Veterinarian
Abbey Animal Hospital
Virginia Beach, Virginia
There are veterinarians who still love medicine… but no longer love the environment they are practicing it in.
Too many appointments.
Too little time.
Too much pressure to move faster, produce more, and somehow still remain emotionally present for patients, clients, and staff.
Abbey Animal Hospital was built differently.
Abbey Animal Hospital is a privately owned hospital where veterinarians are trusted to practice thoughtful medicine, supported by a genuinely collaborative team, and given the kind of work-life balance that is increasingly rare in this profession.
This is not a corporate hospital built around metrics and production pressure.
It is a hospital built around people.
Both the people providing the medicine and the people receiving it.
A Four-Day Work Week That Actually Feels Sustainable
Abbey believes great veterinarians need time to have a life outside the hospital.
The schedule is designed intentionally to allow time to:
rest
recover emotionally
spend time with family
pursue personal interests
simply breathe again
And unlike many hospitals that advertise “balance,” the culture here truly supports it.
One technician shared she has not had a time-off request denied in four years.
That tells you almost everything you need to know about how this hospital treats its team.
A Team Culture That Feels Different
This is a deeply collaborative, emotionally healthy environment where people genuinely support one another.
When team members go through difficult seasons in life, the hospital shows up for them personally. Not because someone in management instructed them to. Because the culture naturally works that way.
The result is:
long-term staff
low turnover
strong mentorship
and a hospital where people enjoy coming to work
That kind of emotional stability changes the quality of medicine in ways most hospitals underestimate.
Clinical Freedom and Advanced Medicine
Dr. Knopp, owner of Abbey Animal Hospital, is highly respected for both his medicine and his willingness to teach.
Veterinarians here are given:
clinical autonomy
time to work cases thoroughly
support for diagnostics and treatment plans
freedom to pursue medical interests
mentorship without micromanagement
Advanced capabilities include:
abdominal and cardiac ultrasound
endoscopy
advanced orthopedic procedures including TPO and extracapsular repair
surgical laser
dedicated dental suite
in-house diagnostics
exotic medicine
Abbey has also become a referral destination for more advanced cases within the region.
For veterinarians who enjoy learning and growing, this can be an exceptionally rewarding environment.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation: $120,000–$180,000 depending on experience
$10,000 signing bonus
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
CE allowance and professional dues
DEA and licensing fees covered
Flexible PTO
Pet care discounts
Free doggy daycare
Bring your dog to work culture
Why Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach offers an exceptional quality of life:
beaches
boating
golf
excellent restaurants
strong schools
mild winters
coastal living without the intensity and cost of many larger metro areas
It is the kind of place where many veterinarians realize they can finally build both a meaningful career and a meaningful personal life.
Who Tends to Thrive Here
Veterinarians who tend to love Abbey:
value collaboration over competition
want to practice thoughtful medicine
appreciate mentorship and learning
are looking for a healthier long-term career environment
still care deeply about the human side of veterinary medicine
After more than 20 years recruiting exclusively for privately owned veterinary hospitals, I’ve learned something important:
Many veterinarians do not actually want to leave medicine.
They simply want to find a healthier place to practice it.
For confidential consideration, please contact:
Victoria Travis, MS
President
Travis Veterinary Recruiters
victoria@veterinarianrecruiters.com
