Hospital network expands Mid-Atlantic footprint

VetEvolve added Gentle Care Animal Hospital in Forest, Virginia, to its network of veterinary practices. The hospital is the 51st in VetEvolve’s network and marks its first joint venture as the company continues to grow in the Mid-Atlantic region.¹

The partnership also marks VetEvolve’s third practice in the Lynchburg area, adding to the company’s density within a 5-mile radius of its existing locations. Regional clustering enables greater collaboration, operational support, and scale efficiencies between facilities and their teams. This model helps improve access, consistency, and clinical experience for practices and preserves their local roots.¹

Gentle Care Animal Hospital was founded by senior veterinarian Barbara Stevens, DVM, in 2004. The full-service small-animal practice provides comprehensive medical care, boarding, and grooming services. It is supported by a team that includes 4 veterinarians and will continue to operate under its established name and identity.^1,2

“We don’t view care and growth as competing priorities,” Catherine Howell, CEO of VetEvolve, said in a news release. “When growth is done thoughtfully, it creates the stability and capacity teams need to focus on medicine and client experience. Our role is to remove friction from the practice so veterinarians can do their best work—and build lasting value over time.”

According to VetEvolve, the company’s joint venture model is designed for owners seeking both liquidity and continued participation in the future growth of their practice. This model aims to support continued investment in people, facilities, and systems while preserving owner voice and accountability by aligning clinical leadership with enterprise performance.¹

“For me, this partnership reinforced that growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of care,” Stevens said in the release. “VetEvolve gives us more capability and support while allowing us to stay true to who we are both now and in the future.”

VetEvolve has grown from a single practice at its founding in 2014 to a network of 51 practices across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.¹ In August 2025, the company celebrated a milestone with the addition of its 50th practice: Philadelphia Animal Hospital in Pennsylvania. This full-service practice was founded by Lawrence Rebbecchi Jr., VMD.³

“We always say it’s not about the number,” Howell said in a news release.³ “We want every practice to feel like it’s the first, because for them, it is. That’s why we’ve deeply invested in supporting onboarding and welcoming each new partner into the VetEvolve community. While it’s never just about the numbers, we do believe in celebrating wins. Welcoming our 50th practice is a win for our entire team and a testament to the trust our partners place in us.”

VetEvolve is continuing to see interest from practice owners and advisors seeking flexible partnership options, according to the company. Additional partnerships across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions are being actively explored.¹

Reference

1. VetEvolve expands Mid-Atlantic footprint with first joint venture partnership. VetEvolve. Accessed February 13, 2026. https://vetevolve.com/resources/blog/vetevolve-expands-mid-atlantic-footprint-with-first-joint-venture-partnership/
2. Dr. Barbara Stevens. Gentle Care Animal Hospital. Accessed February 13, 2026. https://www.gentlecareanimalhospital.net/About-Us/Dr-Barbara-Stevens
3. Welcoming our 50th hospital. VetEvolve. August 14, 2025. Accessed February 13, 2026. https://vetevolve.com/resources/blog/welcoming-our-50th-hospital/