In the latest edition of The FOX Five, we are joined by FOX Rehabilitation’s Vice President of Operations, Dr. Brian Fusetti, who started with FOX 18 years ago as a treating physical therapist. Brian talks about the reasons he fell in love with his work and what’s kept him in the same practice for nearly two decades.

Jim: Hello everybody, welcome to The FOX Five, the series that explores the world of FOX Rehabilitation through an original list created by a FOX colleague. Today, I am joined by FOX Rehabilitations VP of Operations, Dr. Brian Fusetti. Fuzz, welcome to The FOX Five.

Brian: Thank you, Jim, as always, a pleasure to be on any kind of virtual video with you.

Jim: I can call you “Fuzz,” right?

Brian: You can.

Jim: I think I've known you for a while.

Brian: Twenty some years.

Jim: Over 20 years, over two decades!

Brian: Over two decades, and “Fuzz,” that's what I respond to.

Jim: It gets complicated when I'm with your family because everybody's a “Fuzz.”

Brian: Yeah, it depends who's saying “Fuzz” and then that particular Fuzz would respond to that particular individual, but yeah, it can get a little tricky—because also, there's Pap Fuzz.

Jim: There’s Pap Fuzz, but I call him Mr. Fusetti when I'm around him, and then I'll say “Brian” when I'm talking with your siblings, but when I'm with you at a Fusetti gathering, I call you “Fuzz.” You're my Fuzz.

Brian: Appreciate that.

Jim: Fuzz, what is your FOX Five today?

Brian: My FOX Five is: 5 Reasons I've Been with FOX for 18 Years.

Jim: Whoa, you have been with FOX for almost two decades now—a generation! Alright, what is your Number One?

Brian: Number One is: Geriatric House Calls. It sounds a little cliché, but I love the older adult and that's our forte—that’s what we do. Not only do I like older adults, I love the house call world and that's obviously what we do. We’re experts at it and it's not going anywhere, because there's so many people to help.

Jim: I remember when you started, you just liked the change of scenery.

Brian: Yeah, prior to starting with FOX, I was in an outpatient orthopedic clinic for two years. I remember taking the same subway, [walking] the same steps, going through the same crosswalk, the same pothole—every day. I'd look outside [and see] the beautiful weather; it's like I can do more and who am I to have people come to me? I'm thinking there's more people out there. They could use my skills in their home, and especially kind of trying that with older adults. That's kind of how it all started, but yeah, I just I love different days and not having the same thing all the time.

Jim: What is Number Two on your FOX Five?

Brian: Number Two is: Respect. When I met Dr Tim Fox back in 2004, I had a certain respect and admiration for what he was getting into, and what he started, and what he founded—outpatient therapy at home under Medicare Part B. I was fascinated by it, and the feeling was reciprocated when I joined. There wasn't just this respect for the skills and my degree and what I could bring to the table, there was something about simply [being] a person—just me—being there, and not just with Tim, but with other people. It was a small practice back then. Even those who were working in behind the scenes made me feel special. They made me feel “world famous,” and I didn't do anything at the time. I knew that I was in for a lot of work to start up FOX Rehabilitation in New York City, but there was something special about that. It still happens today.

Jim: You're dipping into the culture and maybe that's one of your steps? I don't know what's on your list. I haven't seen it yet. We go to Number Three on your FOX Five.

Brian: The third one is: To Abolish Ageism. It’s big. Abolishing ageism is a mission, and the fight became even more intriguing and just solidified every day.

Jim: It excited you?

Brian: It did and still does, still does. There are so many more people to help, and it's funny, the ageism thing, my daughter and my son will occasionally pretend they're an older adult—pretending they're super old and frail. I was explaining to them that's not necessarily true and that's not always the case.

Jim: I was watching an old Carole B Lewis lecture and she brought up the Rolling Stones. I'm like, “Yeah, they're still doing it.” When you think of the Rolling Stones you think of this active rock band, and the Rolling Stones—I don't know if they're 80 yet—but they're pushing 80. I like how they are abolishing ageism and doing what they do. I love thinking of an older adult, not as someone who's frail, but someone who's strong and still doing it.

Brian: I agree. My dad, he's 85 and loves to go fishing and golfing.

Jim: He’s a great golfer!

Brian: I don't even think of him as being a little older.

Jim: That brings us to Number Four on your FOX Five.

Brian: Number Four is: The People. It's in our mission, you know: to rehabilitate lives, to believe in the strength of people. It's us just caring about each other and the people—and getting them the resources to make [their] lives easier, to help more people. There's something special about that. A few years ago there was a campaign, internally, with us: What Drives You? Whether it's Craft, Cause, or Community, and it's to me it's Community. That's why I'm still here.

Jim: That brings us to Number Five on your FOX Five.

Brian: Excitement. It's still there, the excitement of every day is something different. You have no idea. The excitement of FOX is still there. The growth, going into new states, traveling into new areas, I just love that adventure. No matter what it is at FOX, in your position, it's there. The opportunities are there for anyone as we grow and continue to fight and abolish ageism.

Jim: There you go, in a culture where people are flip-flopping jobs left and right, you've been here 18 years.

Brian: I love it.

Jim: Will you come back for another episode?

Brian: Yes. I gotcha.