Board certification in emergency and critical care is clinician’s pathway to dream job
Emily Schaefer recently moved into her dream position as a clinical assistant professor of equine emergency and critical care after becoming board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC).
Schaefer has always thrived in high-adrenaline situations, and as a young child, she thought she would become a jockey. But after committing to a career in equine veterinary medicine, she found her true calling.
Pursuing formal training in emergency and critical care became the ultimate goal for Schaefer, and in 2019, she began the process to identify a college offering a fellowship program that would be willing to let her participate on a part-time basis. This would allow her to continue to work at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center — a Leesburg, Virginia-based teaching hospital of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine — while studying for the ACVECC certification.
The Ohio State University, where Schaefer had completed an internship, was willing to accommodate her request. Her fellowship would be a three-year part-time commitment as opposed to the normal two-year full-time program with Schaefer splitting her time equally between Ohio State and the Equine Medical Center.
She was able to complete the program in the three-year timeframe. “It was clear what I wanted to do, and this was a specific step to reaching my goal” said Schaefer “It was enjoyable but extremely challenging.”
Those challenges also included toll of travel back and forth, booking her accommodations and the time commitment away from home.
The ACVECC exam takes eight to nine hours on two consecutive days. Schaefer, having completed a residency program and certification process, found that this exam was different, but in a good way. Five sections, which could be individually passed or failed, tested rote memory, comprehension, and physical skill.
Schaefer took the exam at Ohio State and described it as fair but challenging.
“You really had to be familiar with the material, as the exam focused on really important and specific facets of emergency and critical care for large animals and also physiology and drug medications,” said Schaefer.
Funding for travel and accommodation was covered by generous sponsorship from the Equine Medical Center Advisory Council Vice Chair Shelley Duke and her husband, Phil, who have supported the center’s strategic goals for many years. “I am extremely grateful for the Dukes' financial support” said Schaefer. “They share my drive and passion to provide outstanding clinical care to our equine patients.”
Working as a team with Sarah Dukti, clinical assistant professor of equine emergency and critical care, has been a shift from her previous work life. Although they have regular remote meetings, they rarely see each other in person. But Dukti and Schaefer complement each other as two veterinarians with different board certifications, providing a learning experience for interns and residents working alongside them.
Moving the critical care portion of the workload to a dedicated team has allowed the remainder of the Equine Medical Center clinical staff to focus on their primary caseload, while still allowing them to participate – in a much-reduced way – on emergency cases. This opens up opportunities for research and teaching while protecting off-clinic time, which is important for work-life balance. Schaefer has appreciated the collaboration and support she has received from Equine Medical Center colleagues.
Schaefer said she loves her new position and loves working at the Equine Medical Center. Her office window has views of the center’s grounds, which are particularly stunning in the spring and fall, and the indoor-outdoor nature of her work appeals to her. Her schedule, working at night and during weekends, that her position requires would not be for everyone, but she really enjoys it.
