Small Animal Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Residency
The Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Residency Program at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is a three-year advanced training program focused on the stabilization and treatment of animals with life-threatening illness or injury. The program provides comprehensive clinical training in emergency medicine, inpatient critical care, and advanced patient management while preparing residents to meet the requirements for board certification through the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC).
Program Highlights
Residents receive extensive hands-on experience in:
- Emergency receiving and triage
- Inpatient critical care management
- Advanced monitoring techniques
- Mechanical ventilation
- Management of complex and critically ill patients
- Access to the NIH-supported REVEAL academic enrichment program
Training includes:
- 72 weeks of immersion in Emergency & Critical Care
- 22 weeks of immersion in allied specialties
- Dedicated off-clinic time for:
- Clinical research
- Board preparation
Residents participate in:
- Daily cage-side rounds
- Clinical and didactic instruction
- Departmental seminars and conferences
- Teaching and mentoring veterinary students and interns
All residents are required to complete a clinical research project and are encouraged to present their findings at a national veterinary conference. Residents also attend one major professional conference annually as part of the program.
Teaching Opportunities
Residents actively participate in:
- Clinical instruction on hospital rotations
- Student assessment and competency tracking
- Instruction of one clinical skills laboratory annually
These responsibilities provide valuable experience in clinical teaching and academic mentorship.
Clinical Training
Residency training occurs at The Foster Hospital for Small Animals at the Cummings School:
- A full-service, AAHA-accredited hospital
- ACVECC-recognized Level 1 Veterinary Trauma Center
- VECCS Level 1 facility
The Emergency and Critical Care services operate in adjacent, dedicated spaces within the same hospital facility, allowing residents to gain experience in both emergency receiving and intensive inpatient care.
The Emergency Service:
- Manages more than 15,000 cases annually
- Provides care for:
- Referral emergencies
- Walk-in emergency patients
- Medical and surgical referrals from across New England
The Critical Care Service:
- Houses up to 30 critically ill patients
- Supports all specialty services requiring intensive monitoring and care
Residents rotate between emergency receiving and ICU services to develop broad clinical expertise and advanced decision-making skills.
Specialized Training Environment
The Emergency & Critical Care team includes:
- 8 ACVECC Diplomates
- 12 residents
- 15 rotating interns
- Highly skilled veterinary nursing staff
Nursing staff rotate between ICU and emergency medicine services, participate in teaching activities, and are encouraged to pursue Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) certification.
Residents gain substantial experience in advanced respiratory support, including mechanical ventilation of nearly 50 patients annually.
Appointment & Benefits
Appointments are 12 months in duration and renewed annually based on satisfactory performance.
Upon successful completion of the residency, participants receive a certificate of residency training.
Benefits include:
- Health and life insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Two weeks of annual vacation
- Travel allotment
- Eligibility for participation in the TIAA-CREF retirement plan upon completion of the three-year program
Applicants should be aware that the hospital maintains a professional dress code.
Application Information
Applications are submitted through the AAVC Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP).
For further information, please contact Dr. Ian DeStefano, Program Director.
Tufts University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.