Sarah Baert, a laboratory animal veterinarian working in Animal Care Services, has achieved a unique milestone: she is now a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW), one of the newest veterinary specialty organizations recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). This certification underscores her expertise in animal welfare science, ethics, and policy, and positions her at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field.
ACAW was established to advance the science and practice of animal welfare within veterinary medicine. Diplomates demonstrate proficiency in areas such as pain management, housing and enrichment and the development of welfare assessments across species. Sarah is not only the first graduate of both the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW) to achieve ACAW board certification, but she is also one of only two ACAW diplomates currently in Canada, highlighting the rarity and prestige of this accomplishment.
Sarah’s journey into animal welfare began somewhat unexpectedly.
“It was Derek Haley, my CCSAW master’s advisor, who made me aware of the accreditation process after I graduated from vet school, knowing I had a particular interest in welfare,” she recalls. “I wasn’t sure where my career would lead, but I knew I wanted more of a focus on welfare than what I would find in private veterinarian practice. In many ways, I was simply following my curiosity.”
Her path to certification was unconventional. Unlike most veterinary specialties, which offer structured residencies, animal welfare required an alternate route, meaning she had to design her own training plan covering a broad spectrum of species and welfare topics under the guidance of a board-certified mentor.
“Both my training package and my eventual credentialing package were about 150 pages long – a lot of writing from me, and reviewing from the ACAW training and credentialling committees,” Sarah notes. She completed this five-year program while balancing work and a master’s degree.
A distinctive aspect of her training was the opportunity to collaborate with members of the CCSAW community who specialize in a wide range of species.
“I was fortunate to connect with experts across diverse fields,” Sarah explains. “That’s one of the things that makes Guelph so remarkable – we have leading animal welfare scientists working with many different species, all in one place”. This experience gave her a breadth of knowledge far beyond that of typical veterinary practice.
Her path to specialization was also shaped by a strong foundation in research. After completing her MSc with CCSAW in 2021, she spent the following year working both as a laboratory animal veterinarian at the University of Guelph and with the Secretariat of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Table, a multidisciplinary advisory group that provided independent, evidence-based guidance to decision-makers in Ontario. This work deepened her expertise in experimental design and rigor.
She applies her diverse knowledge every day in her current role as Clinical Research Veterinarian with Animal Care Services, where she partners with research teams to find practical solutions when experimental requirements and animal welfare appear to conflict.
“I work alongside my veterinary colleagues to oversee the care and use of animals involved in research and teaching on campus. Our day-to-day responsibilities include diagnosing and treating disease, reviewing animal utilization protocols, advising the Animal Care Committee, and training personnel. But what I enjoy most is finding creative solutions where both the animals and the research benefit,” she says. Drawing on her welfare and methodological expertise, she advocates for improved housing and pain management, particularly for species that receive less attention, such as rodents and fish.
The ACAW certification itself culminates in an intensive eight-hour board examination and requires ongoing professional development to maintain.
“Your accreditation is valid for 10 years, after which the college asks for a report demonstrating how you’ve kept your knowledge current,” Sarah explains. Mentoring new residents is also a key component of maintaining expertise and advancing the specialty.
Looking ahead, Sarah hopes to expand teaching and training opportunities in animal welfare.
“I would love to see an animal welfare residency at Guelph someday. Our institution is uniquely positioned to offer formal training for veterinarians in this field, thanks to the concentration of expertise on campus,” she says. It’s a goal rooted in her own journey—motivating others to challenge convention, just as her mentors inspired her.
Sarah Baert’s achievement represents not only a personal milestone but also a broader step forward for the veterinary profession, integrating scientific rigor with ethical responsibility to enhance the welfare of animals in research and beyond.
