IBHRE Certified Professional Spotlight: Cameron J. Pfeffer BAPPSC, CCDS, CEPS
Australia-based field technical specialist Cameron J. Pfeffer BAPPSC, CCDS, CEPS obtained his certified electrophysiology specialist (ceps) credential in April 2015 with a score of 922, making him the highest scoring examinee for the 2015 Allied Professional Electrophysiology Exam. Of the 224 allied professionals who took the Certification Exam for Compentency in Cardiac Electrophysiology in April 2015, approximately 76% passed the exam.
About Cameron J. Pfeffer
What is your name, title, and place of work? What are your duties and how long have you been involved in your profession? Cameron Pfeffer Territory Manager – EP/CRM division St Jude Medical – Australia. I provide technical support for a variety of EP and CRM procedures and clinics. I worked as a Cardiac Technician in Brisbane, Australia and London, UK for around 10 years before joining St. Jude Medical in Australia about 18 months ago.
Why did you decide to enter the field of pacing/electrophysiology? After spending time performing ECGs, Holters, Exercise Stress Tests, and angiography catheter lab work as a Cardiac Tech, the next skill pathway to progress my career seemed to be from a choice of two. Path one involved a darkened room, KY Jelly and an Echocardiography probe, while path two involved the treatment of arrhythmias with devices and ablation. The latter was chosen as it appeared much more intriguing and a place where logic and reason seemed to govern proceedings….also it’s not in a dark room all day long!
What do you like most about the field of pacing/electrophysiology? The case variety that you get in an EP lab and the ever-advancement in medical technology is what I like most about the field. It’s great to be in a field where you can see what you do is directly helping and benefiting patients. It sure beats most other jobs.
What factors influenced your decision to become IBHRE certified? The main factor was to increase my knowledge and understanding of the field through studying for the exam.
We noticed that you currently hold both CCDS and CEPS certifications - why did you choose to become dual certified? What is the value of IBHRE certification? It almost felt inevitable that I would get the second certification after gaining the first for some reason. IBHRE certification is a nice thing to have on the curriculum vitae as most employers in our industry seem to recognize it.
As a “well-seasoned” IBHRE certified professional who had the highest Allied CEPS exam score in 2015, what advice do you have for those getting ready to take the IBHRE exams? Have you found certain study tools or education materials to be more successful than others? Start preparing about three months out from the exam. Read the exam content breakdown. Do loads of practice questions/exams. Read relevant AHA/ACC/HRS papers. The first book on the recommended reading list is good (Ellenbogen KA, ed. Tung R, Guha PK, Leffler J, Oakeson KD. Essential Concepts of Electrophysiology and Pacing Through Case Studies. Minneapolis, MN: Cardiotext Publishing; 2014). If you understand most of the EP concepts explained in this case study style book, you’ll go a long way to nailing the clinical EP/EGM exam questions. Advice about drug names: There’s a common fear/query by those who sit for the exam outside of the USA about whether you have to learn unfamiliar North American drug names. I don’t recall there being any brand names of drugs on the exam, generic names only. It may be nice if this were stated in the IBHRE guidance if this were indeed the case.
Do you have any words of wisdom, philosophy, or quote that has impacted your decisions or another aspect of your life? What motivates you personally and professionally? ‘If you’re going to do a job, you may as well do it properly.’ (Source unknown – sounds like something my grandfather may have said). What motivates me? I strive to set a high standard for myself so I can deliver better health care and outcomes to the patients and physicians I work with.
What was the last book you read? Other than EP related reading, it was probably Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Everything. I highly recommend it.
What is one of your favorite cities and why? London where I recently spent eight years of my life. There is so much you can do (restaurants, pubs, sports, bands, museums). This great multi-cultural city is also an excellent base to travel to Europe and surrounding countries. I have a lot of fond memories, friends, and colleagues in London.
Do you have any hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I like to try and keep healthy and active in my spare time (gym, cycling, jogging). I dabble in playing drums (maybe it’s more accurate to say I make noise) and I keep an eye on certain sports including the Cricket and the Rugby football codes.
What words of encouragement do you have for individuals hesitant about becoming IBHRE certified? If you put the time and effort in preparing for this exam, you will pass it. You, as well as your patients, reap the benefits of your success.