An electric motor assembly for pumping a fluid through a fluid cavity includes a stator assembly including a plurality of conduction coils configured to transmit heat energy to the fluid within the fluid cavity and a rotor assembly positioned adjacent the stator assembly to define an axial gap therebetween. The stator assembly is configured to impart a first axial force on the rotor assembly. The electric motor assembly also includes an impeller directly coupled to the rotor assembly opposite the stator assembly such that the rotor assembly and the impeller are configured to rotate about an axis. A fluid channeled by the impeller imparts a second axial force on the impeller. The rotor assembly and the impeller are configured to be submerged in the fluid within the fluid cavity.