Perfusion (PER)

This course is designed as a comprehensive course in Perfusion Technology I. Students will be exposed to general perfusion science topics and principles to build a learning foundation for their perfusion education. Throughout the semester, students will be afforded the opportunity to utilize the knowledge provided and participate in various clinical scenarios in the high-fidelity simulation laboratory.

This course is designed to provide perfusion students with a detailed understanding of specific human physiological systems. This will allow them to understand why the human organism reacts to various situations; including cardiopulmonary bypass, ECMO, surgical procedures, and drugs administered as they begin a career in cardiovascular perfusion.

This course will introduce the study and functional significance of the structures of the human body. Students will explore the interactive relationships among organ systems and the regulation of the integrated physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. This course focuses on the Cardiovascular system, respiratory system, metabolism, human development and embryology. Clinical examples and implications are provided to help students further understand the disease process as a disruption of the body’s normal structure and function.

This course is designed to promote high level discussions among students on medical ethics and how such topics can affect how they practice as allied health professionals.

This course will introduce the basic principles and concepts related to pathophysiologic processes; including biochemical concepts. Students will learn the mechanisms of pathogenesis at various phases. Such phases include, but not limited to the molecular, cellular, organ and systems level in practical context. Students will be provided clinical examples and implications to help them further understand the disease process as a disruption of the body maintaining homeostasis; relating pathophysiological mechanisms to disease states (acquired and congenital) and their wide spectrum of symptoms, etiology, diagnosis and treatments, as well as a review of the anatomy. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the pathology of organ systems, including cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, renal and respiratory diseases/disorders. In addition, students will explore the many aspects of general pathophysiology including cellular responses to injury, tissue repair, neoplasia and immunologically mediated diseases.

This course is designed to help second year perfusion students review for their American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) examinations. Students will participate in developing power point lectures (or review handouts) and developing/reviewing quizzes to help prepare for their exam.

Perfusion Technology II is a comprehensive course that incorporates information and clinical skills from Perfusion Technology I. Perfusion Technology II exposes students to advanced procedures that includes, but not limited to, ventricular assist devices, how to manage the pediatric population, and organ transplantations. In addition, students are afforded the opportunity to participate in high fidelity simulation scenarios and responsible for completing a research topic that is approved by their instructor and present the aforementioned to their peers.

This course is designed to provide perfusion students with a detailed understanding of specific human physiological systems. This will allow them to understand why the human organism reacts to various situations; including cardiopulmonary bypass, ECMO, surgical procedures, and drugs administered as they begin a career in cardiovascular perfusion.

This course presents the fundamental principles of pharmacology necessary to understand the mechanisms of action of drugs and their effective use/monitoring. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacology of anesthetic agents, anti-arrhythmic pharmacology, inotropic/vasopressor pharmacology, vasodilators, antihypertensives, pharmacological treatment of congestive heart failure, antimicrobial agents/antibiotics, anticoagulants, heparin induced thrombocytopenia, antithrombin III deficiency, chemotherapeutic agents, immunosuppressive agents, cancer treatment medications, diabetic agents, and pharmacological measurements and mathematics.

PER640 is an online perfusion technology course that concentrates on educating perfusion students on mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs). Students will be educated on the utilization of ventricular assist devices (VADs) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as an adjunct to didactic teachings in PER 500 and PER 600.

The Organizational Leadership class will focus on the tools and strategies necessary to become an effective leader. While the focus will be on how these strategies can be used within a large or small perfusion group their origin is based in effective management and leadership within any organization of any size. Upon completion of this class the student will have been exposed to the leadership skills that will prepare them as a future leader in the profession.

This course provides an overview of biostatistical methods, and gives students the knowledge and skills to perform, present, and interpret basic statistical analyses. Topics include basic descriptive statistics for collection, classification, and presentation of data; elements of probability; parametric and non-parametric estimation and hypothesis testing; analysis of variance within the context of specific types of experimental designs; regression modelling and survival analysis. The focus of the course is to develop students’ ability to use statistical concepts for decision making and to critically interpret statistical results in popular and research articles.

The purpose of this course is to teach basic research skills and concepts needed to plan, conduct, and analyze data from a research project. Quantitative, qualitative, mixed method approaches to research will be introduced, as well as ethical issues in conducting research. Using the framework of the research project proposal, this course will focus on how to identify emerging research topics, state research objectives, perform scientific literature searches, derive variables, state hypotheses, develop an appropriate study design, and conduct basic statistical analyses.

The Clinical Application in Perfusion I course is designed to provide perfusion students with an intensive opportunity to develop, practice and master the skills required to perform safe extracorporeal circulation procedures. This clinical practice course requires directed hands-on use of equipment and techniques that constitute the cardiopulmonary bypass procedure. Under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor, the students are exposed to increasing levels of responsibility in the clinical conduct of perfusion. As the students’ abilities permit, they assume expanding responsibilities with the ultimate goal of functioning independently as a practicing perfusionist. This clinical practice course is taught in the operating room theater with special emphasis on developing technical skills in the extracorporeal procedure itself. Instruction will also include current adjunctive methods in autotransfusion, myocardial preservation techniques, intra-aortic balloon support, and aseptic techniques.

This component of the perfusion student's clinical experience is designed to provide individuals the knowledge and skills to conduct cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. Students will utilize the aforementioned to perform complex procedures in a safe and effective manner, with the guidance and mentorship of their clinical preceptors

This component of the perfusion student's clinical experience is designed to provide individuals the knowledge and skills to conduct cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. Students will utilize the aforementioned to perform complex procedures in a safe and effective manner, with the guidance and mentorship of their clinical preceptors

The Capstone Project course is the culmination of the master’s degree program in Cardiovascular Perfusion. In this course students will apply knowledge and skills acquired throughout the entire program of study, to develop and conduct a professional and comprehensive research project in an area of their interest in the perfusion field. Working with a faculty mentor, students will make connections among concepts, ideas and experiences gained from the perfusion courses and apply them to their research project. This course should be taken during the final semester of study and will culminate in a final paper and a virtual presentation.