Program Director: Terry Crane, BS, CCP
Email: [email protected]
Leading the world of perfusion in education, Texas Heart Institute was the first accredited Perfusion Technology School in the United States. This program is located in Houston, TX, and offers a post-baccalaureate 12-month course.
Program Director: Michael Smith, Ph.D., CCP
Email: [email protected]
Located in Hamden, CT, Quinnipiac provides a curriculum centered around perfusion equipment operation and cardiac surgery. The program is one of eight in the nation that offers graduate-level training in perfusion.
Perfusion is a hidden gem among the medical industry, offering incredible career opportunities for those entering the medical field or for anyone considering a career change. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a medical or science field, such as chemistry, biology, or medical technology, perfusion school is an excellent next step. With a limited number of perfusion schools across the country and a limited number of perfusionists taking the place of retirees, there is a critical shortage. It is a great time to research perfusion schools and start the journey to a rewarding career. Perfusion school can be completed in as little as one to two years.
Perfusionists are critical members of the OR team who operate the heart-lung machine during the 350,000 heart surgeries performed annually in the United States. They expertly keep the patient’s lungs breathing, the heart pumping, and the blood circulating. But, healthcare faces a serious shortage of skilled perfusionists and the shortage is getting worse.
A sample of 10 percent of active perfusionists found that nearly 50 percent of perfusionists are over 50 years old, and in 2015 there were almost 30 percent fewer new graduates entering the field than professionals leaving the field. This is why, more than ever before, a perfusion career is a smart choice.
