School of Cardiovascular Perfusion
Full and Part-Time Curriculum
Full-Time Curriculum
The School of Cardiovascular Perfusion offers a continuous 21-month, full-time program. Course work is divided into segments consisting of didactic instruction, supervised clinical experience, participation in both clinical and laboratory research, and independent study. The course of study is constructed to provide the student with optimum clinical and didactic exposure with regard to a particular phase of the program and the student's progress at that time. Students are incorporated into the emergency on-call schedule after one month in the program. Instructors include physicians, perfusionists, and other support personnel.
First Year
The academic day is divided into two parts. The time from 7:00 a.m. until about 1:00 p.m. will be spent in the clinical areas. The didactic phase of the curriculum will be from 3:00 p.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m. (These hours are somewhat flexible and provided only as a guideline.)
Orientation to the Operating Room
The students will receive an in-depth orientation to the operating room including equipment, protocols, and sterile procedures.
Cardiovascular Perfusion
These lectures cover all aspects of cardiovascular perfusion and areas related to cardiopulmonary bypass. After completion of these studies, the student will have a comprehensive working knowledge of all products, techniques, and equipment currently used in the perfusion field.
Operating Room Clinical Observation
The student will spend time in the operating room observing surgery and the role of the perfusionist. The student will function as the assistant to the clinical perfusionist.
Case Reports/Study Time
The student will review the cases of patients in relation to proper perfusion procedures. Students will have time for library study to review articles and materials presented at lectures and to prepare for examinations.
Medical Ethics
In this course, the student will learn to distinguish between ethics and morals, practice the art of casuistry and the science of ethical reasoning on real-life cases. Topics include: consciousness and life support technology, competency, patient autonomy, physician assisted suicide, the principles of beneficence, maleficence, veracity, compassion and moral agency, and justice in the allocation of health care resources.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
This lecture series covers anatomy of the cardiovascular system and human physiology as they relate to the cardiovascular system. After completion of this course, the student will be able to recognize cardiovascular anatomy and have an understanding of arterial and venous blood gases, acid-base balance, electrocardiograms, pressures, and saturations in the cardiovascular system and cardiac catheterization.
Pathophysiology
This lecture series covers adult and pediatric cardiac and related pathology. After completion of this course, the student will have an understanding and working knowledge of atherosclerosis, hypertensive heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, pulmonary hypertension, aortic aneurysm, and congenital cardiac disease.
Pharmacology and the Perfusionist
This course introduces the student to the medication used in the care of the cardiovascular patient. The student, after completion of this section, should have a working knowledge of these medications and understand how to incorporate them into a plan for total patient care.
Biomedical Technology
As the clinical expert of extracorporeal technology, the perfusionist is expected to understand the principles of operation employed in equipment design and operation. This series of lectures will present the basics of DC circuits and their applications in transducers, amplifiers, defibrillators, motors, and monitoring equipment. Physics of fluids will be discussed with respect to pump operation and circulatory dynamics.
Second Year
Senior Review/Journal Review
A monthly review class will be held with the perfusion instructors to give students the opportunity to review current perfusion articles and review topics covered on board exams.
Case Reports/Study Time
The student will review the cases of patients with relation to proper perfusion procedures. Students will have time for library study to review articles and materials presented at lectures and to prepare for examinations.
Part-Time Curriculum
The Cooper University Hospital School of Cardiovascular Perfusion has recently received approval for a part-time program. This three year program has been implemented to assist those students who are interested in perfusion but must remain in the workforce. For further information, please contact the Program Director for details.
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