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What is a clinical perfusionist?

The Profession

Clinical perfusionists working

If you were a Clinical Perfusionist, your job would be to operate the life-sustaining equipment that keeps patients alive during major surgical procedures.

This includes running a complicated machine that works like a person’s heart and lungs. This keeps a person alive while their heart is stopped for open-heart surgery. The perfusionist also runs equipment that saves and cleans blood during operations.

A typical work week consists of a 40-hour schedule with additional on-call coverage for emergencies. Perfusionists may be called to work evenings and weekends. In most cases additional compensation in the range of 10-25 percent of base salary may be earned for "on-call time" and shift differentials.

Starting wage: $138,000
Middle-range wage: $175,000
Job after graduation from our Clinical Perfusion program: 100%

Clinical Perfusion students participate in a series of simulations each year during Simcation.

Professional Organization Links

Most health care professions have professional organizations at state and national levels. These provide valuable information for prospective students as well as working professionals.

American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP)
The ABCP primary purpose is protection of the public through the establishment and maintenance of standards in the field of cardiovascular perfusion.
American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion
The purpose of The Academy shall be to encourage and stimulate investigation and study which will increase the knowledge of cardiovascular perfusion, to correlate and disseminate such knowledge.
AmSECT - The American Society of Extracorporeal Technology
The mission of AmSECT is to foster improved patient care and safety by providing for the continuing education and professional needs of the extracorporeal circulation technology community.
Accreditation Committee on Perfusion Education (AC-PE)
The AC-PE purpose is to maintain and promote appropriate standards of quality for educational programs in perfusion and to provide recognition for educational programs that meet or exceed the minimum standards.
Perfusion.com
This is the world's largest and most comprehensive resource for topics related to cardiovascular perfusion, blood management and platelet therapy.

What can I do next?

Review academic program & requirements
If you'd like to find out about our program to become a clinical perfusionist, review the clinical perfusion academics information and requirements.
Explore other professions
If you're still not sure which program is right for you, explore all the options!
Request more information
If you'd like more information about clinical perfusion or our other programs, fill out this quick form.