Students will gain academic and clinical experience with regards to Cardiac Perfusion. They will be experts of life support equipment such as ventricular assist devices and intra-aortic balloon pumps.
Perfusionists are crucial members of the open-heart surgical team. They help maintain blood flow to the body's tissues and regulate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Their role is to ensure the management of physiologic functions by monitoring the necessary variables and administer anesthetic agents or drugs. They also conduct cardiopulmonary bypass using a heart-lung machine and other ancillary equipment.
The primary aim of the program is to academically and clinically prepare the cardiovascular perfusion student for professional practice. The program will focus on developing a strong knowledge base in cardiothoracic anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, as well as pharmacology, fetal and neonatal cardiac development and perfusion science.
This specialization is a rare one in the Middle East region and Palestine.
Objectives
- Upon completion of the program, all students will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply and evaluate information relevant to the role of the perfusionist.
- Upon completion of the program, all students will demonstrate technical proficiency in the skills necessary to fulfil the role of a perfusionist.
- Upon completion of the program, all students will demonstrate personal behaviours consistent with professional and employer expectations for the cardiac perfusion practitioner.