About the Clinical Perfusion Program
Our Clinical Perfusion program is 5 semesters long and leads to a Master of Science degree. This program accepts ten students each year. Graduates are eligible to take the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion's National Certification Examination.
The Perfusion Department at SUNY Upstate Medical University is pioneering the use of high-fidelity simulation for perfusionist training. Founded more than 45 years ago, SUNY Upstate is one of the oldest perfusion training programs in the nation. We continue to develop and teach innovative clinical perfusionist training and evaluation tools.
The Clinical Perfusion program offers a four-step plan for your successful education. This features a unique emphasis on simulation. We also encourage prospective students to observe an open-heart procedure at a medical center and conduct an informational interview with a perfusionist.
Program Details
Simulation/Clinical Skill Training
- 12 credits worth of simulation courses covering fundamental skills, case management and crisis management
- Students learn clinical skills in the simulation lab prior to applying them to patient care
- High-fidelity simulated operating rooms and intensive care beds create a realistic environment for clinical skills practice
- Train on the latest clinical equipment including the Quantumr, Essenzr, S5r and System I heart and lung machines as well as the Cardiohelpr, Centrimagr, Tandem Sparcr, Novalungr ECMO platforms
- “Full Mission Cases” (not 10-minute vignettes) - Students engage, start to finish, in all the procedures involved in a normal cardiac surgery event: reading the patient’s chart, doing the calculations, selecting the equipment, priming the equipment, interfacing the equipment with the surgical field and conducting the entire procedure using all the fundamental skills involved in that procedure
- “Train like an athlete” - Review your simulation videos to identify strengths and weaknesses and direct your continued progress
Classroom Core Curriculum
- 5 semesters, 36 credits
- Courses are matched to simulation experience
- Clinical Applications course each semester helps to make the connections between the content you are taught in the classroom, simulation labs and clinical observations
Capstone Or Thesis Graduate Project
- You will select either a Clinical Capstone Experience or a Research Thesis for your 10-credit graduate project
- Capstone students study an area of clinical specialty and practice those skills above what is required for entry level employees
- Thesis students conduct a novel research project and most present at conferences and publish their findings in peer reviewed journals
Clinical Rotations
- 35 credits/1400 hours
- Five 7-week rotations
- Four hospitals from our network of over 30 affiliated clinical education centers
- 120-150 clinical cases with certified clinical instructors
- Coast-to-coast clinical affiliates
Mission & Goals
The MS Degree in Clinical Perfusion will produce competent entry-level perfusionists in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains. They will have demonstrated excellence with a professional specialty or biomedical research. Graduates will be eligible to take the national certification examinations offered by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion. They'll also be eligible to apply for a license as a Perfusionist in all license-issuing states, including New York.
Upon completion of the program graduates will demonstrate:
Students will demonstrate Mastery of the entry-level body of knowledge regarding the application of clinical perfusion
Assessment Measures
- Written exams, assignments, papers, presentations, course evaluations, faculty meetings, standardized assessment tools
- Post-Graduation: Graduate surveys, employer surveys, enrollment in post-graduate studies, advisory committee feedback, national certification/licensure exam
Students will demonstrate mastery of the fundamental and emergency clinical skills necessary for the safe conduct of clinical perfusion
Assessment Measures
- Simulation, practical exams, competency evaluations, student evaluations, advisory committee feedback, faculty meetings, standardized assessment tools
- Post-Graduation: Graduate surveys, employer surveys, advisory committee feedback
Students will demonstrate fluency of professional communication, behaviors and attitudes
Assessment Measures
- Simulation, practical exams, competency evaluations, student evaluations, advisory committee feedback, faculty meetings, standardized assessment tools
- Post-Graduation: Graduate surveys, employer surveys, advisory committee feedback
Students will demonstrate excellence in evaluation of biomedical research and either the application of or generation of biomedical research related to clinical perfusion
Assessment Measures
- Capstone experience projects, research thesis projects, student presentations
- Post-Graduation: Graduate surveys, employer surveys, advisory committee feedback, specialty certifications or examinations, professional conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications
Have Questions
Need more specifics about the program? Questions about admissions requirements? Contact the College of Health Professions Admissions Counselor:
Maggie Moore
Graduate Admissions Advisor
Virtual Information Sessions
The Office of Admissions is conducting virtual information sessions for those who are interested in College of Health Professions programs.