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Clinical Perfusion

Clinical Perfusion

Master of Science

Clinical perfusionists are core members of cardiac surgical teams.


For Fall 2025 Admissions, applications are due by:

February 15, 2025

Clinical Perfusion - Master of Science

Clinical perfusionists are core members of cardiac surgical teams. They operate highly innovative and sophisticated technologies, including artificial hearts, lungs, and kidneys, to circulate blood outside of the body. This procedure is known as a cardiopulmonary bypass and is typically performed during open-heart surgery.

What Does a Clinical Perfusionist Do?

Working in conjunction with cardiac surgeons, perfusionists:

  • Manage oxygen levels, body temperatures, electrolyte levels, and blood flow to meet each patient’s metabolic needs.
  • Administer medications, blood products and fluids.
  • Monitor the coagulation status of a patient’s blood to prevent clotting.
  • Process the patient’s blood to minimize the amount of blood lost during surgery.

The work of a clinical perfusionist is a matter of life or death. People who succeed in this field thrive on excitement and stressful situations. If you enjoy cardio-pulmonary physiology and sophisticated technology, clinical perfusion may be the career for you.

The clinical perfusionist’s expert knowledge of blood pumps, used as artificial hearts, and oxygenators, used as artificial lungs, is applied to temporarily replace the patient’s own heart and lungs during delicate cardiac surgery.

Perfusionists are on call for emergency procedures with the cardiac surgical team on a rotating basis and are frequently involved with departmental administration, teaching, and research.

Individuals who choose this profession must be self-motivated and must thrive on the excitement and stress involved with cutting-edge medical technology.

I chose SUNY Upstate’s Clinical Perfusion program for its high-fidelity simulation. Upstate in general has a great reputation, and the College of Health Professions offers one of the top programs in the country. I wanted to learn from the best.

Hannah Gray, Clinical Perfusion MS '22

1975

One of the oldest university Clinical Perfusion programs in the United States

Simulations

Dedicated high-fidelity simulation space

100%

Five-year average job placement rate within 12 months of graduation

Why Choose the Clinical Perfusion Program at SUNY Upstate? 

5 reasons to choose the Clinical Perfusion program at SUNY Upstate College of Health Professions:

  1. A longstanding SUNY History of Excellence: Our clinical perfusion program is one of the oldest university programs in the United States. There are only two clinical perfusion programs of its kind in New York State and 19 across the nation. In 1975, the first Associate of Science in Extracorporeal Technology graduated. In 1999, we transitioned to the Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion, and in 2020 we graduated the first Master of Science class in Clinical Perfusion.
  2. SUNY Upstate Medical University has the most to offer: The State University of New York is one of the largest University systems in the country with 64 campuses and approximately half a million students.
  3. The Upstate Medical University campus includes four colleges Norton College of Medicine, College of Graduate Studies, College of Nursing, and the College of Health Professions. University Hospital is also part of our campus and is the region’s largest hospital and medical research facility.
  4. Dedicated high-fidelity simulation space: This includes 2 operating theaters, a 4-bed ICU, and 8 high fidelity patient simulators for CPB and ECMO. Our high-definition AV technology captures every simulation event for review and debriefing. Full fleet of clinical equipment including 4 modern Heart and Lung machine platforms and 7 ECMO system platforms
  5. Faculty are leaders in the field of Cardiovascular Perfusion: Our faculty have recent publications and award-winning presentations in the literature validating the simulation techniques, technologies, and assessment rubrics involved in teaching cardiopulmonary bypass skills.

Certification & Licensure

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

The Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL; 727-210-2350; caahep.org

Accreditation & Program Data
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Degree Outcomes

  • Graduates of the Clinical Perfusion program will earn a Master of Science in Clinical Perfusion.
  • Graduates are eligible to take the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion's National Certification Examination to become a certified clinical perfusionist (CCP)
  • CCPs are eligible to take the state licensure exam to become a licensed perfusionist (LP).
  • In addition, those students who complete the capstone track often to choose to take an external certification exam in their field of specialty.

Career Opportunities

Students who have earned certification and licensure will find excellent employment primarily in hospitals as crucial members of the cardiovascular surgery team.

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

Request Advisement

Virtual Information Sessions

The Office of Admissions is conducting virtual information sessions for those who are interested in College of Health Professions programs.

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