Cardiovascular Perfusion Graduate Diploma Program
*Note: The Cardiovascular Perfusion Graduate Diploma Program is offered every other year. The next offering of this program will be September 2011. |
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Interested in a career in cardiovascular perfusion? |
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What is Cardiovascular Perfusion?
Cardiovascular perfusion is a procedure employed during open-heart surgery to replace the normal functions of the heart and lungs, allowing the heart to be stopped to facilitate surgery. Cardiovascular Perfusionists are responsible for maintaining a patient's circulation and respiration during surgery through the preparation and operation of extra-corporeal circulation equipment.
What does a Cardiovascular Perfusionist do?
Cardiovascular Perfusionists are important members of the open-heart surgical team whose primary role is to conduct cardiopulmonary bypass using a heart-lung machine and other ancillary equipment. They closely monitor the patient's blood flow and other vital signs during open heart surgery and are also responsible for administering intravenous fluids, blood products and anesthetic drugs. Perfusionists are also experts of other life support equipment such as ventricular assist devices and intraaortic balloon pumps.
Why become a Cardiovascular Perfusionist?
Job Satisfaction - Being able to work independently contributes to high levels of job satisfaction among Cardiovascular Perfusionists.
Unique Career Opportunities - Cardiovascular Perfusionists are integral members of open-heart surgical teams. Previous critical care experiences and skills are used in a new and exciting way - taking it to the next level.
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Find out what inspired others like yourself to pursue a career in the applied health sciences at www.FutureHealthCareHeroes.com. For more information about our programs request a copy of our Viewbook today! |
Career Opportunities
The Cardiovascular Perfusion program at Michener is accredited by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). Graduates are eligible to write the certification examinations of the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion and the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion and are employed in cardiac surgery centres across Canada and the United States. Opportunities for growth exist in:
- Education
- Commercial sales
- Research management
How long does it take?
Cardiovascular Perfusion program is a 16 month full-time program.
Our Unique Delivery Model
The program begins with a one week residential orientation which prepares learners to transition to the on-line (distributed) learning environment. Learners then spend a component of the first semester studying from their home. While in the on-line component of the program, learners will engage with the learning material and interact with instructors and other learners using discussion forums, instant messaging and other information and communication technologies. In the latter half of the first semester, learners return to The Michener Institute of Applied Health Sciences to continue the application of their learning in a modern laboratory setting. The delivery of the full second semester will be at The Michener Institute with also the addition of a residential readiness for practice component that occurs in the institution’s high-fidelity simulation suite. The third semester will build on the learning of the second semester with a blended approach of simulation learning activities in advanced cardiovascular perfusionist techniques and hospital based clinical education. By the fourth semester students will fully transition to hospital based clinical education.
Graduates will receive The Michener Institute's Graduate Diploma in Health Science (Cardiovascular Perfusion).
Program length may differ for International Students. Please see the International Students page for more information.
Start Date
September 2011
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Cardiovascular Perfusion program must possess qualifications from either of these two options:
A.
- Bachelor's degree AND
- Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Registered Nurse (RN) AND
- Critical care experience within the last 5 years
- CGPA will be calculated using entire undergraduate education for ranking purposes.
- All documents relevant to training and/or experience (resume or CV)
- A letter from an employer stating a minimum of one year of critical care experience within the past five years (if applicable).
B.
- Bachelor's degree AND
- Successful completion of the following university courses:
- Human Anatomy (with Lab) or Human Physiology
- Algebra or Calculus
- General Physics (including lab component)
- Physical Chemistry
- Minimum of 0.5 credit for each prerequisite with minimum grade of 60%.
- CGPA will be calculated using entire undergraduate education for ranking purposes.
Suggested Courses:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide proof of an English language assessment. Deadline for submission is February 1st.
Internationally Educated Applicant
If you are an internationally educated applicant living in Canada as a landed immigrant or permanent resident, please be aware that you must have a full Course by Course evaluation of your transcripts by the World Education Service(WES) or a Comprehensive evaluation from the International Credential Assessment Service(ICAS). A document-to-document evaluation or the general evaluation offered through OntarioColleges(OCAS) is not sufficient. Documents must be evaluated to Canadian standards. Please note that WES does not do a course by course evaluation of High School documents. In order to have your International Education included in our initial admissions assessment we must receive all your documents by February 1, 2011
International Students
For Internationally educated students living overseas who wish to come to Canada to study. Please refer to the International Admissions page.
Tuition
The fee policy for Canadian students can found on the Canadian Tuition Fees web page.
The fee policy for International Students can found on the International Student tuition fees web page.
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How do I apply?
Step 1: Submit the following to ontariocolleges.ca
- Completed application
- Official academic transcripts and official copies of post secondary education documents. Official Notarized copies will also be accepted.
- Non refundable application fee
Applicants must submit the application to OntarioColleges at:
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Apply online at: www.ontariocolleges.ca orontariocolleges.ca
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Please use the following application codes: |
For more information on the application process please visit Michener's Admissions page.
All supporting documentation that is sent directly to Michener should be addressed to the Admissions Department. Click here for Admissions contact information.
Step 3:
Top ranked candidates will be mailed a Statement of Intent with an invitation to review, and sign off on important program specific material. This signed Statement of Intent must then be returned to Michener's Admissions Office.Step 4:
Upon receipt of your signed Statement of Intent you will be asked to come to the Michener campus, to participate in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), the final phase of our admissions process. What is MMI?
Offers Of Admission
Offers of admission will be made to students based on a combination of information received from application step 1 through 4. Any information received late, or not at all, will affect our ability to evaluate your academic and work related credentials and will severely impact on Michener being able to make an offer of admission. After the MMI is completed, offers of admission will be made. Offers of Admission will be mailed during the first week of May.
For more information on the application process please visit Michener's Admissions page.
International students have a separate application process. Please see the International Students page for more information.
Application Deadline
February 2, 2011
What will I learn?
Students will learn:
- Detailed anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular and related systems
- The operation of high-tech mechanical pumps and cardiopulmonary support devices
- Comprehensive perfusion theory
- Pharmacology
- Hemotherapy
Courses
The curriculum is currently under re-development. It is expected that the program will be available for September 2011. Application deadline is February 1 2011. Please check this website for any updates regarding the program before the application deadline.
Semester 1
- Orientation Week
- Communication
- Hemotherapy
- Physiological Science I
- Perfusion Theory I
Semester 2
- Professionalism
- Research
- Physiological Science II
- Perfusion Theory II
Semester 3
- Advanced Perfusion Theory
- Simulation and Clinical Education
- Leadership
Semester 4
- Clinical Education
 Before the turning point when cardio-pulmonary bypass became available, hypothermia was used as the sole method for open heart surgery which was extremely short-lived one, from 1952 to 1954. Moreover, the method was never very popular, initially too cumbersome and limited to simple straightforward operations. Cardio-pulmonary bypass can be looked at as the climax of a revolutionary development. (Interactive Cardio Vascular and Thoracic Surgery 2004; 3:535-541, The mid-century revolution in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery: Part 6, Author: A.P. Naef.) |
Clinical Sites
At Michener, you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and get hands-on experience at a variety of clinical sites. You will work under the supervision of a Cardiovascular Perfusionist and perform increasingly complex procedures. Clinical placements give you hands-on practice, experience in different work environments, and the opportunity to network with potential employers.
Current clinical sites include:
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa
- Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary
- Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton
- Hopital Laval, Quebec City
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
- Institut de Cardiologie de Montreal, Montreal
- IWK Grace Health Centre, Halifax
- Kingston General Hospital, Kingston
- London Health Sciences Centre, University Campus, London
- London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Campus, London
- Montreal Children's Hospital of the MUHC, Montreal
- Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa
- Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax
- St. Boniface General Hospital, Winnipeg
- St. Mary's General Hospital, Kitchener
- St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto
- Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket
- Sudbury Regional Hospital, Memorial Site, Sudbury
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto
- Trillium Health Center, Mississauga
- University Health Network, Toronto General Site, Toronto
- University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton
- Vancouver General Hospital
Accreditation
The Cardiovascular Perfusion program is a CMA (Canadian Medical Association) accredited program.
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that programs enable their students to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes to function as competent health practitioners for the benefit of all Canadians. Accreditation, an external validation of program quality, is the public recognition that an educational program has met national standards (CMA 2006)
Graduating from an accredited program means that:
- your education has met national standards
- your program has patient care and student welfare at the forefront
- your education is relevant to current medical practice
- your have access to professional registration
- you have attained the competencies required for entry to practice
- your education is recognized by employers and the public
- you have greater mobility as a health science practitioner
Cardiovascular Perfusion Scholarships
General Scholarships and Bursaries
Interesting Links
Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion
American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Continuing Education in CVP - Masters in Perfusion Science
Students graduating from the program are also eligible for a Masters in Perfusion Science from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Michener has arranged an accelerated admissions process for these interested graduates.
