Curriculum Overview

The program begins with two semesters of didactic and laboratory courses to prepare students for the following year of clinical experience courses. Clinical instructors provide one-on-one training where students participate in pediatric and adult open-heart operations and other procedures requiring the perfusionist's expertise.

The didactic and clinical faculty include perfusionists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other experienced lecturers. Computers, research, management, and on-call aspects of perfusion education are integral parts of the University of Iowa Perfusion Education Program.

The Perfusion Education Program began here in 1992 and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs. Students are awarded a certificate upon completion of the Perfusion Education curriculum, making them eligible to take the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion Certification Exam.

Coursework Schedule

Schedule
SemesterHoursCourse NumberCourse Name
Fall (first year)4PERF 4161Instrumentation in Perfusion
 2PERF 4174Cardiovascular Anatomy for Perfusion
 2PERF 4162Pathophysiology for Perfusion I
 2PERF 4172Pharmacology for Perfusion I
 2PERF 4169Clinical Experience I
 1PERF 4167Perfusion Seminar I
 1PERF 4168Research in Perfusion I
Spring (first year)4PERF 4170Principles and Practice of Perfusion
 2PERF 4171Devices in Perfusion
 2PERF 4162Pathophysiology for Perfusion II
 2PERF 4173Pharmacology for Perfusion II
 2PERF 4169Clinical Experience II
 1PERF 4167Perfusion Seminar II
 1PERF 4168Research in Perfusion II
Summer (first year)12PERF 4169Clinical Experience III
 1PERF 4167Perfusion Seminar III
 1PERF 4168Research in Perfusion III
Fall (second year)12PERF 4169Clinical Experience IV
 1PERF 4167Perfusion Seminar IV
 1PERF 4168Research in Perfusion IV
Spring (second year)12PERF 4169Clinical Experience V
 1PERF 4167Perfusion Seminar V
 1PERF 4168Research in Perfusion V

Course Descriptions

Instrumentation in Perfusion (PERF:4161)

Semester Hours: 4
Description: Electrical circuitry, filters, pressure transducers, thermistors, cardiac output computers, fluid dynamics, intra-aortic balloon pumps, blood gas analyzers
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Pathophysiology of Perfusion I (PERF:4162)

Semester Hours: 2
Description: Hemostasis, acid base physiology, gas transfer, heart anatomy, heart embryology, congenital cardiac defects
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Cardiovascular Anatomy for Perfusion (PERF:4174)

Semester Hours: 2 
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Pharmacology for Perfusion I (PERF:4172)

Semester Hours: 2
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Clinical Experience I (PERF:4169)

Semester Hours: 2
Description: Perfusion in operating room; patient work-up, observation and reporting on extracorporeal setup, surgical procedure
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Perfusion Seminar I (PERF:4167)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Ethics in perfusion
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Research in Perfusion I (PERF:4168)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Topic selection to manuscript
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Principles and Practice of Perfusion (PERF:4170)

Semester Hours: 4
Description: Hypothermia, hemodilution, left heart bypass, dialysis, ultrafiltration, membrane and bubbler oxygenation
Prerequisite: STAT:3510, PERF:4133, PERF:4161, PERF:4162, PERF:4163

Devices in Perfusion (PERF:4171)

Semester Hours: 2
Description: Components of extracorporeal circuit, in vitro laboratory evaluation of components
Prerequisite: STAT:3510, PERF:4133, PERF:4161, PERF:4162, PERF:4163

Pathophysiology of Perfusion II (PERF:4162)

Semester Hours: 2
Description: Hemostasis, acid base physiology, gas transfer, heart anatomy, heart embryology, congenital cardiac defects
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Pharmacology for Perfusion II (PERF:4172)

Semester Hours: 2
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Clinical Experience II (PERF:4164)

Semester Hours: 2
Description: Continuation of PERF:4163; setup of the extracorporeal circuit, ancillary duties of the perfusionist
Prerequisite: STAT:3510, PATH:8133, PERF:4161, PERF:4162, PERF:4163

Perfusion Seminar II (PERF:4167)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Ethics in perfusion
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Research in Perfusion II (PERF:4168)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Topic selection to manuscript
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Clinical Experience III (PERF:4165)

Semester Hours: 12
Description: Continuation of 193:164; management of cardiopulmonary bypass system
Prerequisite: PCOL:4130, PERF:4164, PERF:4170, PERF:4171

Perfusion Seminar III (PERF:4167)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Ethics in perfusion
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Research in Perfusion III (PERF:4168)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Topic selection to manuscript
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Clinical Experience IV (PERF:4166)

Semester Hours: 12
Description: Continuation of PERF:4165; emphasis on supply maintenance, perfusion department management
Prerequisite: PERF:4165

Perfusion Seminar IV (PERF:4167)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Ethics in perfusion
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Research in Perfusion IV (PERF:4168)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Topic selection to manuscript
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Clinical Experience V (PERF:4169)

Semester Hours: 12
Description: Continuation of PERF:4166
Prerequisite: PERF:4166

Perfusion Seminar V (PERF:4167)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Ethics in perfusion
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment

Research in Perfusion V (PERF:4168)

Semester Hours: 1
Description: Topic selection to manuscript
Prerequisite: Perfusion Education Program enrollment