Clinical perfusionists are skilled allied health professionals, qualified by academic and clinical education, who deal with all phases of regulating and controlling blood flow outside the body. The perfusionist operates life-sustaining equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or temporarily replace the patient's circulatory or respiratory function.
The perfusionist has diverse responsibilities that include the mechanical support of a patient's circulation and pulmonary function during medical procedures such as open-heart surgery, transplantation, and emergency medicine. The perfusionist is an integral member of the cardiovascular surgery team involved in infant and adult cardiac surgery.
Plan Your Path to Clinical Perfusion School
View Health School Application Timeline
- Meet with a Pre-Health advisor to create a comprehensive academic and co-curricular plan
- Research application requirements
- See school websites for any specific application requirements which may vary by program
- Meet with a representative of the program for specific questions and guidance
- Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – required by some schools
- Apply to clinical perfusion programs
- The application process for clinical perfusion programs varies by school. Please consult programs directly regarding applications and requirements. A list of schools can be found at the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs website.
Suggested Academic Preparation
- Bachelor’s degree – not required by all programs and any UNL major is a great option
- Completion of pre-requisite courses
- Competitive academic record
- GPA in both science and nonscience courses
- GRE score
Local Professional Schools
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Allied Health Professions(Omaha, NE)
Current Students
Current students: Meet with a Pre-Health advisor to talk more about your Pre-Health goals.
Are you a non-UNL student looking for information about Pre-Health? Click here