New Master’s programme: They take over when the heart stops

When a patient undergoes open-heart surgery, it may be necessary to stop the heart temporarily. Meanwhile, the body still needs oxygenated blood to be circulated to the brain and the other organs.

That responsibility lies with the cardiovascular perfusionist.

Beside the operating table, the perfusionist controls the heart-lung machine, which temporarily takes over the heart’s pumping function and oxygenates the blood. From there, the perfusionist monitors the patient’s circulation and adjusts the treatment in close collaboration with cardiac surgeons and anaesthetists.

It is a role in the operating theatre that many people never hear about.

“Perfusionists are a small, highly specialised professional group with a crucial role during cardiac surgery. We operate the heart-lung machine and ensure that the patient’s circulation and oxygenation are maintained while the surgeons operate,” says Søren Nielsen Skov, Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine and programme director of the new Master’s programme.

A profession that requires broad knowledge

The new Master in Cardiovascular Technology is based at the Department of Clinical Medicine and has been developed in close collaboration with Aarhus University Hospital.

The programme is aimed particularly at clinical professionals with a background in health sciences, technology or natural sciences, and at least two years of professional experience.

Graduates will be particularly qualified to work as cardiovascular perfusionists. However, to practise as an EBCP-certified cardiovascular perfusionist, students must complete both the Master’s programme and a separate structured clinical training programme at the Scandinavian School of Cardiovascular Technology at Aarhus University Hospital.

The programme may also qualify graduates for other roles in research, development and the cardiovascular industry.

“To become a skilled perfusionist, you need a broad professional understanding. You must be familiar with cardiac surgery and anaesthesia, understand the body’s physiology and master advanced technology. With the accreditation of the new research-based Master’s programme, we are taking an important step that both strengthens the academic foundation and helps future-proof the profession,” says Søren Nielsen Skov.

A research-based programme for a more complex field

The programme consists of four semesters and a total of 60 ECTS credits. During the programme, students will work with the physiology of the heart and circulation, disease conditions, diagnostics, advanced forms of treatment and a final Master’s project. Teaching takes place in person in Aarhus and alternates between lectures, practical exercises, wet-lab activities and simulations.

The background to the new Master’s programme is not necessarily a need for significantly more perfusionists, but rather for a higher and more formalised level of education.

“Cardiac surgery is becoming increasingly specialised. There are fewer operations, but they are considerably more complex. Perfusionists play a central and active role during surgery, where decisions are made that are critical for the patient. This requires a solid understanding of clinical practice, technology and research,” says Søren Nielsen Skov.

Aarhus has a special role

Although the programme is new as a Master’s programme at Aarhus University, it builds on an academic environment with many years of experience. Since 2005, Aarhus has been the centre for the education of perfusionists for cardiac centres in Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia.

There are around 35 perfusionists in Denmark and around 130 in Scandinavia as a whole. It therefore makes sense to think of the programme in both Scandinavian and international terms. It is offered in English and is aimed particularly at students from Scandinavia and Europe.

“Since 2005, Aarhus has been the place that many people in Scandinavia associate with education in this field. That gives us a strong starting point now that we are formally establishing a Master’s programme at Aarhus University,” says Søren Nielsen Skov.

He hopes that the programme can both secure the necessary expertise in Denmark and Scandinavia and contribute to the clinical and research development of the field.

Søren Nielsen Skov himself completed the previous specialist programme in Cardiovascular Technology. He teaches in the field and is one of the key figures involved when the first cohort of students on the new Master’s programme begins.

“It has been in the pipeline for a long time, and it will be very exciting to get the first cohort started after the summer holiday,” he says.

Contact

Associate Professor and Programme Director Søren Nielsen Skov
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Email: [email protected]