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Program Overview

Program Overview

As a cardiovascular perfusionist and scientist, you’ll be a valued member of a cardiac surgical team. Perfusionists play a vital role to ensure a patient’s blood continues flowing throughout the body by utilizing artificial pumps during cardiac procedures. In just 22 months, you can transform your future in a profession with life-saving and life-changing outcomes for the patients you serve.

The cardiovascular perfusion curriculum prepares you to enter a highly skilled and desired position within the surgical theater. Lipscomb has developed partnerships all around the country that will ensure the highest quality clinical placements during your education and offer you excellent job opportunities after graduation. Additionally, a master’s degree provides you the training to be more experienced than candidates with a certificate.

As a Lipscomb student, you’ll be training in a state-of-the-art health simulation center, which is uniquely equipped to provide hands-on learning in a low-risk environment during your didactic training. The center includes a newly designed and specialized laboratory dedicated to cardiovascular perfusion instruction.

Simulation Education

Simulation plays a critical role in assessing a student's ability to advance to the clinical phase of perfusion training. Through this low risk, high fidelity environment the student is provided the opportunity to precisely demonstrate cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning without the risk associated with clinical perfusion practice and cardiac surgery. Additionally, we use variable role play to enhance learning perfusion fundamentals for early adoption of local standards and safety practices. Cardiac service interprofessional awareness and comprehension remains critical to optimal surgical outcomes and to promote student confidence to perform in these high acuity settings.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions Requirements

The Master of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion requires candidates to submit an application by the published deadline and participate in an interview process. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or the international equivalent verified by WES, or anticipate earning a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation into the perfusion sciences program. 

Understanding Holistic Application Reviews

Lipscomb utilizes a holistic application review and interview process, which may include the following: academics, communication skills, letters of recommendation, problem-solving skills, professionalism, work experience, degree earned, research, volunteerism, interview performance, attitude, timeliness and other factors that help differentiate those applicants that possess the highest likelihood of succeeding as part of the health care team. 

Certain exceptions may be granted on an individual basis concerning admissions requirements. No assurances or guarantees are given or implied based on the completion of the prerequisites or achieving a high level of academic performance.

The Lipscomb University Master of Science Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Committee-Perfusion Education (AC-PE).

Courses

Courses

As a cardiovascular perfusion student, your curriculum will require 22 continuous months of study. Two semesters are on campus and three semesters are primarily clinically based.

Tuition & Aid

Tuition & Aid

Tuition is $1,450 per credit hour for 60 hours, a total of $87,000**. Fees are $1,000 per semester*.  

* Student, lab, technology and graduation fees.
** All amounts shown are estimates and subject to change. The graduate tuition rates may increase annually, effective each summer semester.

Applying for Financial Aid

We encourage all students to file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for financial aid. Doing so is the only way to know what aid you are eligible to receive. Applying for aid does not affect your chances of being admitted to Lipscomb. We recommend that the FAFSA be filed by April 1. If you do not have your tax return completed by then, go ahead and file the FAFSA. You can always amend your FAFSA once your return is complete.

  • Complete your FAFSA by going to studentaid.gov and electronically submitting it.
  • Be sure to have your tax information from the most recent tax year and your driver's license.
  • If you have filed a FAFSA before, you will need your FSA ID.
  • If you have not filed a FAFSA before, visit studentaid.gov to request an ID.
  • Lipscomb University's school code is 003486 (to be used in step six on the FAFSA).

Why Earn Your Cardiovascular Perfusion Degree at Lipscomb University?

Access to Industry Professionals

Study in the health care capital of America to take advantage of opportunities you won’t receive elsewhere, including access to industry professionals.

Post-Grad Job Opportunities

The partnerships Lipscomb has developed all around the country ensure you have the highest quality clinical placements and provide excellent job opportunities after graduation.

Hands-On Enviroment

Our simulation lab allows you to get experiential, hands-on training in a low risk environment

Alumni and Student Stories

“I chose Lipscomb's Cardiovascular Perfusion program because I knew Lipscomb had an excellent history of developing courses and programs to cater to future graduate level healthcare professionals. Lipscomb CP is set up for success and is led by an incredible, and dedicated director, Mr. David Webb. His decades of experience in education and the OR, will lead Lipscomb to be a premium CP program for years to come.”
- Ray Kennedy

"When given the opportunity to attend other programs, I would choose Lipscomb every time. Before starting in the Cardiovascular Perfusion program at Lipscomb, I completed the first 2 years of medical school, but I had to withdraw due to several reasons. I was looking for lab jobs when I found out about the program, and I was so excited to be accepted into the inaugural cohort.”
- Jordan Vaughan

Our Faculty

  • David Webb headshot

    David Webb

    Program Director

    David Webb has over 20 years experience in perfusion education and cardiovascular experience, including serving as chief perfusionist and program director of the Vanderbilt University Perfusion School where he also...

    Meet David Webb
  • Jeff Bennie headshot

    Jeff Bennie

    Medical Director

    Dr. Jeff Bennie is a 1983 graduate of Lipscomb University ( B.S. Physics). He attended medical school at Washington University St. Louis class of 1987. He completed an anesthesia residency...

    Meet Jeff Bennie
  • Ed Evans headshot

    Ed Evans

    Clinical Liaison

    Ed Evans has 35 years of clinical and education experience in Perfusion and is certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (inactive). He is an Associate Professor and Clinical...

    Meet Ed Evans
  • Nicole Smith headshot

    Nicole Smith

    Director of Operations, Cardiovascular Perfusion

    Meet Nicole Smith

Career Paths

Perfusionist

Cardiovascular Perfusionists play a vital role to ensure a patient’s blood continues flowing throughout the body by utilizing artificial pumps during cardiac procedures, replacing the function of the heart while the cardiac surgeon operates.

Research

Cardiovascular Perfusionist Researchers conduct studies aimed at improving perfusion practices and overall human health. They often use simulations, clinical trials, and other investigative methods to reach their findings.

Higher Education Positions

Cardiovascular Perfusionists work in higher education as faculty or in administrative roles such as professors, clinical instructors, program directors, and deans. Their job duties vary depending upon the role they fill.