Jul 28, 2026
From concept to classroom
VCU’s first perfusion cohort builds momentum
Just months after launching Virginia’s first Cardiovascular Perfusion program, Virginia Commonwealth University’s inaugural class is already moving from textbooks to operating rooms.
In January, the master’s program welcomed its first 10-student cohort. Now in their second semester, students are advancing from foundational coursework into increasingly complex simulation training while preparing for clinical rotations that will begin this fall.
“For a brand-new program, it’s going great,” said Keith Pelletier, Ph.D., director. “The students are growing not only in their knowledge, but in how they apply that knowledge in clinical situations. That’s been exciting to watch.”
The 20-month program, housed within VCU’s nationally recognized Department of Nurse Anesthesia, was created to address a growing shortage of cardiovascular perfusionists – highly specialized clinicians who operate heart-lung machines during open-heart surgery and other complex cardiac procedures. The program remains the only one of its kind in Virginia.
From simulation to the operating room
The first semester focused on building a strong scientific foundation through anatomy and physiology, perfusion theory and introductory laboratory experiences. Students learned the components of the heart-lung machine before progressing to increasingly sophisticated simulation exercises that mirror real cardiac procedures.
Now, students are practicing how to prepare the heart-lung machine for surgery, initiate cardiopulmonary bypass and manage patients through the critical early stages of an operation. In the coming weeks, they’ll complete the full arc of a simulated case, including learning how to safely transition patients off bypass before beginning clinical rotations this fall.
“It’s life-or-death work,” Pelletier said. “That’s why we’re leaning heavily into simulation. Students can make mistakes here, learn from them and build confidence before they’re ever working with a patient.”
Outside the sim lab, students spend every Friday observing cardiac surgeries at local hospitals, while also stepping in between classes to observe additional procedures at VCU Health. They also trained in VCU Health’s preclinical anatomy lab, which serves as another opportunity to translate classroom concepts into clinical skills.
And those experiences are paying off.
Pelletier recently received unsolicited feedback from a VCU cardiac surgeon who had been informally questioning students while they observed procedures.
“The surgeon told me the students were answering every question appropriately and seemed very well-prepared,” he said. “That confirmed what we’re teaching is translating into the clinical environment.”
The inaugural class reflects the diverse pathways into perfusion. Most students entered the program as registered nurses, many with cardiac intensive care experience, while others previously worked as ECMO specialists or perfusion assistants. The cohort also includes recent college graduates beginning careers in cardiovascular medicine.
During its first admissions cycle, VCU received about 100 completed applications in just a few weeks of launch, with candidates applying from across the country and internationally. Applications are open for the second cohort, which will start in January 2027.
Building a program for the future
Even though students won’t begin clinical rotations until October, much of the work behind the scenes has focused on establishing a broad network of clinical partners.
Each student will complete five eight-week clinical rotations before graduation, including one at VCU Health. Beyond Virginia, the program has developed affiliations with hospitals in Washington, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina and other states. This approach gives students exposure to different technologies, surgical teams and patient populations.
Building those relationships has required persistence. Many hospitals already partner with existing perfusion programs; others have delayed participation because of internal staffing changes or other operational priorities. Even so, every student’s clinical schedule – complete with backup options – has already been set through graduation.
“The reputation of VCU has opened a lot of doors,” Pelletier said. “People know the quality of our health professions programs, and that’s been a real advantage as we’ve built these partnerships.”
Support from hospitals and industry partners also has accelerated the program’s growth.
Several health systems have donated five heart-lung machines valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars as they upgraded their own equipment. Industry partners have contributed disposable supplies, advanced technology and substantial equipment discounts. The benefit: students train on the same systems they’ll encounter in practice.
Rather than sharing a single machine, students can now work simultaneously on multiple devices configured to reflect equipment used at different hospitals.
“Perfusion is incredibly hands-on,” Pelletier said. “Having multiple machines gives students so much more opportunity to practice, gain experience and become comfortable before they enter the operating room.”
As the inaugural cohort progresses toward clinical training, the program also continues through the national accreditation process, with a self-study planned later this year and a site visit expected before the first class graduates.
VCU is also exploring collaborations with a new perfusion school in Rwanda. That can create opportunities for faculty to share expertise as both institutions build programs from the ground up. The program also will partner with Nurse Anesthesia for a fall conference that will further raise its profile and offer required continuing education for practitioners.
At this point, for Pelletier, the greatest validation of the program’s success has come from watching the students themselves.
“When you first launch a program, there’s always excitement about what’s possible,” Pelletier said. “Now we’re seeing it happen. The students are putting everything together, and you can see them becoming the perfusionists they’re training to be.”