Perfusion Scholarships for Future Medical Leaders

As the largest perfusion provider in the industry, it is our privilege to help support and develop future leaders in clinical perfusion by funding perfusion education scholarships. These scholarships are awarded in honor of Jim Brown and Gary Brukardt, two men who helped evolve the practice of perfusion and establish the model for outsourced perfusion services that we use today. Jim and Gary exemplified integrity, leadership, and dedication to patient care and our goal is to provide a perfusion scholarship to students who share these qualities and will work to advance patient outcomes throughout their careers.

Addressing the Perfusionist Shortage

At SpecialtyCare, we like to think of the perfusionist as the “heart of the operation.” As the OR team member who operates the heart-lung bypass machine, and extracorporeal mechanical assist systems, they play the critical role in maintaining a patient’s blood flow and lung function during surgery. It is a rewarding career in an industry that is facing a critical shortage. More perfusionists are currently leaving the field than there are graduates to fill these roles. In 2017, we saw around 180 entry-level perfusionists come into the field, while 280 team members left.

We feel it is our responsibility to bring awareness to perfusion – both as a vital medical service and as a solid career choice. As part of this effort, we are proud to support the Jefferson Center for Perfusion and Extracorporeal Technology Education as well as these scholarship opportunities.