Master of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion

The Master of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion is a two-year, full-time graduate program offered by the Michener Institute of Education at UHN in Toronto. It prepares cardiovascular perfusionists, the clinicians who operate heart-lung machines and manage extracorporeal circulatory support during cardiac and transplant surgery. Delivery is hybrid, combining classroom instruction with hands-on training on high-fidelity simulators. The first year concentrates on perfusion theory, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and critical care alongside simulation-based practice; the second year moves into supervised clinical placements, described by the program as Clinical Practice Phase I, II, and III, at high-volume cardiac surgery centres across Ontario, and concludes with a capstone research project. Michener states it is the only institution in Canada offering cardiovascular perfusion training at the master's level. Admission is competitive and weighted across cumulative GPA, professional or academic experience, and performance on the Casper situational-judgement assessment; applicants typically hold a bachelor's degree with required science courses, or come from a registered nursing or respiratory therapy background with critical care experience. The program suits science or healthcare graduates seeking a specialized, clinically intensive postgraduate credential in a small, in-demand surgical specialty.