Perfusionists in training are vital to the success of our Society and the future of perfusion. Become a member of AmSECT to discover our valuable member benefits, including access to our Employment Board; discounted conference registration fees, and so much more! Questions? Contact AmSECT National Headquarters about your AmSECT student membership!
Join the AmSECT Student Council!
Are you looking to get more involved in AmSECT as a student? Want to connect and collaborate with perfusion students and perfusionists across the nation? The AmSECT Student Council is always looking for driven and passionate students to collaborate and lead! Read our FAQ to learn more about us and put in an application using the button below if you'd like to join!
Pre-Perfusion
Coming soon!
2023 Student Heart Walk
The AmSECT Student Council second annual Heart Walk was a huge success! A very special thank you to all who participated and donated to our fundraiser!
See What Our Students Have Been Up To!
May Student Spotlight: Cara Weigel, UNMC
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Get to Know Cara
Hi all! My name is Cara Weigel. I am originally from ND. Prior to perfusion school I worked as a respiratory therapist for a couple years, which taught me a lot of invaluable lessons that have translated well into clinicals so far. I am in my second year of UNMC's program, currently on my last clinical rotation and have recently accepted a position at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, WA! When I'm not at school or clinicals I like to spend my free time outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and snowmobiling with my friends and family.
AMSECT: Why did you choose to pursue a career in perfusion?
CARA: I first heard about perfusion in a high school health careers class. Through that class, I was given the opportunity to shadow a variety of healthcare providers. After learning about perfusion and having the opportunity to shadow I knew it was the right path for me. I have always loved anatomy and physiology, working with different technologies, and critical thinking. Seeing how all of these things seamlessly blend together in perfusion was my main draw to the field. My experience working as an RT and taking care of cardiac patients only confirmed my interest and passion for the field!
AMSECT: What is a perfusion-related topic that you think is indispensable to know for your perfusion career and why?
CARA: After being able to rotate at four great clincial sites, there is one topic that has continued to stick out to me. This topic being the use or lack of a standardized blood conservation protocol and subsequently standardization of blood conservation technique usage. I have always found it interesting how much variation there is in the field of perfusion; this subject matter is no exception. At each site I have been to, a few standard techniques are utilized on every case (i.e. autotransfusion, RAP, and VAP), although there are still some sites that do not utilize these techniques consistently despite the evidence based research. We all know the risks associated with blood product transfusions and steep costs associated, not to mention the continued lack of supply, which is why I am interested in knowing if most institutions follow a strict blood conservation protocol, utilize transfusion triggers vs patient based assessments or a combination when deciding to transfuse, and what techniques they use most consistently and why.
AMSECT: In reference to the question above, what question do you have about that topic that you’d like others' to input on?
CARA: At your site (or clincial sites you've rotated) is there a standardized blood conservation protocol used for every patient? Do you utilize a set transfusion trigger or rely on patient assessment to decide when to transfuse? What blood conservation techniques do you or your institution use most frequently and why? Or why don't you utilize techniques that have been recommended through evidence based research?
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AmSECTomorrow Fall 2023 Student Newsletter
Catch up on the newest edition of AmSECTomorrow!
Student Contests and Scholarships
AmSECT provides several student contests and scholarships each year, including:
AmSECT Mary Hartley Student Scholarship
The AmSECT Mary Hartley Scholarship Fund is a scholarship that will provide one second-year student enrolled in a perfusion training program with a $5,000 scholarship each year. This scholarship fund is made possible by a generous donation from Mary Hartley.
We take great pride in showcasing and extending heartfelt congratulations to the distinguished recipients of the 2023 Mary Hartley Scholarship: Jennifer Stubblebine and McKenzie Ayala.
Learn More
AmSECT Safety Committee Student Essay Contest
In 2021, the Safety Committee created the student essay contest which awards $1,000 in prize money to the top two writers of a safety essay about patient safety and their passion for patient safety and perfusion.
Previous Winners
2022 - Jennifer Gavin-Veyna (University of Nebraska Medical Center) and Zach Gorman (University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine)
2021 - Jeremy Bolick (Medical University of South Carolina) and Sophia Kero (University of Nebraska Medical Center)
Job Opportunities
Search for current job opportunities and openings.
Resources
Upcoming Conference
Join us to celebrate your profession, share knowledge, solve challenges and network with leading perfusionists from around the world.
Future Perfusionists
Interested in becoming a perfusionist? Learn more with this intro video from Nationwide Children’s.