Perfusion Without Borders

AmSECT believes that students provide a great strength for the future of our profession. We hope for well-rounded professionals who will be able to provide a broad range of experience to their developing careers. Exposure to missions work is an exciting way to begin that development. Perfusion Without Borders, in conjunction with the AmSECT Foundation, offers one annual scholarship (up to $3,000) to a perfusion student. The scholarship covers travel and hotel expenses for a mission of their choice. The student will give a presentation of their trip at the next AmSECT's International Conference. Our scholarship recipients have found their experiences to be very significant events in the development of their professional careers.

Kate Fread

Congratulations to our 2026 recipient, Kate Fread!

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive the AmSECT Perfusion Without Borders Scholarship. I look forward to learning from both the local and traveling teams, gaining a new perspective on perfusion, and contributing wherever I can. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to begin incorporating service into my career while still a student. I hope to carry what I learn from this experience with me as I continue to grow as a perfusionist and find ways to give back throughout my career. ”

Application Requirements:

Perfusion Without Borders Student Application & Letter of Agreement
Supporting Documentation (Attached directly to your application.)
- CV
- Biographical Statement (including the reason you would like to complete mission work)
- Letter of reference from your Perfusion Program Director
- Letter of acceptance from a charity to join that charity on an upcoming mission

2026 Application Update

An applicant can choose a mission and travel anytime occurring between Oct 1, 2026 and the date of the 65^th AmSECT International Conference.
The applicant will require a letter of acceptance from a charity to join that charity on an upcoming mission however the specific mission date does not need to be included in order to fill out the scholarship application.
The recipient will be required to present at the 65^th AmSECT International Conference pursuant to the date of the mission attended.

If you are currently a perfusion student in the clinical stages of your education with an interest in witnessing and participating in a global effort to share the inspiration and insight of our profession throughout the world, an experience you will never forget, please consider applying. The applicant must be currently attending a U.S accredited or candidate-status perfusion program and an AmSECT student member in good standing.

Our application window has closed for 2026. Applications will reopen in June of 2027.

Applicant Resources:

Letter for Charities
Students applying for mission trips can attach a copy of this letter to the charities' application forms.

If you are having issues uploading your supporting documents, please email them directy to amsect@amsect.org.

The mission of the Perfusion Without Borders Task Force is to promote cardiac surgery missions by creating opportunities for the exchange of equipment, information and techniques, and facilitating volunteer opportunities for perfusionists to give back to the global community.