Get to Know Sarah
Hi hi! My name is Sarah and I was born and raised in north New Jersey. I am a second year perfusion student at Thomas Jefferson. I've rotated at Thomas Jefferson Main University Hospital, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and will be rotating at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and New York University Langone next!
I love yoga, trying new cuisines and interior design. Before perfusion school I was an undergrad at University of Pennsylvania where I studied Neuroscience, did research on GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Ozempic), was on the Ski and Snowboard team, a bassist in the Penn Symphony orchestra, and the Undergraduate Assembly treasurer!
AmSECT: Why did you choose to pursue a career in perfusion?
Sarah: I learned about perfusion through my brother Adam—he was always so excited to share about work with my family when he got home. Out of curiosity, I asked to shadow him one day and fell in love myself. Medicine and helping people has always been my passion and problem solving comes naturally to me. Perfusion is a great way to combine medicine with mechanics. I love being part of a team that comes together for the benefit of a patient. It's such a niche profession and I am so excited to be a part of the community!
AmSECT: What is a perfusion-related topic that you think is indispensable to know for your
perfusion career and why?
Sarah: Recently I've been super interested in Normothermic Regional Perfusion for Organ Transplantation and categorization of organ donors. I've been lucky enough to tag along on a few NRP cases and I am of the firm belief that expanding the donor pool will be the key to patients getting the organs they need in a more timely fashion. Going on these cases has opened my eyes to the organ procurement and donation world, all the logistics behind what goes into a donation, and how crucial perfusionists can be in leading the process. These cases are so different from a normal OR, and it's incredible to be on the front lines of this new direction in which perfusion is heading!
AmSECT: In reference to the question above, what question do you have about that topic that you’d like others' to input on?
Sarah: I'd love to know from others what they think the future of our field will look like! Will NRP change the way hospital-based programs operate? Will OPOs and contract companies take over the procurement side, or will hospitals have to hire more staff to keep up with demand? Do you think ECPR will bring on more ECMO, or will it get handed off to specialists and nursing? Lastly, how will the opening of new schools affect job opportunities?
AmSECT: Share your experience/favorite thing about being a Student Member of AmSECT. How has it impacted your journey in perfusion?
Sarah: I loved meeting a few of the other students on Amsect Student Council at the Myrtle Beach conference a few months ago! Connecting with other budding pumplings from different schools reminds me that even though we're far apart, we're still all in this together ❤️ We are the future of this field and it's really such a small world!
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