This unique educational program for organ perfusionists focuses on all aspects of machine perfusion, including liver, kidney, heart and lung perfusion. More information about how to register can be found under the tab 'Costs and registration'.
The educational program is part of the Healthy Ageing and Long-term Care cluster.
The program is intended for those who aspire to have a position as organ perfusionist or those who already work as one. Prior education requirements include: Bachelor of technical medicine/clinical technology/medicine, or(CZO-)diploma of clinical perfusionist. If you do not meet the requirements but have a comparable level of education, please contact us.
This educational program provides you with hands on training, theoretical knowledge and practical tips and tricks on how to become an organ perfusionist. Besides being taught by world-renowned experts, you will become part of an international community that focusses on the development of our profession, thereby learning with and from colleagues all over the world.
The educational program is divided into two modules existing of 14 live online interactive sessions, three hands on training weeks at the UMCG, and two online assessments. In preparation to the teaching days and training weeks, you will get access to e-learnings with state of the art research papers, videos and guiding questions.
Module 1 – General knowledge
Fundamental knowledge about organ donation, physiology, and biomechanics will be discussed. The process of organ donation has a significant impact on the quality of the graft. This section includes country-specific laws and regulations, the organ allocation system, donor criteria, and donor management from admission to the ER to the ICU department. The teachers for organ donation are Drs. Sijbrand Hofker, Drs. Gjalt Westland, Drs. Meint Volbeda, and Marjan Bijmolen.
Physiology underlies all processes in the human body. After a short recap of the in vivo physiology, this section details the physiological processes behind ischemia and reperfusion. Furthermore, the physiology of an organ during ex vivo machine perfusion will be discussed. Different strategies are developed to preserve, improve or test potential donor organs. The teacher for physiology is Prof. dr. Henri Leuvenink.
Machine perfusion relies on common basic biomechanical principles, which will be discussed in the biomechanics section. We will focus on the physics of fluids, materials used in a clinical perfusion setting, and biochemistry. All the different components of a perfusion device will be discussed, and you will be provided with all the essential knowledge you need to understand the mechanism of organ perfusion. The section biomechanics teachers are clinical perfusionists Dr. Roland Hoffmann and Drs. Sandra Horsten.
Module 1: January-April 2024
Module 2 – Organ specific knowledge
Organ perfusion and resuscitation has proven its value in outcomes after transplantation. Knowledge of the relevant anatomy, ex vivo physiology, procurement, surgical back table, specific perfusion protocols, and troubleshooting are essential to perform a successful perfusion. Particular knowledge about liver, kidney, heart, and lung perfusion, and normothermic regional perfusion will be discussed.
Teachers are specified in the section teachers on organperfusion.nl.
The chapters of the modules and an indication of the study load are specified in the table below.
Module 2: April-December 2024
For Dutch students: we are working on a CZO accreditation.
Wenckebach Institute for Education and Training in collaboration with the UMC Groningen Transplant Center
The registration fee is € 4.880,-. Drinks, lunches and two dinners during the contact weeks are included. Travel and accommodation costs are not included.
Participation is subjected to a minimum and maximum number of participants. Registration takes place in order of entry.
For registrations from abroad, email to [email protected] to receive a registration form.
Wenckebach Instituut voor Onderwijs en Opleiden
School of Nursing & Health
(t) 050 – 361 17013
Questions regarding to the organisation of the course: [email protected]
Quenstions regadering to the content of the course: [email protected]
