Master in Cardiovascular Technology, Aarhus University
The Master’s programme prepares students to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies required to analyse and assess clinical issues within cardiovascular technology, to identify and perform clinically relevant research projects and actively participate in the cardiovascular research community.
The programme covers areas such as cardiovascular anatomy and physiology including pathological conditions, extracorporeal techniques used for advanced treatment, research methodology and relevant diagnostic techniques.
Target audience
The primary target group for this programme is clinical professionals. The programme is only offered in English and is aimed at participants from Scandinavia, the EU and overseas.
A research-based programme for a more complex field
The programme consists of four semesters and a total of 60 ECTS credits. During the programme, students will work with the physiology of the heart and circulation, disease conditions, diagnostics, advanced forms of treatment and a final Master’s project. Teaching takes place in person in Aarhus and alternates between lectures, practical exercises, wet-lab activities and simulations.
The background to the new Master’s programme is not necessarily a need for significantly more perfusionists, but rather for a higher and more formalised level of education.
“Cardiac surgery is becoming increasingly specialised. There are fewer operations, but they are considerably more complex. Perfusionists play a central and active role during surgery, where decisions are made that are critical for the patient. This requires a solid understanding of clinical practice, technology and research,” says Søren Nielsen Skov.
Aarhus has a special role
Although the programme is new as a Master’s programme at Aarhus University, it builds on an academic environment with many years of experience. Since 2005, Aarhus has been the centre for the education of perfusionists for cardiac centres in Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia.
There are around 35 perfusionists in Denmark and around 130 in Scandinavia as a whole. It therefore makes sense to think of the programme in both Scandinavian and international terms. It is offered in English and is aimed particularly at students from Scandinavia and Europe.
“Since 2005, Aarhus has been the place that many people in Scandinavia associate with education in this field. That gives us a strong starting point now that we are formally establishing a Master’s programme at Aarhus University,” says Søren Nielsen Skov.
He hopes that the programme can both secure the necessary expertise in Denmark and Scandinavia and contribute to the clinical and research development of the field.
Søren Nielsen Skov himself completed the previous specialist programme in Cardiovascular Technology. He teaches in the field and is one of the key figures involved when the first cohort of students on the new Master’s programme begins.
“It has been in the pipeline for a long time, and it will be very exciting to get the first cohort started after the summer holiday,” he says.
Contact
Associate Professor and Programme Director Søren Nielsen Skov
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Email: soeren.skov@clin.au.dk