Give Us A Year & You’ll Earn A Career!
Our Cardiovascular Institute
Welcome to Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospitals Cardiovascular Institute (CVI)! We offer a variety of hospital-based Allied Health education programs designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in cardiovascular care. Our current programs include Adult Echocardiography (AE), Cardiovascular Perfusion (CVP), and Invasive Cardiovascular Technology (ICVT). All three programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), thanks to the support of the JRC-CVT and AC-PE. The CVI was officially established on March 23, 2020, by the Board of Managers at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano in Texas.
Adult Echocardiography
The Adult Echocardiography Program is a certificate-level program that prepares students to enter the healthcare field as skilled entry-level cardiac sonographers. Graduates may work in a variety of allied healthcare settings, from large hospital centers to small outpatient clinics, performing diagnostic ultrasound examinations on the adult heart. The program consists of didactic classroom, hands-on lab, and clinical externship experience with coursework designed to build upon previous classes.
The CVI utilizes multiple Baylor Scott & White facilities for clinical externship training with a 1:1 clinical instructor to student ratio, which provides an excellent clinical education for each student. Experienced instructors, sophisticated audiovisual (A/V) equipment and classrooms, and a challenging didactic schedule combined with real-world clinical experience make the Cardiovascular Institute a competitive career choice in the Allied Health field of Adult Echocardiography.
Cardiovascular Perfusion
Perfusionists may be employed in hospitals, by surgeons, and as employees of a group practice. They typically work during the week, and are frequently on call for emergency procedures on nights and weekends. A perfusionist operates extracorporeal circulation and autotransfusion equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or temporarily replace the patient's circulatory or respiratory function. The perfusionist is knowledgeable concerning the variety of equipment available to perform extracorporeal circulation functions and is responsible, in consultation with the physician, for electing the appropriate equipment and techniques to be used. During cardiopulmonary bypass, the perfusionist may administer blood products, anesthetic agents, or drugs through the extracorporeal circuit on prescription and/or appropriate protocol. The perfusionist is responsible for the monitoring of blood gases and the adequate anticoagulation of the patient, induction of hypothermia, hemodilution, and other duties, when prescribed.
Invasive Cardiovascular Technology
The Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program consists of didactic classroom, hands-on laboratory and clinical internship experience with coursework designed to build upon previous courses. Students will learn to become competent entry-level invasive cardiovascular technologists and will be qualified to sit for the national credentialing examination. The invasive cardiac catheterization lab is an exciting, dynamic and ever-expanding field of cardiology. Invasive specialists perform life-saving procedures by opening blocked coronary arteries and placing stents, measure direct hemodynamics (pressures) in the heart chambers, and deploy a wide array of mechanical devices and valves to treat heart disease. Graduates may work in a variety of medical facilities that perform life-saving cardiac catheterization laboratory procedures.
“Learning echo at the CVI was the greatest learning experience I have ever had. The classes were interesting, engaging, demanding, fun and had great instructors to ensure everyone succeeded. The CVI fosters an environment of highly skilled, intelligent, and nice people that are eager to help out. Most importantly, it opened the door to an awesome career with great potential to branch out in the medical field.”
— David Lee, Adult Echocardiography Class of 2023
“I believe by attending the Cardiovascular Institute you will be learning from the best. The program is modelled to make sure you are a successful perfusionist as long as you are willing to put the work in. My classmates have become friends and the faculty has become my mentors. I would absolutely recommend this program as I believe I was well prepared for the workplace.”
— Tairat Omenihu, Cardiovascular Perfusion Class of 2022
“The Cardiovascular Institute was a life-changing experience I will forever be grateful for. The Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program, teacher, fellow classmates, and preceptors taught and prepared me more than I could have asked for. This career has different growth opportunities and is very rewarding getting to help patients day in and day out. I would without a doubt say that personally and professionally this program gave me all of the tools needed to succeed as a Register Cardiovascular Invasive Technologist.”
— Morgan Weems, Invasive CV Technology Class of 2023
Class of 2027 Applications Due March 31st @11:59pm!
The Heart Hospital CVI Excellence Award
The Excellence Award Program at THH is designed to recognize graduates of programs offered by the THH Cardiovascular Institute (CVI). Eligible full-time, certified employees who work in the discipline they studied at THH CVI can receive a monetary award up to $5,250 per application period for students, with one taxable award allowed per year. For CVI graduates who become certified and remain in good standing, the award reimburses a portion of their tuition costs in phased payments over time, provided they stay employed at THH. If a certified graduate of a CVI program is not immediately employed upon graduation by THH but is hired within
five years of graduation, they may petition The Heart Hospital Committee for the award to be paid to them. Employees with outstanding tuition loans at BHSCU must prioritize repaying those loans with their award funds. Applications are submitted annually, reviewed by a committee, and must include proof of enrollment or graduation. Recipients must remain employed and in good standing to continue receiving payments, and any rehire after leaving THH may require committee approval to reinstate the award.
