Anthony O’Donnell was a respiratory therapist for over 20 years before deciding to be a perfusionist.
While working as a respiratory therapist, O’Donnell saw individuals with ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) machines and became curious. One of the perfusionists kindly told him what they did, and on his day off, he went into the OR and watched them pump a case. Fascinated, he returned to school to complete his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and applied for perfusion school, getting in the second round.
O’Donnell was recently selected as the student of the month for the Cardiovascular Perfusion program at Lawrence Technological University. “I am ecstatic. I tend to lay low and am quiet. When they told me [I was the student of the month], I was flabbergasted and really happy. I have a lot of talented peers in my cohort, and it is an honor to be selected. I hope I can live up to it by becoming a great perfusionist in the future.”
The cardiovascular perfusion program at LTU is taught by current or retired perfusionists, ensuring students master complex material and succeed in their careers after graduation. “I know LTU’s program is in its infancy for cardiovascular perfusion, but talking to students in other programs, I think we have one of the best programs in the country. The instructors are incredible. Our sim lab is state-of-the-art and looks like an operating room. It is an absolutely fantastic program, and I believe it will excel and become bigger,” O’Donnell said.
A memorable clinical experience was two weeks ago when he assisted in pumping a heart transplant. “The patient was 50 years old with really bad heart disease, and I got to go on bypass. The doctor took out the old heart and replaced it with one shipped from Miami. The patient is doing great, and that just blew me away. He has a new chance at life.”
O’Donnell prefers working with adults at a facility that handles everything—VADs (ventricular assist device), valves, bypasses, transplants, and more—to gain broad experience. “I want to learn as much as possible early on, ensuring I’m skilled in all areas. I don’t want to settle for a limited role; I want to be challenged and know I can confidently handle any case.”
He advises incoming perfusionists to “stay positive and persevere. There will be moments when you want to give up, but put your heart into your learning and improve yourself. The rewards are prosperous.”
O’Donnell graduated from LTU this May and will begin working as a certified perfusionist in June at the hospital where he once worked as a respiratory therapist.
By: Nurzahan Rahman
