It was while conducting clinical research that Alisa Maznytsya (Cardiovascular Perfusion, ’22) first met a cardiovascular perfusionist, learning more about a profession she was only vaguely aware of, and the vital role it plays within clinical care.
That general lack of familiarity with the role helps her grant a pass every time she’s asked about perfumes.
“My colleagues and I have all been asked multiple times, by different people in our lives, if we make perfume,” Alisa, who work in UHN Surgical Services, says with a laugh. “Many people are puzzled by this niche specialty field within clinical care.”
As a perfusionist, Alisa works with surgeons, anesthesiologists and other members of the interprofessional team in an operating room to ensure a patient’s circulation and respiration are maintained during surgery. Perfusionists typically use state-of-the-art equipment such as a heart-lung machine and are also trained in the use of blood products and drugs as part of their scope of practice.
Alisa was born and raised in Ukraine, immigrating to Canada while young, but would travel back-and-forth over the years. She completed her education at a European medical school, which led to difficulties entering Canada’s health system, and eventually to pivot away from her pursuit of medicine.
“That was incredibly challenging and devastating, because I loved medicine,” Alisa says.
As she explored other opportunities in the health care field, Alisa found that cardiovascular perfusion (CVP) was a natural fit for her interests and education. She attended the CVP program at The Michener Institute of Education at UHN — the first and largest masters of science in CVP in Canada.
“I really enjoyed clinical research, and everything I had studied in med school and grad school came with a focus on cardiology, so it made perfect sense to pursue a field where I could do clinical work within the cardiac realm,” she says.
Alisa’s studies at Michener took place over the pandemic. She would once again persevere on her path to health care, and found those difficult times helped bring her entire class closer together.
Since graduating, Alisa has returned to Michener as CVP faculty, bridging her newfound passion for perfusion with her love of teaching.
“I’ll often tell my students you are likely encountering the worst day of your patients’ life, but through your work you can help define that experience and positively impact the rest of their lives,” Alisa says. “What we do is so incredibly meaningful and powerful, it’s almost hard to put into words.”
In spite of the challenges along the way, Alisa is very appreciative to have found her way to a diverse clinical environment at UHN within a very rewarding health care field.