Üsküdar University has achieved a first among foundation universities in Türkiye by launching the Perfusion Simulation Laboratory. Opened at the NP Health Campus, the laboratory marks the beginning of a new era in cardiac surgery education. Students now have the opportunity to experience ECMO applications in a realistic training environment, while the high-tech laboratory brings an innovative dimension to modern medical education.
Hands-on experience through realistic scenarios
Established within the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Department of Perfusion, the Perfusion Simulation Laboratory was inaugurated with an official ceremony. As the first of its kind among Turkish foundation universities, the lab allows students to practice cardiac surgery and ECMO procedures through realistic, scenario-based simulations.
The opening ceremony at Üsküdar University’s NP Health Campus was attended by President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Vice Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak, Head of the Department of Perfusion Prof. Ali Kocailik, university administrators, and faculty members.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “There is strong technological support here”
Speaking at the opening, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the importance of zero error tolerance in medical education. Tarhan said, “Surgery is the most serious part of medicine because the margin for error is zero. What surgeons do is no different from what pilots do. There is strong technological support here. It is very important that our university utilizes this technology. Right now, this system exists only at our university among foundation universities in Türkiye. There is one example in a state university, but it is not active. Since we are health-oriented, we made this investment. We should be the ones to implement it perfectly.”
“Our students will be much more skilled and competitive”
Offering advice to students, Tarhan continued, “In the past, people in this field were trained as apprentices, usually high school graduates or nurses. This profession is relatively new, with only seven or eight years of formal history. Now, education is provided at undergraduate and graduate levels. Our students will be much more skilled and competitive in their careers.”
Prof. Hikmet Koçak: “This is not just a simulator, it’s a project that serves life”
Vice Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak underlined that the laboratory is not merely a simulation space but an educational investment that saves lives. Koçak said, “Just as pilots receive training in simulators, our students will learn everything here before touching a real patient. By the time they work with an actual patient, the surgeon can fully trust them. This is not just a simulator; it is a project that serves both the future and human life.”
Prof. Ali Kocailik: “Our goal is to prepare students fully for the field”
Head of the Department of Perfusion Prof. Ali Kocailik discussed the educational value of the laboratory and highlighted the importance of integrating technology into learning. Kocailik said, “Perfusion education was traditionally taught through the master-apprentice model, but this was not sufficient for complex clinical scenarios. We aim to prepare our students to be fully equipped, both scientifically and practically, before entering the field. The Califia Perfusion Simulator allows students to learn without making errors, develop teamwork and decision-making skills, and enhance their problem-solving abilities. This system provides a strong educational foundation not only for students but also for clinicians. It may sound ambitious, but I can confidently say that with the best academic staff, the best laboratory facilities, and the best curriculum, we are leaders in perfusion education. We also aim to obtain EBCP (European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion) accreditation.”
Comprehensive preparation before internships
Since 2017, Üsküdar University has been training qualified perfusionists through its undergraduate perfusion program. Although students gain hands-on experience in hospitals during their fourth year, the simulation laboratory now allows them to undergo a fully equipped preparation process before internships.
High-risk procedures can be simulated one-to-one
The Califia Perfusion Simulator used in the laboratory can precisely replicate high-risk procedures such as open-heart surgery and ECMO support. Recommended by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, this system is used in all perfusion schools across North America.
Learning without errors improves competence
Through simulation-based education, students develop teamwork, decision-making, emergency management, and communication skills while gaining the chance to learn without errors.
Üsküdar University expressed its gratitude to EKOL Logistics and Ahmet Musul for their support in establishing the laboratory.
