Kathryn Chapman

My career has taken me across the UK and Europe in clinical perfusion roles, with opportunities to teach internationally, including at Duke University in the United States. I have also worked in medical technology, education and service development, which has given me the opportunity to see the profession from different perspectives.

I am an accredited Clinical Perfusion Scientist with an MSc in Perfusion Science and Advanced Accreditation. I have worked with medical technology manufacturers to introduce new technologies into clinical practice and developed a digital perfusion record that integrated heart lung machine data directly into electronic patient records.

I founded Lightbulb Perfusion Ltd to provide specialist clinical perfusion services through a team of experienced perfusionists. Our work takes us from hospitals in the south of England to Sweden, India and Abu Dhabi. I continue to work clinically alongside the team, delivering specialist perfusion services for cardiac surgery, ECMO repatriations and other complex procedures. We also provide experienced perfusionists to hospitals requiring additional clinical cover.

I have also developed a bespoke application that manages the day to day running of Lightbulb Perfusion, including clinical governance, professional reaccreditation, staff scheduling, diary management and administration. I enjoy finding practical ways to use technology to improve how clinical services are organised and managed.

Working with different hospitals and clinical teams has given me an appreciation of the different ways perfusion services operate and the challenges we share.

As a member of the SCPS Executive Committee, I would particularly like to:

• Protect our profession and ensure our skills, expertise and professional identity are recognised.
• Strengthen our voice in decisions about regulation, education and workforce planning.
• Support trainees and colleagues through education, mentoring and professional development.
• Encourage innovation while maintaining high clinical standards and patient safety.

I believe perfusion has a great deal to offer, and I want to help protect our profession while making sure we continue to develop and embrace new opportunities.

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