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Allied Health Programs

Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospitals Cardiovascular Institute

Welcome prospective students to the Cardiovascular Institute! We are thrilled you are considering our school for your Allied Health career path. To learn more about the school and each of the exciting healthcare programs we offer, we encourage you to download and read through the latest version of the school’s Student Catalog. Most of the answers to our applicant’s questions can be found in this document.

All students enrolled at the Cardiovascular Institute are expected to abide by all policies and procedures stated in the Student Catalog. Please download and review this document in its entirety before applying to a program.

Cardiovascular Institute Programs

Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospitals Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) is a collection of cutting-edge, hospital-based Allied Health education programs. Current state-approved programs include Adult Echocardiography (AE), Cardiovascular Perfusion (CVP) and Invasive Cardiovascular Technology (ICVT). Adult Echocardiography, Cardiovascular Perfusion, and Invasive Cardiovascular Technology are all accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the JRC-CVT, and AC-PE.

The CVI was formally founded on March 23, 2020, by the Board of Managers at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano in Plano, Texas. This 114-bed cardiovascular hospital is an internationally recognized center of healthcare excellence specializing in advanced cardiothoracic surgical techniques, transcatheter cardiovascular therapies and minimally invasive robotic surgery.

Importantly, the cost listed for each program at the Cardiovascular Institute is truly all-inclusive with no other fees or additional costs for which the student must pay after enrollment. The student will need to provide their own living and transportation expenses while attending a program, however, and attendance at clinical sites will require reliable transportation within the DFW metroplex.

The cost for each program includes:

  • All tuition, lab costs and fees
  • All books
  • Dell laptop personal computer with MS Office (If needed. Laptops are supported fully by BSWH IS and must be returned at the end of the program)
  • $40.00/week meal card which can be used at all BSWH facilities with Freedom Pay readers – Hospital Cafeterias, in-house La Madeline restaurants, and MiniMart facilities
  • 4 sets of monogrammed school scrubs & backpack
  • Credentialing examination fees for Adult Echocardiography and Invasive Cardiovascular Technology students, and the first round of board examinations for the Cardiovascular Perfusion students.

Financial Assistance

The Cardiovascular Institute does not offer conventional Federal Student Financial Aid. Students must find and secure financing on their own.

However, the Baylor Health Care System Credit Union (BHCSCU), a separate entity from the Cardiovascular Institute, has agreed to offer conventional personal loans for the amount of tuition only to those students who:

  1. Have been accepted into (not just applied) one of the programs at the Cardiovascular Institute AND
  2. Have a good credit history.

According to BHCSCU terms, loan payments are deferred for a total of 15 months, provided the student remains in school, before a regular loan payment schedule goes into effect. Cost-of-living expenses are not included in the loan amount and the student should take this into account when considering their total educational expenses.

The loan agreement, terms and repayment schedule are exclusively between the BHCSCU and student.

Contact Information:
BHCS Credit Union
4005 Crutcher Street,
Ste 130
Dallas, TX 75246-2122
469.676.2200
https://bhcscu.com/

 

Veterans Benefits Administration - G.I. Bill

The Cardiovascular Institute is a recognized school by the Veterans Benefits Administration to receive federal aid for those applicants who qualify through the G.I. Bill. More information can be found on the VA Benefits website including how to apply for this benefit and frequently asked questions (FAQ).

 

Reference list of private financial lenders

The school also offers the following list of financial lenders below for convenience. Students are welcome to use any lender they choose.

 

Application and Admissions

Non-Discrimination

The school will encourage an atmosphere that is respectful and supportive of every individual. This includes ensuring that all student-related actions and all employment actions be made without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

General Admission Requirements (All Programs)

Admission to the Cardiovascular Institute is a competitive process and a limited number of applicants are accepted each year. The student should demonstrate a dependable, mature demeanor and interact well with others. The student should have a genuine desire to care for the disabled and sick and have the ability to work well under pressure. As indicated on the online application form, it is a requirement that accepted applicants for all programs undergo a criminal background check and urinalysis drug screening prior to enrollment. The costs for the background check and drug screening will be covered by the Cardiovascular Institute. A positive drug test result and/or significant criminal history report may deny the applicant enrollment into a program.

The application process is open to applicants who meet all the following minimum criteria at the time of program commencement. Please note that there may be additional admissions requirements for each CVI program. Please see the section on Program-Specific Admissions Requirements.

  1. 18 years of age
  2. Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status
    Please note: The Cardiovascular Institute is not a college or university, which are degree-conferring educational institutions, and therefore cannot sponsor Student Visa Applications. All applicants to the Cardiovascular Institute must either be a United States citizen or have obtained Permanent Residency status in the United States.
  3. Minimum education requirements:
    • Adult Echocardiography – Associate degree, Six (6) credit hours of Anatomy and Physiology with a grade of “C” or better within six (6) years of application. (Exception to the 6-year rule may be approved on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Program Director.). Preferred: medical terminology, Bachelor's degree or higher in a health-related field
    • Cardiovascular Perfusion – Bachelor’s degree, Prerequisite coursework specified in the “Program-Specific Admissions Requirements” section must be completed from an accredited college or university in the United States.
    • Invasive Cardiovascular Technology – Associate degree, Six (6) credit hours of Anatomy and Physiology with a grade of “C” or better within six (6) years of application. (Exception to the 6-year rule may be approved on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Program Director.). Preferred: Bachelor’s degree or higher in a health-related field, medical terminology
    Foreign Transcripts: Foreign transcripts will be accepted, but only when converted through the World Education Services degree conversion service. The Degree Conversion Report from WES must state the equivalency of the converted degree to meet the minimum standards listed above for each program. Importantly, irrespective of the resulting degree conversion, all prerequisite coursework for the Cardiovascular Perfusion program must be completed from an accredited college or university in the United States.
 
  1. Possess the physical and mental qualities required to work in the profession. See Student Catalog section on “Physical, Communication, Mobility, Tactical, Hearing and Visual Demands.”
  2. Provide proof of current immunizations and negative TB test. Immunizations must be current prior to school start.
  3. Proof of current health insurance (requirement for clinical affilates)
  4. Provide this list of immunizations to your Primary Care Provider (PCP):
    • 2 Mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) vaccines or positive titers
    • 2 Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccines or positive titers (history of Chicken Pox is not acceptable)
    • Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) given after age 18 years
    • Influenza (Flu) only in flu season
    • Tuberculosis (TB) test (TST within last 3 months or QuantiFERON within last 6 months)
    • Hepatitis B (Recommended, but not mandatory)
 

Student Body Limit

To provide a quality educational experience with optimal student-to-teacher ratio, the Cardiovascular Institute has a limited student body per program with a maximum number of students as defined below:

  • Adult Echocardiography – Ten (10) students
  • Cardiovascular Perfusion – Ten (10) students
  • Invasive Cardiovascular Technology – Twelve (12) students

All selected candidates are to complete a personal interview with program faculty. The school reserves the right to reject applicants and/or rescind eligibility for an applicant to begin classes if all general and selective admissions requirements are not successfully completed within the required period.

Online Application Process and Timeline (All programs)

The online application portal is open each year beginning at 12:00am on February 1st until 11:59pm on March 31st, at which time the online application portal will automatically close until the next application cycle.

The application process for all programs, including the uploading of all supporting documentation, must be completed online via the application link provided on the school website. It is important to understand that the email address provided by the applicant will be used for all correspondence regarding the status of the application.

All mandatory fields, required document uploads, letters of recommendation, and applicant attestations must be present in the application in order for the applicant to proceed through the online application. Payment must be received as the final step for an application to be considered complete. It is at this time that the system will automatically generate a confirmation email, which should be retained by the applicant. If payment has gone through and you do not receive an email within 15 minutes, contact the school immediately at CVIinfo@BSWHealth.org so that we may troubleshoot the application.

Please Note: Uploading a blank or incomplete document in place of a required document in order to advance through the application is not allowed. This will render the application as incomplete, and the application will not be processed.

No documentation should be physically mailed or emailed to the school or school staff. These documents will neither be retained by the school nor manually applied to an application. Digital documentation will be deleted, and physical documents will be shredded.

Please Note: Partial or incomplete applications will not be processed or retained. Application fees are non-refundable.

For an application to be considered complete, all of the following documentation must be uploaded in portable document format (pdf), or as specified in the online application portal. (Free pdf scanner applications for iPhone and Android smart phone operating systems are readily available.)

  1. All unofficial college academic transcripts to support applicant’s cumulative GPA from ALL college coursework. Please do not request or upload official transcripts at this time. Official transcripts and verification of all grades will be required for those applicants selected for an in-person interview. All foreign transcripts must be converted through the World Education Services (www.WES.org) only, or the application will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.
  2. Copies of all college degrees earned. It is common for an applicant to be actively working on fulfilling the requirements for a degree at the time of applying for a program, and this is perfectly acceptable (e.g. applicant will graduate in May but is applying between February 1st and March 31st). However, copies of all degrees and fulfillment of all admissions requirements must be completed prior to enrollment into a program.
  3. Personal essay. The essay should (1) use the applicant’s own life experiences to clearly convey their desire to pursue a career in their chosen program, (2) give specific examples of what makes them stand out among other applicants and, (3) meet the following specific essay parameters: Two (2) full pages of content with a one-line title; 12-point Arial or Calibri font, double-spaced; proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation throughout.
  4. Two letters of reference. One letter should come from a professional (work-related) source and one from a personal source who is not a first-degree relative (e.g. Mother, brother, etc.)
  5. Current personal resume. Education and work histories, patient care experience (if applicable), volunteerism, and pertinent life experiences
  6. Cardiovascular Perfusion Program only – Completed Cardiovascular Perfusion Program Shadowing Form for each operating room case observed. This form may be downloaded from the school website using a smartphone camera and the QR code in the upper right corner of this page. A minimum of 2 observations are required. However, ALL completed observations should be uploaded to the online application, regardless of the hospital location.
  7. Application fee payment – $100.00
 

Complete applications with all required documentation and attestations will be ranked. Once ranked, students will be emailed a decision letter designating their application status as denied or invited to the interview process by April 15th. Interviews are in-person (if at all possible) and will take place on-campus in late July or early June. The applicant will be notified of their specific interview date and time slot in the interview invitation email. An Interview Committee, selected by each Program Director, will interview those students chosen for the interview. The Program Director will make the final decision on acceptance or denial into the program. Acceptance, alternate and denial letters will be emailed to each interviewee within 5 business days of the interview. Accepted students must claim their seat by return email within 5 business days of the date the acceptance email was sent. Two alternates will also be selected in the event that one or more candidates either withdraws their claim to a seat or fails to accept by the deadline. Alternates, if offered a seat in the class, will be notified as soon as possible that a position has been made available to them. Per TWC-CSC requirements, enrollment for each program must take place on-campus (date to be determined).

Selective Admissions Criteria

A rubric will be used by the Interview Committee to rank applicants for interview selection for each program. The personal interview with the interview committee will be implemented as part of the final selection process.

  1. Academic performance: Degree(s) earned (science-based preferred), overall grade point average, individual class grades, and academic accomplishments (Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s List, etc)
  2. Personal Essay, Letters of Recommendation, and Resumé: Quality and content of essay and letters of reference; work, volunteer, healthcare, and life experiences
  3. Personal Interview: Interviewing students only. Overall impression of the applicant from an in-person interview.

Program-Specific Admissions Requirements

Adult Echocardiography Admissions Requirements

It is required for students in the Adult Echocardiography program to take one of the two available national registry credentialing examinations before the end of the summer semester. These tests are offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International® (CCI®) and the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers® (ARDMS®). If you have a criminal background, it can be a barrier to taking the national registry examinations, which will be a barrier for you to graduate from this program. Credentialing bodies such as CCI and ARDMS have rules indicating that they may take action against an applicant, candidate, or registrant in the case of conviction, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere to any crime.

CCI website: https://cci-online.org/

ARDMS website: https://www.ardms.org/

As a condition of the Living for Zachary Foundation Scholarship money, which is donated to the school every year in perpetuity to benefit the students with meal cards and other support, all Adult Echocardiography students will be required to volunteer for at least one Living for Zachary Foundation event scheduled during the school year. A representative from the Living for Zachary Foundation will coordinate these volunteer events and students will usually be scheduled in pairs. These events have been educational and fun for past students and involve heart screenings of local youth using cardiac sonography. 

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Cardiovascular Perfusion Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Cardiovascular Perfusion program are required to have observed two (2) cardiac surgical procedures with a Cardiovascular Perfusionist prior to interviewing for the program.

The application process for the Cardiovascular Perfusion program is open to applicants who meet all of the following minimum criteria at the time of program commencement:

  1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college
  2. Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  3. Successful completion and submission of application
  4. Completion of application essay
  5. Pre-requisite coursework: Completion with a grade of "C" or better in all of the following: (Course names may be different at each institution)
    • Considered Pre-Med Coursework at most Regionally Accredited Colleges/Universities
        • General Chemistry I; 3 hours
        • General Chemistry I, LAB; 1 hour
        • General Chemistry II; 3 hours
        • General Chemistry II, LAB; 1 hour
        • General Biology I; 3 hours
        • General Biology, LAB; 1 hour
        • General Biology II; 3 hours
        • General Biology II, LAB; 1 hour 

        Note: Microbiology may not be used in lieu of any General Biology credit
    • Mathematics:
      • College Algebra or higher; 3 hours
      • Statistics; 3 hours
    • Applied Science: (3 hours in ONE of the following classes)
      • Biochemistry; 3 hours
      • Organic chemistry; 3 hours
      • Cell Physiology; 3 hours
      • Cell Biology; 3 hours
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology; 6 hours 

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Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Admissions Requirements

It is required for students in the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program to take the national registry credentialing examination before the end of the summer semester. This test is offered by CCI. If you have a criminal background, it may be a barrier to taking the national registry examination, which will be a barrier for you to graduate from this program. Credentialing bodies such as CCI has rules indicating that they may act against an applicant, candidate, or registrant in the case of conviction, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any crime.

CCI website: https://cci-online.org/

 

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Admissions Procedure (All Programs)

  • Applications that are complete and received by the June 1st deadline are reviewed by the admissions committee, rated, and the applicant is notified of his/her eligibility for an interview and tour of the school and facilities.
  • Prerequisite coursework must be completed before the start of the program.
  • Interviews will take place at the Cardiovascular Institute, 1100 Allied Drive, Ste. 5-504, Plano, TX 75093. Interviews by the admissions committee run approximately 30-45 minutes in length.
  • All applicants will be notified via email whether or not they have been accepted into the program, designated as an alternate or denied by July 15th.
  • If accepted, the applicant is required to confirm or decline acceptance via email by July 31st. Accepted applicants not wishing to attend should notify the school immediately so that an alternate applicant may be selected and notified.
  • Applicants will be enrolled on-campus and all enrollment paperwork signed on site by both the student and an authorized school official. Copies of all signed paperwork will then be given to the student and a copy kept on file at the school for each student.

Admissions documents include all of the following:

  1. Electronic Program Application Form with supporting documentation
  2. School Tour Acknowledgement Form
  3. Program Acceptance Letter
  4. Record of Previous Education and Training (TWC-CSC Form CSC-010)
  5. Student Enrollment Agreement Form
  6. Receipt of Enrollment Policies Form


From our graduates

  • Being a part of the first class of Cardiovascular Perfusion at the CVI was an amazing experience. My classmates and I laughed many times, cried many times, and doubted ourselves many times. Nonetheless, the CVI directors and staff supported us every step of the way. The CVI paved the way for my career, and I am forever grateful for having the opportunity to attend such a superb institution.

    - Nadine Akomeah, Cardiovascular Perfusion Class of 2022

  • 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 Echo program at Baylor Scott & White the Heart Hospitals Cardiovascular Institute was the best decision I have made. The program, while only a year, fully prepared me to pass my board exams and start my new career as a cardiac sonographer. From my clinical sites to the classroom content, I was fully equipped with all the resources and knowledge to grow and be successful in this field. I would highly recommend this program to anybody considering a career in sonography.

    - Hannah Gammell, Adult Echocardiography Class of 2022

  • My experience at BSW THH Cardiovascular Institute was a great experience. The scan lab, clinical sites and course work strongly prepared me for the registry exam and the workforce. My instructor was determined and committed to providing the best education possible. During my clinicals, I got to meet so many sonographers who loved to teach. Thanks to the CVI program I'm now take pride in my career as cardiac sonographer.

    - Vianca Nuno, Adult Echocardiography Class of 2021

  • My time spent in the CVI was amazing to say the least. Every day was an opportunity to learn new concepts and techniques to scan. I was amazed with the number of pathologies I was exposed to as a student. I can easily say that attending the Adult Echocardiogram Program was the best decision I’ve ever made.

    - Bernie Chavez-Rodriguez, Adult Echocardiography Class of 2022

Working Here

We hold a distinguished 3-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for our patient care and outcomes in isolated aortic valve replacement surgery (AVR), isolated coronary bypass surgery (CABG) and AVR plus CABG surgery and Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement (MVRR). The three-star rating, one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, places Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano among the most elite for cardiac surgery in the United States and Canada.

In addition, Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano has been consistently ranked as one of the top hospitals for cardiology and cardiac surgery by the US News & World Report best hospitals survey.

The School

Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital’s Cardiovascular Institute utilizes multiple BSWH facilities for clinical internship training with a 1:1 clinical instructor to student ratio, which provides an excellent clinical education for each student.

The school maintains experienced instructors, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, dedicated skills labs, and classrooms.

These educational tools, combined with a challenging didactic schedule and real-world clinical experience, make the Cardiovascular Institute a competitive choice for professional education in the Allied Health field.

Outcomes

Adult Echo Class of 2024:

  • Enrolled: 8
  • Retention: 100%
  • Boards: 100%
  • Jobs: 100%

Cardiovascular Perfusion Program Class of 2024:

  • Enrolled: 6
  • Retention: 100%
  • Boards: TBD
  • Jobs: 100%

Invasive CV Technology Class of 2024:

  • Enrolled: 6
  • Retention: 83%
  • Boards: 100%
  • Jobs: 100%

Life in Plano, TX

Plano is one of the best places for professional families to live and work. With excellent public and private education, low crime and affordable homes, Plano provides a great environment to raise a family. With award-winning schools, world-class recreation, diverse residential neighborhoods and a resounding hometown spirit among community members, it is easy to see why over 270,000 people call Plano home.

Learn about life in Plano

Clinical Rotations at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital

We offer training across Texas for allied health professions that cover a wide range of services providing both direct and indirect patient care on an inpatient and outpatient basis. These medical professionals offer assistance to medical staff for diagnosis, treatment or rehabilitation.

 

Learn more about The Heart Hospital

Resources

All students enrolled in a Cardiovascular Institute program will be expected to abide by all policies and procedures stated in the program’s Student Handbook & Catalog.

 

Academic Calendar

The Cardiovascular Institute hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM weekdays, except for Baylor Scott & White Health recognized holidays and school breaks.

The yearly school break schedule will be announced as soon as possible.

Schedules by program:

Contact Us

Email: CVIinfo@BSWHealth.org

Cardiovascular Institute - Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital - Plano
1100 Allied Drive
Suite 5-504
Plano, TX 75093

469-814-3600

Student Catalog

We have prepared this catalog so that you may know your rights, privileges, duties and our expectations of you. It is important that you clearly understand the program’s policies and general hospital regulations. We urge you to read through the information carefully and refer to it continuously throughout your tenure as a student in your respective program.

 

Download catalog