David Christopher Fitzgerald

David Christopher Fitzgerald DHA, MPH, CCP serves as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Health Professions. An active clinician on the MUSC Clinical Perfusion Team, he also holds leadership roles as President of the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion and Associate Editor of the Journal of Extracorporeal Technology.

His educational journey includes:

• Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Perfusion from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and Allegheny University of Health Sciences
• Master’s in Public Health from the University of Alaska, Anchorage
• Doctorate in Health Administration from MUSC, where he received the DHA Outstanding Quantitative Doctoral Project and Dean’s Awards in 2019

Dr. Fitzgerald’s research centers on cardiac surgical blood transfusion disparities and nontechnical skills assessment in perfusion, with significant contributions to blood management protocols and team performance optimization. His work bridges clinical practice and academic innovation through rigorous data analysis and simulation-based training methodologies.

Recent publications reveal dominant themes in cardiopulmonary bypass technology (32%), blood conservation strategies (28%), and nontechnical skills development (20%), reflecting his dual focus on technical perfusion systems and human factors in cardiac surgery. The PERForm registry and del Nido cardioplegia studies represent major collaborative efforts advancing evidence-based perfusion practice.

Key honors include:

• John H. Gibbon Jr. Award (AmSECT, 2020)
• Award of Excellence (AmSECT, 2009)
• MUSC Teacher of the Year (2018)
• MUSC Developing Teacher Award (2019)
• DHA Outstanding Quantitative Doctoral Project (2019)

As Associate Dean, he oversees comprehensive student affairs while mentoring future perfusionists through curriculum development and clinical training programs. His leadership in the PERForm registry and multidisciplinary blood conservation initiatives demonstrates commitment to translating research into practice. Dr. Fitzgerald actively collaborates with the International Consortium of Evidence-Based Perfusion to establish global perfusion standards.

The MUSC Clinical Perfusion Team serves as his primary clinical laboratory, where he integrates research findings into patient care while advancing perfusion education through simulation-based training modules and national guideline development.