Inside the Sanibel Internship Experience: Shaping the Next Chapter of Perfusion
An Interview with a 2025 Sanibel Symposium Intern
The Sanibel Symposium has long been recognized as a premier gathering for the global perfusion community. Each year, it brings together clinicians, educators, innovators, and industry leaders for meaningful education and connection. To help ensure the symposium continues to evolve, the Sanibel Committee launched the Sanibel Internship Program, an initiative designed to invite perfusion students into the heart of the experience. As the 15th Annual Sanibel Symposium approaches in 2026, the internship program remains a powerful glimpse into what makes Sanibel unlike any other conference.
To bring this experience to life, we spoke with Chris, a 2025 Sanibel intern, about what drew him to the program and what it was like to be fully immersed in the symposium as a perfusion student. His perspective helps set the stage for what future interns and attendees can expect at Sanibel 2026.
More Than a Conference: A Global Perspective on Perfusion
For Chris, the decision to apply came down to one word: exposure. But not in the traditional sense. The Sanibel Symposium offered access to ideas, perspectives, and conversations that extend far beyond a standard classroom or conference agenda.
What stood out most was the international scope. European perfusion practices, American standards, and diverse educational philosophies all converged in one place. Perfusionists from different countries didn’t just present; they openly explained how and why they approach perfusion differently. That behind-the-scenes access, Chris noted, isn’t something everyone gets. A spot in the Sanibel Internship Program isn’t handed out; it’s earned, which makes the experience even more meaningful.
Feeling Included at Every Level
One of the defining features of the Sanibel Internship Program is how fully interns are integrated into the symposium. Rather than observing from the sidelines, interns become part of the fabric of the event.
Chris described how, even as a student, there was never a sense of separation. Whether assisting with symposium activities or engaging in conversations with speakers, interns are treated as peers-in-progress. That sense of inclusion reached its peak during Sanibel’s closing events, where casual conversations with international presenters flowed just as naturally as formal lectures earlier in the week.
Approaching a speaker after a session wasn’t intimidating – it was encouraged. Interns could offer feedback, ask questions, and receive thoughtful, direct responses in return. That openness helped foster a welcoming environment where learning extended well beyond the podium.
Hands-On Learning That Brings Concepts to Life
Beyond lectures and panels, the Sanibel Symposium is known for its immersive, hands-on opportunities, and the internship program puts students front and center. Sponsor-hosted side labs became a highlight of Chris’s experience, offering practical exposure to advanced techniques and technologies.
From cannulation labs to ECMO demonstrations and heart-lung bypass machine sessions, these interactive environments allowed interns to connect theory with real-world application. It’s one thing to hear about emerging tools in perfusion; it’s another to see them up close, ask questions, and understand how they’re used in practice across different systems and countries.
Networking That Shapes Perspective, Not Just Résumés
While Sanibel offers countless networking moments, what made them especially meaningful was how approachable everyone was. Interns weren’t limited to formal introductions or structured networking events. They could walk up to speakers, educators, and industry leaders and have real, unfiltered conversations.
For Chris, one of the most impactful experiences was sitting down with a seasoned professional from outside the U.S. and hearing firsthand how perfusion is approached in a completely different healthcare system. That conversation wasn’t about career advancement alone; it was about understanding perfusion as a global profession and recognizing the shared commitment that connects practitioners worldwide.
These interactions – spontaneous, thoughtful, and genuine – are what set the Sanibel Symposium apart, transforming networking into a true professional connection.
Discovering New Dimensions of the Profession
The Sanibel Symposium also opened Chris’s eyes to how broad and evolving the perfusion field truly is. Sessions highlighted how perfusion has come full circle in some areas – moving from early animal models to human care and, in certain countries, back into veterinary applications. From mitral valve procedures in animals to emerging international innovations, the scope of perfusion extended far beyond what Chris had previously encountered.
Seeing sponsors and technologies from countries rarely represented in U.S.-based settings reinforced how much there still is to learn and how valuable global collaboration can be for the future of patient care.
Looking Ahead: Confidence at the Controls
As Chris prepares to fully enter the profession, the Sanibel internship experience helped crystallize what lies ahead. The responsibility of being “behind the pump” is immense, but so is the privilege. Sanibel reinforced the importance of advocacy, confidence, and decisiveness – qualities every perfusionist must develop.
The internship didn’t just inspire excitement for what’s next; it reinforced a deep respect for the role perfusionists play in patient outcomes and the responsibility that comes with it.
An Internship Built on Access and Inclusion
The Sanibel Internship Program is more than a student opportunity. It’s an investment in the future of perfusion. By bringing fresh voices and perspectives into the symposium, Sanibel Symposium ensures that innovation, curiosity, and global collaboration remain at its core. For those considering Sanibel Symposium 2026, the message is clear: this is where learning feels personal, connections feel genuine, and the profession’s future takes shape.
Don’t miss the 15th Annual Sanibel Symposium, happening May 6–9, 2026, in Bonita Springs, Florida. Register today to be part of one of perfusion’s most respected and immersive conferences.
