The Personality Behind the Pump: Carla Maul on Perfusion Week and Living Life Boldly

By Victoria Mercado, Business Development Specialist at Epic Cardiovascular Services

At Epic Cardiovascular Services, we’re proud to support and celebrate the people behind perfusion and blood management, especially during Perfusion Week. This year, we’re spotlighting one of our own: Carla Maul, Vice President of Cardiovascular Services. A seasoned perfusionist and trailblazer, Carla brings grit, humor, and heart to everything she does – and she just happens to be the first person to ever celebrate Perfusion Week.

Wired for the OR: Carla’s Journey to Perfusion Leadership

When Carla Maul was 19, she was studying to become a flight nurse and had a job in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at UAB Hospital. Seeking more thrill, she quickly realized nursing wasn’t her calling. Initially planning to change over to pre-med, things changed when a few “pump guys” – perfusionists – stopped by the unit.

After being shown the role of a perfusionist, she pivoted and became an autotransfusionist while changing her academic focus. Not long after, she enrolled in perfusion school, fully committed to this new path, and never looked back.

She spent a decade at UAB, then took on leadership roles in New Orleans, even starting her own perfusion company. Despite facing challenges like Hurricane Katrina and long commutes, Carla remained dedicated to her work. Today, as Vice President at Epic Cardiovascular Services, she’s still in the thick of it – leading, pumping, supporting teams, and innovating in the field.

But Carla’s influence on perfusion goes beyond the operating room. She also played a surprising role in the creation of Perfusion Week.

The Accidental Origin of Perfusion Week

Before Perfusion Week was officially recognized by the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSECT), it started as – of all things – a prank.

At the time, Carla was the chief perfusionist at a New Orleans hospital. It was Nurses Week, and the nurses were receiving food, gifts, and fanfare. Wanting the same recognition, Carla hatched a plan. She decided to declare the following week as Perfusion Appreciation Week.

To pull it off, Carla enlisted the help of a friend at the front desk, who made a playful announcement over the hospital intercom. To her surprise, the joke quickly gained momentum. Surgeons and colleagues, convinced it was an official event, began bringing gifts to show their appreciation. 

Though it started as a joke, the playful rebellion planted the seeds for something real. Years later, AmSECT officially recognized Perfusion Week, setting aside time each year to honor the essential yet often overlooked perfusionists in the operating room. 

The Organized Chaos of Perfusion

Carla thrives in what she calls “organized chaos” – the ever-changing, high-pressure environment of the OR. And after decades in the profession, that chaos is exactly what keeps her coming back.

“The thing I love most about my job is it’s never the same day twice,” she says. “Each day, it’s either a different patient, a different schedule. Some days I’m sitting in ECMO, some days I’m pumping cases. So just having a different environment throughout my career is something that I have always loved.” 

That adaptability, she believes, is the key to being a great perfusionist.

Curious, Courageous, and a Little Wild: The Perfusionist Mindset

Perfusionists are no strangers to risk. They trust life-saving machines, troubleshoot in critical moments, and always have backup plans for their backup plans. That willingness to face the unknown is something Carla carries into her personal life as well.

Each year, she sets a goal to conquer a fear or challenge herself in a new way. “One year I competed in a women’s bodybuilding competition,” she says. “Another year, I went skydiving even though I’m terrified of heights.” Her next adventure? Learning glassblowing.

She believes this mindset – curious, courageous, and a little wild – is shared by many in the profession. “This isn’t a field for the shy or tense,” she explains. “We are, by nature, risk-takers. Most likely to jump out of a plane? That’s a perfusionist.”

From Tree Branches to Transplants: Carla’s Wildest OR Moments

Over the years, Carla has found herself in some of the most intense and unforgettable OR scenarios. One of the wildest involved a man who fell from a tree and was impaled by a branch. Paramedics brought him in with the tree still lodged through his torso. With no one else available to remove it, Carla stepped up – literally – using her foot for leverage as she pulled the branch out so surgery could continue.

She’s also been part of landmark procedures, including UAB’s first Domino Heart transplant. In this rare operation, a patient with Esseninger’s Syndrome received a heart-lung transplant, and her healthy heart was transplanted into another patient in the next room. 

ECMO cases, too, have left a lasting mark – from running support during an active C-section to reviving a homeless man who had frozen after being pushed down a flight of stairs. “That was very interesting,” Carla reflects, “because you’re not dead unless you’re warm and dead in our field.”

Lessons From the Frontlines

One experience in particular shaped Carla’s outlook: a patient whose life was saved despite nearly unanimous medical advice to withdraw care.

“The ethics team said remove the device. Our doctors said to remove the device. But the family said no,” Carla explains. “He’s still alive today. And he ended up being our keynote speaker at Sanibel two years ago.”

Experiences like that have taught her not to make assumptions.

“I have learned over the years not to prejudge somebody’s outcome. It’s amazing how things can change in the middle of the night.”

Why Perfusion Week Matters

For Carla, Perfusion Week is more than a celebration – it’s long-overdue recognition. In the OR, perfusionists, ECMO specialists, and autotransfusionists play a vital role, but their impact often goes unnoticed. While physicians and nurses receive thank-you notes and praise, perfusionists rarely do, simply because many families don’t even know they exist. Despite this, they show up – sacrificing holidays, birthdays, and time with loved ones – because patient care comes first.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m so glad we have Perfusion Week,” Carla says. “It’s a chance to thank everybody for all they give, all they have given up, and all that they continue to do for the perfusion community.”

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of the OR: Perfusion Week

As Carla Maul’s journey and contributions remind us, Perfusion Week is more than just a celebration; it’s a recognition of the dedication, sacrifice, and resilience of perfusionists, ECMO specialists, and autotransfusionists. These professionals, often working behind the scenes, are the unsung heroes of the operating room. During Perfusion Week, we honor their invaluable contributions and celebrate the passion, risk-taking, and heart they bring to the field. 

To our Perfusionists, Autotransfusionists, and ECMO Specialists, thank you for all you do! Your passion, perseverance, and professionalism set the standard for excellence in patient care. We are honored to celebrate you this week – and every week.

Ready to make an impact in the world of perfusion? Join our dedicated team at Epic Cardiovascular Services and be part of a community that celebrates passion, innovation, and excellence. Connect with us today!

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