Awardee Griffin Cronk (second from left) with Keri Sprung, MBA, Ann Guercio, CCP, LP, MBA, and James J. Livesay, MD

Griffin Cronk, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant who is embarking on a new career in perfusion, has been awarded the distinguished Sal Guercio Memorial Scholarship—one of the highest honors given to students in The Texas Heart Institute School of Perfusion Technology. Announced at PerfCon 2025 on May 30, the scholarship recognizes Cronk’s extraordinary service-minded path to perfusion and his outstanding performance in the rigorous program. The award honors the legacy of Sal Guercio, a beloved alumnus and instructor known for his clinical excellence, dedicated mentorship and collegial spirit.

Cronk is a member of the Perfusion School’s June 2025 graduating class and has exemplified selfless service to others long before he enrolled in the training program. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Florida State University, Cronk enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, forgoing his opportunity to become an officer so that he could learn as much as possible about being a soldier. His military career included deployments to combat zones in Afghanistan and Syria, specialty training in several areas, duties as an instructor, and ultimately the responsibility of leading a nine-man squad as a staff sergeant. Following his time in the Army, Cronk continued his service as a patrol officer with the Houston Police Department.

It was when Cronk got into discussions with two close friends who described their excitement and satisfaction in their roles as perfusionists that he realized a career in perfusion might be perfectly aligned with his desire to directly help people and make a positive impact on their lives. One of those friends, Perfusion School alumnus Brandon M. Davis, CCP, LP, arranged for Cronk to observationally shadow him in the cardiovascular operating room (CVOR), solidifying Cronk’s interest in changing his career path. The close teamwork, professional discipline and chain of command he observed in the CVOR reminded Cronk of his experience in the Army.

Davis, who has known Cronk for over 20 years, shared, “It was an honor to mentor Griffin through the rigorous journey into perfusion school, and I could not be prouder of how he excelled at every challenge along the way. Griffin is a natural leader with a charismatic and genuinely likable personality. He is exactly the kind of person I would want on my perfusion team and someone I could trust in the most demanding and chaotic situations.” Reflecting on this milestone in Cronk’s new career, he added, “I have no doubt that Griffin will continue to excel and make meaningful contributions to the perfusion field.”

Cronk has accepted a position as a perfusionist with Perfusion Associates of Michigan in the Michigan Tri-Cities area. When asked to describe the positive and negative aspects of perfusion, he reflected on the “forever evolving” nature of medicine. “We are always finding new ways to save patients. The beautiful thing is that I will forever be able to contribute to that now,” he reflected. Cronk has also observed the converse, however, when current medical approaches haven’t evolved quickly enough to meet the needs of all patients, despite the care team’s best efforts. “What used to be standard practice might not be best for the patient now. What’s standard practice now might not be best in the future.  What works best for one patient’s physiology might not for another,” he noted.

Perfusionist and alumna Ann Guercio, CCP, LP, MBA, leads the selection committee for the prestigious award. As she presented this year’s scholarship, she described the extraordinary interconnectedness of the perfusion community, remarking on the way that perfusionists frequently help others find their way to the profession and emphasizing the importance of giving back to the field. Cronk’s gratitude for his new community—and his profound appreciation for the opportunity to help patients—came through as central themes when he accepted the award. He also voiced his deep commitment to teaching others, honoring the spirit and tradition of Sal and other alumni.

To date, the Perfusion School has trained over 1000 graduates to make essential, life-sustaining contributions to cardiovascular surgery and critical-care medicine teams across the United States. Veteran perfusion experts Deborah Lowery Adams, MA, LP, CCP, and Kathleen Kibler, LP, CCP, lead the 18-month, post-baccalaureate certificate program, maintaining its position as one of the premiere perfusion schools in the country.

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The Texas Heart Institute Sal Guercio Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding Junior or Senior School of Perfusion Technology student as a lasting tribute to Sal and his dedication to his students. The vision is to fund the scholarship to sustain itself in perpetuity.

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