Summer Springboard
Medicine & Healthcare
ACADEMIC TRACK
About This Track
The Medicine & Healthcare track at Summer Springboard gives high school students an immersive pre-college experience designed to explore a wide range of medical fields.
Across two weeks, students engage in hands-on courses such as Emergency Medicine, Biotechnology, Immunology, Nursing, Pre-Med, Pediatrics, and more. Each course is taught by industry professionals and emphasizes practical application—whether it’s practicing sutures, exploring the brain, or investigating how medicines work—so students gain a clear window into the realities of healthcare careers.
Beyond the classroom, the program blends labs, simulations, and collaborative projects with inspiring guest speakers and field excursions. This combination allows students to build confidence, discover new passions, and clarify their academic and career goals.
By the end, participants walk away with both practical skills and a stronger sense of direction—plus a meaningful taste of college life in a supportive, exploratory environment.
Summer Springboard
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Courses In This Track
Considering a career in medicine or healthcare? It’s a major decision that can influence the next four to twelve years of your life. These courses give you a 360 degree view of the medical and healthcare field, as well as immersive learning through hands-on projects and simulations.
Biotechnology
Course
Are you interested in medicine, science, and technology? Is you goal to create a life-saving drug? This is a unique opportunity for high school students to gain real exposure and work in a biotechnology lab utilizing state-of-the-art equipment.
Campuses with this course:
Dentistry
Course
Are you interested in a career that combines science and healthcare? The Summer Springboard Dentistry course is perfect for high school students eager to explore the field of oral health. In this engaging program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of dentistry, including dental anatomy, common procedures, and patient care techniques. Through hands-on activities and simulations, you will practice basic dental skills while receiving guidance from professionals in the field.
This course will offer valuable insights from your instructor, guest speakers, and peers who will share their journeys and provide advice on pursuing a career in dentistry. Boston is an ideal area for exploring your interest in dentistry, with its reputable healthcare institutions and dental schools offering a rich environment for learning and discovery.
Take your first step toward a rewarding career in healthcare and dental science on the campus of MIT this summer.
Campuses with this course:
Emergency Medicine
Course
Spend the first week learning basic medical skills and getting training on how to handle situations when medical care is not immediately available. The second week focuses on being a detective doctor. In small groups, you will be required to research a simulated patient’s history and symptoms, create a diagnosis based on your findings, and develop a treatment plan.
Immunology
Course
Concerned about viruses and the impact they have on your immune system? Questioning how to reduce the severity of infections and interested in finding treatments for patients with immune system disorders? Discover more about the structure, functions, and capabilities of immune systems, and learn how immunologists can improve animal and human survival. Learn first hand how immunology has led to key advancements in medical care, including vaccination and cancer immunotherapy.
Campuses with this course:
Kinesiology & Physical Therapy
Course
When someone has trouble moving or is injured, what can truly help is a non-invasive discipline that helps evaluate and improve mobility and relieve pain. Physical therapy might be just what they need. In this program, you will learn the basics of human anatomy, movement fundamentals, and exercise principles while doing lab work and clinical education.
Students will also gain a basic understanding and learn the physical therapy requirements and the many job opportunities this field can provide through various specialties. Learn to make a positive change in the community by empowering others through physical and mental health.
Neurobiology
Course
Explore the world of life sciences and learn the techniques used in cutting-edge biological research at a premier research university.
Campuses with this course:
Nursing
Course
Nursing is the largest, the most diverse, and one of the most respected of all healthcare professions. Nursing employment is expected to increase by 9% by 2030, post-pandemic, progressively more students have been considering this career path. Nurses are responsible for providing primary health care and specialty services to individuals, families, and communities.
Discover the diverse career opportunities and what a day in the life of a nurse looks like. During the program, students will learn the fundamental concepts of caring and gain an interesting perspective on how patient care is provided.
Campuses with this course:
Pediatrics
Course
Does your budding physician have an interest in diagnosing, treating, and caring for adolescents, children, and infants? Pediatricians are trained to diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries for children from infancy to young adulthood. While they perform many similar tasks to that of a general physician, pediatricians are specially trained in diagnosing and treating problems specific to young patients.
On this program, students will explore the specialty field of pediatric medicine. They will practice conducting patient physical examinations, triaging pediatric emergency and hospital medicine cases, taking patient histories, and get infant and adolescent CPR/AED certified.
Campuses with this course:
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Course
Have you ever wondered how the medications we take are developed and what processes ensure their safety and effectiveness? Our Pharmaceutical Sciences course offers you the opportunity to explore one of the most dynamic and impactful fields in healthcare.
Over the session, students will dive into the fascinating world of pharmaceutical sciences, gaining a strong foundation in key concepts, participating in hands-on projects, and discovering the limitless potential of this vital discipline.
Campuses with this course:
Pre-Med
Course
Are you thinking about medical school? Do you know what field of medicine you’d like to pursue? This course is designed to help students explore a career in a variety of fields in medicine.
On this program, students will get a chance to explore the various fields of study that exist in medicine, and rotate through potential fields such as cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and more. They will also have the opportunity to learn about pursuing study in medical research from current UCSF medical students.
Students will also have the opportunity to learn about getting into medical school, studying for medical school entrance exams, researching and planning medical residency, and learning about the role of scientific inquiry and scientific curiosity in becoming a medical professional. Through the course students will interact with doctors, medical students and residents while being exposed to various medical disciplines.
Campuses with this course:
Psychology & Neuroscience
Course
Through psychology simulations and hands-on neurology workshops, you will explore the relationships between the brain and human behavior. In addition, connect with professionals in a range of careers that utilize a background in psychology and neuroscience. This insight helps students reflect on which areas within this specific medical field would be a good fit for them.
Campuses with this course:
- Psychology & Neuroscience at Barnard College, Columbia University
- Psychology & Neuroscience at Berkeley
- Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University
- Psychology & Neuroscience at Oxford
- Psychology & Neuroscience at UCLA
- Psychology & Neuroscience at UC San Diego
- Psychology & Neuroscience at the University of Washington
- Psychology & Neuroscience at Yale
- Middle School Psychology & Neuroscience at Berkeley
- Middle School: Psychology & Neuroscience at UC San Diego
Veterinary Medicine
Course
Are you ready to apply your love and compassion for animals to learning? In this Veterinary Medicine course you will learn about the diverse course opportunities within surgery, internal medicine, pathology, radiology, research, and public health. Students will gain an overview of the field, including its history, scope, and significance in animal healthcare.
Campuses with this course:
Summer Springboard
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*Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.