Shaye Squillante wants to study science and medicine in college.
So when she learned about UVM Summer Academy’s Health and Medicine course, the high school student jumped at the chance to enroll.
Summer Academy’s Health and Medicine course exposes students to the world of medicine and bioscience through active learning in labs, lectures, demonstrations, and hospital visits. The course is part of Summer Academy, a UVM high school summer program offered to high school juniors and seniors who want to explore areas of study and earn transferable college credit.
“I was able to meet with professionals working in data management, emergency medicine, and all sorts of different areas. It was reassuring to hear there are so many things you can do in the health world,” says Squillante, a senior at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester.
UVM High School Summer Program Highlighting Health and Medicine
Health and Medicine students learn in UVM’s Larner College of Medicine academic facilities, including the Clinical Simulation Laboratory, where they perform virtual medical procedures. Students in the Health and Medicine program engage with experts in genomics, cancer research, medicine, nursing, and allied health practice on the latest advances in their fields.
The a four-week residential and online program helps students discover their interests, learn about the latest advances in bioscience and molecular medicine, and develop an understanding of diverse medical and health science career paths that might be right for them.
Shaye Squillante
“The course gave me a better idea about what I want to do for a career,” says Squillante. “I always knew I wanted to work in health and medicine, but not necessarily be a doctor or nurse. So, it was helpful to hear about people who work behind the scenes.”
Students in the Health and Medicine course interact with clinical and scientific faculty who train medical students in the UVM Larner College of Medicine, known for being one of the most competitive and successful medical schools in the country.
UVM high school summer program is open to high school students who have completed 10th, 11th, or 12th grade who are interested in completing a 3-credit college-level course taught by distinguished faculty.
Squillante, who lives in Sunderland, is planning on studying biochemistry or a medical lab science in college. She says her time at Summer Academy was a valuable experience.
“Students I met in the program have also become some of my best friends. I still talk to all of them and try to see them when I can, even though we’re all from different parts of the country,” she says. “I applied to Summer Academy because I was interested in UVM, and I wanted to earn some credit. By being in the program, I was able to live on campus, meet people, and participate in campus life. It was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
