Applications open
Fall 2026
Summer 2027 programs; exact date not announced
Surgery High School Course
A hands-on introduction to surgical medicine covering suturing, simulation, operating-room teamwork, technology, specialties, and career pathways.

A hands-on introduction to surgical medicine covering suturing, simulation, operating-room teamwork, technology, specialties, and career pathways.

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Current status
Closed
Eligibility
Grades 9-12; 3.0 GPA
Age range / Year group
Ages 14-18
Location / Region
Berkeley; New Haven
Cost
$2,498-$5,998
Duration
1-2 weeks
Format
In-person
Accommodation: Residential or commuter
Meals: All meals residential; lunch commuter
Certificate / Outcome: CPR/AED certification
Sessions / cadence: 5 x 4-hour or 9 x 3-hour
Tutors / faculty: Practicing surgeons and residents
Campus experience: Dorms, excursions and workshops
This is an introductory surgical-medicine course built around practical exercises, realistic models, medical simulation, and insight into how operating-room teams work.
Students explore specialties including general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, robotic surgery, and minimally invasive procedures while learning about medical school and residency pathways.
It suits students testing a serious interest in medicine who want practical exposure and career insight before committing to a longer academic pathway.
The Surgery High School Course is a Summer Springboard academic program introducing surgical concepts, specialties, skills, technology, and career pathways. It is delivered on campuses in Berkeley and New Haven through separate one-week and two-week course formats.
Students practice techniques such as suturing and sterile procedure, use training models for medical simulations, and examine operating-room teamwork and protocols. Mentorship, guest speakers, and course-related excursions connect classroom learning with the work and training of surgical professionals.
The curriculum combines surgical theory with suturing, sterile technique, instrument use, and realistic simulation.
Students explore multiple specialties rather than receiving a narrow view of one surgical career.
Practicing surgeons, residents, and experienced perioperative educators provide career and training insight.
Course schedules preserve substantial academic time while adding excursions, speakers, and campus activities.
CPR/AED certification gives students a defined practical outcome alongside career exploration.
Students seriously exploring medicine who want supervised practical exercises, specialty exposure, and a realistic introduction to surgical training.
You want clinical placement, patient contact, formal medical credit, or advanced surgical training rather than an introductory pre-college experience.
The course can be worthwhile for students who want to test whether surgery genuinely interests them. Practical skill-building, simulation, professional mentorship, and exposure to training pathways offer more insight than passive career research alone.
Its value depends on using the experience to reflect and pursue deeper study afterward. The exercises remain introductory and simulated, so the program should not be mistaken for clinical training or a direct admissions advantage.
A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$2,498-$5,998; includes Academic course and course-specific excursions, Residential lodging and all meals, Commuter lunch and weekday programming, Residential weekend excursions where specified, CPR/AED certification.
Accommodation
Residential or commuter
Meals
All meals residential; lunch commuter
Provider details
Review the Summer Springboard provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
1-2 weeks; Berkeley; New Haven.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsEffort level
Moderate to high academic intensity.
Best started
Begin planning two to three months before applications are expected to close, allowing time for forms, funding, travel, and medical documentation.
Main challenge
Absorbing unfamiliar clinical concepts while applying precise techniques safely.
Review basic human anatomy and common surgical specialties before attending.
Practice following multi-step instructions carefully and working collaboratively.
Prepare questions about medical school, residency, and daily surgical work for instructors and mentors.
Useful if
You have a solid biology foundation and are comfortable learning in teams.
Students move from introductory surgical concepts to guided practical work, simulation, career exploration, and course-related excursions or speakers.
Explore general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and minimally invasive specialties.
Practice suturing, sterile technique, and safe handling of surgical instruments.
Use realistic training models to simulate procedures and clinical decisions.
Study operating-room roles, protocols, communication, and teamwork.
Examine robotic surgery and other surgical technologies.
Discuss medical school, residency, and career pathways with surgical professionals.
Join course-specific excursions, guest-speaker sessions, or academic activities.
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Applications open
Fall 2026
Summer 2027 programs; exact date not announced
Final admission
17 May 2026
General Summer 2026 admission deadline
Berkeley Session 1
14-25 June 2026
Two-week Surgery course
Yale Session 2
21-27 June 2026
One-week Surgery course
Yale Session 3
28 June-4 July 2026
One-week Surgery course
Yale Session 5
12-18 July 2026
One-week Surgery course
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Applications open | Fall 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Final admission | 17 May 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Berkeley Session 1 | 14-25 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Yale Session 2 | 21-27 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Yale Session 3 | 28 June-4 July 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Yale Session 5 | 12-18 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Students in Grades 9-12
Minimum 3.0 GPA or local equivalent
Grade 8 completed before the program starts
Starting high-school students may apply
Recent high-school graduates may apply
English proficiency required for international students
Essential Eligibility Criteria must be met
Yale tuition
$2,498-$4,298 — Commuter and residential first-week options
Funding or discounts
What's included
Academic course and course-specific excursions, Residential lodging and all meals, Commuter lunch and weekday programming, Residential weekend excursions where specified, CPR/AED certification
Open the official application portal and enter basic contact information.
Verify the email address and sign in to the application dashboard.
Complete the account details and select Create New Application.
Choose the campus, session, Surgery course, and tuition type.
Enter the student's contact information with the student present.
Complete the remaining application and place the required deposit and fee.
Submit requested supporting documents or English evidence when applicable.
Wait for the enrollment decision, normally issued within five to seven business days.
The program covers the following focus areas.
Surgical specialties
Explore general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and minimally invasive specialties.
Core surgical skills
Practice suturing, sterile technique, and safe instrument use.
Operating-room practice
Study team roles, protocols, communication, and real-time operations.
Simulation and technology
Use training models and examine robotic and minimally invasive surgery.
Career pathways
Learn about medical school, residency, and surgical career routes.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
A typical day during the program.
Five four-hour classes run 9am-1pm, Monday-Friday.
Nine three-hour classes run 9am-12pm across two weeks.
Excursions, guest speakers, labs, workshops, or recreational activities follow classes.
Dinner, clubs or activities, free time, and dorm checks complete the day.
The Berkeley course is designed and coordinated by Dr. Anna Zhao, a general surgery resident at UCSF, with additional teaching from residents in several surgical specialties. The Yale course page identifies perioperative nurse educator Melanie Hamilton, MSN, RN, CNE, CNOR, CRNFA, as its instructor.
The broader program states that faculty are selected for subject expertise and their ability to challenge and engage students.
Room details differ by campus: Yale describes shared traditional rooms with communal bathrooms, while Berkeley describes shared dorm rooms with common bathrooms.
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Earn CPR/AED certification.
Clarify whether a surgical career matches your interests.
Understand medical school and surgical residency requirements.
Build foundational suturing, sterile-technique, and teamwork skills.
Explore specialties for deeper study in medicine and healthcare.
The course is introductory and does not provide clinical qualification or patient-care authorization.
The course has campus variants in Berkeley, California, and New Haven, Connecticut. Students use campus classrooms, dining and residential facilities, while course-specific excursions may connect learning with simulation centers, medical institutions, or professional facilities in the surrounding region.
Summer Springboard operates independently of the named campus partners unless explicitly stated otherwise.
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