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Medical Exploration

Explorations in Pathology (Full Day Intensive)

Residential only |  11th- 12th graders  | July 13 – 24, 2026

Pathology?  What is that?  Just the foundation of modern medicine! (With lots of cool things to see and do!)

From diagnosing cancer and learning about autopsies, to better understanding the emerging science behind personalized medicine, join the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and learn from residents, attending physicians, and medical students. In this program you will gain hands on experience with laboratory processes, organ dissection sessions, independent coursework, and receive mentoring by a department physician.

Course Outline

Students will learn all about Pathology and Laboratory Medicine through hands-on instructional sessions geared towards the high school student interested in learning more about the field of medicine.  Students will spend the majority of their time at the large academic medicine center of Strong Memorial Hospital/University of Rochester Medical Center, with time also spent at the Central Laboratories facility in nearby Henrietta, NY. The program culminates with student presentations on an independent project that the student conducts under the guidance of a department faculty mentor.

Areas of focus include:

Anatomic Pathology (AP): AP focuses on the diagnosis and study of disease through macroscopic and microscopic examination of tissue specimens. Subspecialty areas of AP include surgical pathology, cytopathology, neuropathology and autopsy/forensic pathology. Students in the program will be introduced to a variety of subspecialties within AP through didactic lectures, case-based presentations, hands-on examination of formalin-preserved human organs, and ‘at-the-microscope’ teaching sessions examining glass slides of normal tissue and disease processes.

Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine (CP/LM): Laboratory divisions of CP/LM include hematopathology, clinical chemistry and toxicology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, cytogenetics, and blood bank (transfusion medicine). Students will be introduced to a variety of sub-specialties within CP/LM through didactic lectures, case-based presentations, and tours of CP/LM laboratories.

By the end of this course, students will:

  • Have insight into the exciting field of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
  • Be able to discuss foundational concepts of Pathology.
  • Understand how Pathology plays an important role in modern medicine, including the new frontier of personalized medicine.
Additional Information

Pre-requisites: High school biology.

Outline and structure are subject to change at the discretion of the professors.

Enrollment is limited to 15 students; selection to the program is highly competitive.

Instructors

Instructors and mentors are from Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center Faculty with course leadership by Dr. Jennifer Findeis-Hosey, MD (Course Director) and Dr. Audrey Jajoksy, MD, PhD (Course Co-Director)

Mini Medical School (Full Day Intensive)

Residential only  |  11th- 12th graders  |  July 13-31, 2026

This unique and selective program is open to students interested in pursuing careers in medicine. Through rigorous academic immersion, you will gain firsthand experience with practical hands-on intervention, research, public health, and service learning. Do you have what it takes to find out what medical school is all about?

Course Outline

Anatomy and Physiology: Introduce students to anatomy through models and human organs (plastinated and embalmed organs). Topics include anatomy and physiology of the heart, and respiratory, muscular, and nervous systems.

Neuroscience and Neurology: Designed to give students an understanding of the basic structure and function of the brain. Students will gain insight into the brain through anatomic dissections, hands-on lab activities, and immersive clinical experiences with experts in the field. Students will learn a range of things from basic neuroscience to the pathophysiology of neurological and psychological disorders.

Public Health: Designed to introduce students to public health history, concepts, and contemporary issues, students will research a current public health topic and present at a culmination poster session. Topics may include disparities, current issues in public health (lead poisoning, tobacco, obesity, clean water/air, health systems/reforms).

Other Activities: Outside of the classroom, student’s days are full of hands-on opportunities to learn more about medicine. Opportunities vary year to year, but have previously included: Standardized Patient Session, Learning to Take Vital Signs, NARCAN Training, Suture Session, Taping and Casting, Simulation Exercises (Cardiac, OB/GYN, Intubations, Phlebotomy), ED Rotation, shadowing a Physician, Wilderness Medicine, and an optional CPR Training.

Additional Information

Pre-requisites: High school biology.

Outline and structure are subject to change at the discretion of the professors and medical professionals who instruct various aspects of the course.

Enrollment is limited to 12 students; selection for this program is highly competitive.

Instructors

Instructors are University of Rochester Medical Center faculty from Public Health, Neurology and Neuroscience, and Anesthesiology.

 

What’s up Doc: Exploring the Pre-Med Experience

9-12th graders  |  Session A  | 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. OR 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

What is it really like to be a physician? What does it take to become one? In this immersive course, you will meet practicing physicians, medical students, and other healthcare professionals while exploring the inner workings of the human body. As part of this program, you will participate in hands-on medical procedures, practice using clinical equipment, simulate patient encounters, hear from various medical specialties, and examine real pathological specimens and detailed anatomical models. You will collaborate with peers through team-based challenges and problem-solving activities designed to build critical thinking and communication skills. You will also learn what academic preparation is needed for medical school and gain tools to help you determine whether a career in medicine is the right path for you.

There are no prerequisites for this course. Many sessions will be hands-on and involve group-work, so we simply ask that you come ready to engage, participate, and
collaborate!

By the end of this course, student will:

  • Explain the educational pathway to becoming a doctor, including high school preparation, college coursework, and medical school training.
  • Identify major structures and functions of the human body through guided  examination of anatomical models and pathological specimens.
  • Practice patient interviewing, physical exam skills and effective communication in a healthcare setting.
  • Collaborate with peers to make diagnoses, reason through medical & bioethical challenges and apply basic biology and clinical reasoning to health scenarios.

Instructors: University of Rochester Medical Center faculty and medical students.

Bones, Muscles, Joints and Movement

9-12th graders | Session A | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Through movement, poetry, and numerous hands-on activities, you will identify and explore the function of muscles and bones in your body. No dry memorization here; you will plunge into the subject of anatomy by putting those bones and muscles into action. Specially designed kinesthetic activities will embody these lessons. This class is perfect for you if you’re interested in health sciences, biology, kinesiology, physical therapy, dance, or massage therapy.

Instructor: Anne Wilcox, faculty, Program of Dance and Movement

Molecules in Medicine: Experience Protein Structures

9-12th graders | Session B | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Unlock the secrets of protein structures by becoming a structural biologist yourself, exploring how proteins are built from simple amino acids and how they fold into their final, functional shapes. Our journey will take you to the lab bench, where you’ll crystallize your own protein
for X-ray structure determination, and the cutting-edge world of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM), where you’ll pick particle images like a pro! You’ll also explore the powerful world of computational structural biology, from using the Protein Data Bank to trying out the revolutionary
AlphaFold-3. Get ready to solve the molecular puzzles that drive health and disease in a hands-on, real-world research environment.

Instructors: Jermaine Jenkins and Clara Kielkopf, faculty, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Environmental Science: Uncovering the Connections Between Environment and Health

9-12th graders | Session B | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Explore the dynamic relationship between our environment and health in this engaging one-week workshop. From the basics of epidemiology and toxicology to pressing issues like water quality, air pollution, and climate change, we’ll delve into the critical factors shaping our well-being.

Through lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, you’ll gain insights into how these elements intertwine, and develop innovative approaches to safeguarding our planet and ourselves. Join us on this transformative journey towards a healthier, more sustainable future!

Instructors: Faculty, Environmental Medicine

Careers in Oral Health

9-12th graders  |  Session B  | 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. OR 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

What is it like to be a dentist or a dental specialist such as an orthodontist, pediatric dentist, prosthodontist, periodontist, or oral surgeon? This course will explore hands-on dental procedures, examine the latest equipment, and take a close look at the skills and educational requirements necessary to become an oral health professional. Students will learn firsthand how to conduct an oral examination and to make diagnostic plaster models of teeth for use in treatment planning. Students will meet with dentists who are pursuing careers as faculty in educational programs and with researchers working in the basic sciences or translational arenas. Dental specialists working in diverse and emerging areas of treatment, including dental implants and cosmetic dentistry, will interact with the students. There will be site visits taken to the ambulatory care dental unit and the Center for Oral Biology at the University’s Medical Center.

The course will focus on the changing field of oral health and the high demands for dentists to meet the oral health care needs of local, national, and international patient populations.

Instructor: Alex Cooper and Susan Schuler, dental hygienists,  Eastman Institute for Oral Health

Careers in Nursing

9-12th graders  |  Session B | 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Nursing is the largest workforce in the health care setting. The roles that nurses fulfill in the hospital, public health, research, and advanced practice are vital to the success of a patient’s health.

This course will show you what it takes to be a nurse. With engaging discussions and interactive exercises, you will learn about the profession’s foundations and specialties, the history and future of nursing, and potential careers that might interest you.

Whether you are interested in clinical research or patient care, come explore if nursing is for you.

Instructor: Faculty, School of Nursing

Biomedical Technology: Engineer, Doctor, or Both?

9-12th graders  |  Session B |  8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. OR 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This course teaches you the underlying physiology of crucial human organ systems and the process of recording the biological signals that dictate how they perform. You will learn about vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and electrical signals produced by the muscles and heart. You will also learn to interpret and integrate these signals with biological processes and diseases.

There are no pre-requisites for this course. An interest in biological science and some experience with Excel or Google sheets would be helpful.

Instructor: Kanika Vats, faculty,  Department of Biomedical Engineering

Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare

9-12th graders  |  Session B | 1:00 p.m.- 4:00pm

Ethical and moral dilemmas in the healthcare field impact everyone, including patients, family members, clinicians, communities and the population. Many of these complex issues arise at the bedside, but others occur as a result of social and economic difficulties. It is here that the application of bioethics can provide a framework for understanding these issues.

In this course, students will engage in case discussions, participate in mock ethics committees, and explore current events in order apply these theories and principles of bioethics to real life situations. Such topics include the patient-clinician relationship, end-of-life care, organ transplantation and donation, and public health.

Instructor: Nicholas R. Mercado, DrPH, MCHES, HEC-C, faculty, Department of Health Humanities & Bioethics