Biomedical & Surgical Research
Three-Week Summer Medicine Program
“Best Summer Camps and Programs for teens” – ParentMap, 2018
In 2021, students learned how to tie surgical knots during the first few days of the program. Once they honed these skills, they focused on the body systems and specific surgical procedures. They then explored the circulatory and respiratory systems, performing mock surgeries and blood pressure analysis using a cuff and stethoscope.
Students then focused on the nervous and skeletal systems, performing a complete cranial nerve exam and completing deep tendon reflex exams on each other. This unit included spinal cord dissection, cataract surgery, and more. Following these systems, students moved onto the digestive system, researching and presenting their personal research on diseases and treatments. This unit contains the most complex mock surgeries, with students applying their knowledge to a mock gastric bypass procedure.
Year after year, students who delay in applying find the program is sold out. Complete your application today! You can also join our mailing list to learn more about our programs. Want more? Check out these similar programs: Oncology or Emergency Medicine.
This is a competitive admissions summer research program designed for teens.
Applications are open for Summer 2023:
Session 1: June 26-July 14, 2023 | Longwood Medical Area
Session 3: July 17-August 4, 2023 | Longwood Medical Area
Remote: July 10- 21, 2023 | 11:00am – 4:00pm EST on Zoom
More About: Awards – Research Programs – Sample Week
Rising 6th to rising 9th? Mini Med School
This program is perfect for teens looking for a pre-college medical program and for those thinking of pursuing pre-med, or are otherwise interested in careers as a physician, surgeon, MD, or working in an ER or hospital.
For example, students may learn about emergency room situations where a trauma patient is bleeding to death. They may learn techniques to stop the bleeding and how to use imaging and diagnostic tests to determine whether cracked ribs have punctured the heart wall and, if so, when to operate. They may learn about heart disease and bypass surgery as well how to implant a pacemaker. During their labs on the topic, they may implant a mock pacemaker using a real cow heart. The goal is to provide students with the feeling of what it is like to be a surgeon by working on mammalian organs as well as fetal pig specimens. In the classroom, students may research diseases that can be treated with surgical procedures and will develop their own original research project.
Looking for more? Check out Oncology and Emergency Medicine for more heart racing, hands on medical programs at the Boston Leadership Institute.
Field Trips
In the past, students have engaged in hands-on surgery simulations using the model emergency room furnished with actual machines used to monitor blood pressure, heart beat and breathing as well as realistic lights, instruments, operating table and so on. Students have also visited the Museum of Medicine at Harvard and toured the famous Longwood Medical Area, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Students have taken field trips to the Northeastern University simulation labs where they learned and practiced surgical techniques and other emergency room protocols. Other past field trips have included tours of Mass General Hospital’s Ether Dome and interactive experiences at the Museum of Science. These field trips serve as a way for students to learn from some of the best medical researchers in the country and to understand real world applications of the principles they learn in our classes.
Ken Bateman (Session 2 partial)
Mr. Bateman is currently a biology teacher at Wellesley High School – a top ranked high school in Massachusetts. He has taught at WPS since 2006. He graduated from Hamilton College and received his MS in biology and MEd from the University of Massachusetts. Mr. Bateman has extensive teaching experience. Before WPS, he taught at Lexington High School and the Hillsdale School. Additionally, he has lab work experience as a lab technician at two cancer research labs at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. When not in the classroom or lab, Mr. Bateman can be found hiking or traveling.
Jeff Robin (Sessions 1 & 3)
Dr. Robin earned his Bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology before earning his MD from SUNY Upstate Medical School. After earning his Masters in Education, Jeff began teaching at top-ranked Wellesley High School. He is highly interested in how disease processes affect human physiology and how surgical procedures aim to correct these abnormal processes.
Remote Instructor: Mitch Piel
Mitch Piel is entering his third year at Chicago Medical School pursuing a career in surgery. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Nebraska, as well as a Master’s of Biomedical Sciences. Mitch has worked as a Clinical Research coordinator at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and as a Research Assistant at the Nebraska Athletic Performance Lab. Mitch is a veteran BLI instructor whose programs have earned rave views. In 2021, he designed and taught multiple sessions of Introduction to Surgery, Sports Medicine, and more!
Student Comments
*2021 Student Comments*
‘I liked that we learned different areas of the human body through researching diseases ourselves and were able to learn presentation skills as well. I also liked that there was a lab every day.’
‘Our teacher was very knowledgeable and taught the material very well. The labs we did were amazing and the techniques I learned are sure to be helpful in the future.’
‘I loved the mock surgeries and Dr. Robin was incredible at explaining systems of the body to us. It was a fantastic experience!’
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‘My program was both extremely informative and exciting. I love that both the teacher and TA were fully dedicated to helping us develop a deep understanding of medicine without taking away our fun. I loved doing hands-on experiments and dissections, applying the practical/theoretical knowledge we learned.’
‘I really liked all the surgeries we were able to do and all of the research we did in class. The teacher was very active and engaged with the students. If anyone needed help you could go to him and he wouldn’t leave until you completely understood everything.’
‘I like the lectures and how informative and specific they were. Lectures about the heart, lungs, circulatory system, digestive system, nervous system and diseases. The teachers were kind and knowledgeable and helpful. Dissecting the hearts, lungs and pig fetus and such was a very fun experience. I really liked the MIT cancer research presentation.’
BioSTEM Award, 2018, J&J • Top Summer Science Program, 2011-2019, NY Times/ThoughtCo.com • Top Robotics Program, 2017, RoboLoco • Best Medicine Program, 2018, ParentMap • Top Biomedical Engineering, StockTalk.com •
Top 101 Summer Camps & Programs, How-To-Learn.com • Top Biomedical Engineering, 2017, InsiderMonkey.com
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