Clinical Courses

1) The Emergency Cardiology & Resuscitation course (Session 1: May 27-30, 2027; Session 2: June 1-4, 2027) is an intensive one-week camp covering courses designed by the American Heart Association and American Red Cross, and campers obtain official course certifications. Topics covered include resuscitation, anaphylaxis, opiate overdose, cardiopharmacology, and more. During this week we do hands-on medical simulation, a heart dissection, and delve into acute care resuscitation topics. We will also complete a course on EKG interpretation, and learn how to read a chest x-ray.

2) The Clinical Cardiology: Murmurs, Malformations, Metabolics & Myopathies course (June 7-11, 2027)

3) The Trauma and Surgical Skills program (Session I: June 1-4, 2027; Session II: June 14-18, 2027) teaches hands-on skills such as suturing, splinting, basic point of care ultrasonography, airway management, epistaxis control, abscess incision and drainage, history and physical examination skills. We also have formal didactics on special topics in medicine, including a certification from the American College of Surgeons. We will solve various clinical cases using problem-solving skills, including laboratory and imaging interpretation. May 31 is a University holiday, so this is a 4-day camp.

4) The Medical Writing & Publishing course(June 14-18, 2027) introduces students to medical writing, study design, and how to search the medical literature and report results to support their work. We will also learn how to critically appraise published works. Students work on an individual project that will be published in a Pubmed indexed peer-reviewed medical journal. All students are first authors on their paper. Remote option possible. June 18th is University holiday, so this is a 4-day camp.

5) The Neurologic Emergencies & Neurocritical Care course (June 21-25, 2027) covers stroke, epilepsy, brain injury, headache, CNS infections and more. We learn how to use a reflex hammer, perform a lumbar puncture, use a peripheral nerve stimulator, perform cerebrospinal fluid analysis, obtain certifications from the American Stroke Association, and learn how to read a brain computed tomography (CT) scan. We keep it intriguing, and even solve a neurologic emergency in an escape room setting. We partner with the American Academy of Neurology for this course.

6) The Neurodiagnostics & Neuroimaging in Brain and Spinal Cord disorders course (June 28-July 2)

5) The Pediatrics & Women’s Health course (June 21-25, 2027): The pediatrics component covers normal pediatric development, diseases of childhood, anticipatory guidance, and pediatric resuscitation. The ob-gyn component introduces students to reproductive anatomy using anatomical models and labeling exercises, and participation in menstrual cycle and hormone regulation simulations to understand normal and abnormal physiology. We explore the world of labor and delivery using birthing mannequins to learn to deliver a baby, learn to interpret fetal heart rate tracings, perform a speculum pelvic exam, newborn APGAR scoring, control of post-partum hemorrhage, and episiotomy repair on task trainers. We learn interpretation of gynecologic ultrasound and pathology images, and engage in patient-centered communication role-play scenarios. Additional didactic topics include sexual health, gynecologic oncology, and reproductive endocrinology (infertility, menopause, PCOS).

5) The Psychiatry course (July 6-9, 2027) covers schizophrenia, ADHD, mood disorders including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, and other selected topics. We learn how to conduct a formal psychiatric history, and receive certification in cognitive assessment. We explore the use of neuroimaging for psychiatric disease and learn about electroconvulsive therapy for refractory cases. We partner with the National Alliance for Mental health (NAMI) for this course. Please note July 5 is a University holiday, so this camp is only 4 days.

6) The Clinical Research program(July 12-17 2027) introduces students to research methodology and biostatistics in medicine, and campers work on their own individual dataset. They will learn how to code variables, and how to write questions to get the information they need. Once data collection is complete, students will learn how to analyze these results and write them up for publication. All students are first authors on their research paper, which will be published in a Pubmed indexed peer-reviewed medical journal. Students will also learn how to write a research abstract and present their work at the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine meeting on July 17th, 2027. Acceptance into the clinical research program is via the FPA Premed Scholars program. It is very competitive and class size is capped at 35.

7) The Anesthesia & General Surgery course (July 12-16, 2027) covers hands-on anastomoses closure and advanced suturing using laparoscopic trainers, hands-on neuraxial anesthesia including spinals & epidurals, advanced airway techniques, ventilator management, anesthetic pharmacology, blood gas analysis, respiratory & cardiovascular physiology, operating room logistics, pre-operative patient optimization, operative complications, and more.

7) The Dermatology & Plastic Surgery course (July 19-23, 2027) covers skills such as punch biopsies, KOH prep, melanoma recognition, and how to do a skin exam. Students will learn advanced suturing techniques using their own simulated facial laceration trainers, including the ear, lip and nose. We also learn surgical knot tying, techniques to minimize scarring, the science behind skin grafts, and more. In our “potion lab” students get to make their own branded lotion using their preferred emollient base and experiment with a variety of scents. Our guest faculty include practicing oculoplastics and vascular surgeons.

VIRTUAL OPTIONS

For students who are unable to join us in person, we offer the Cardiology and Resuscitation course virtually from July 6-9, 2027. This course has more of an independent study component, where students receive the course material after registration. Class time is used for exam review.

Location

FPA summer camps are held on the University of Central Florida campus, located at 4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, Florida. UCF’s 1,415-acre main campus in east Orlando is impressive in size and even bigger in potential. Modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology keep you connected to classwork and social communities, while 800 acres of woodlands, lakes and an arboretum help you reconnect with nature. Whether you’re inside a classroom or outside exploring, our campus is an exciting place to learn — and an easy place to love.