Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Explore patient care through team challenges in this 2-week program for middle school students on Georgetown University’s campus.
Course Description
Who helps a patient recover, prevent illness, or understand a diagnosis? Students explore medicine through the many professionals who contribute to patient care and community health. Clinical medicine, emergency care, biomedical research, public health, genetics, healthcare administration, ethics, and career pathways provide a broad view of the field.
Interactive activities make the healthcare system easier to see. In a healthcare team challenge, students receive patient scenarios such as a broken arm, asthma attack, or diabetes diagnosis, then identify the physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, assistants, and other professionals involved. Case studies and discussions ask them to consider how teams share information and make patient-centered decisions.
The course culminates in a Healthcare Career Project. Students investigate one profession, explain its role and training, and connect it to their interests and strengths. Simulations, guest speakers when available, and hands-on projects help students move from a general interest in medicine to specific questions they can continue exploring.
This two-week course takes place at Georgetown University. The course is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic exploration with campus life, growing confidence and independence, and clearer direction about interests students may want to explore next. The program is developed by Georgetown University and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What Will You Do?
• Build a healthcare team map for a patient scenario
• Compare clinical, research, public health, and administrative roles
• Discuss emergency care, genetics, and medical ethics
• Apply problem-solving to age-appropriate healthcare cases
• Investigate the education and work of one healthcare profession
• Create and present a Healthcare Career Project
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Describe how healthcare professionals collaborate in patient-centered care
• Compare several clinical, research, and public health careers
• Research and present the role and pathway of a selected profession
Students leave with a completed career project and a clearer picture of how their interests might connect to healthcare.
Why Healthcare Skills Matter?
Healthcare problems are rarely solved by one person. Mapping a patient’s team helps students understand collaboration, specialized expertise, and the importance of communication. It also reveals careers they may not encounter during a routine appointment.
Case studies build age-appropriate critical thinking. Students identify what information matters, consider ethical questions, and explain how prevention, research, or public health can change outcomes for many people. These habits support science learning, teamwork, and thoughtful career exploration. Together, the work reinforces careful reasoning and the ability to revise a conclusion when new evidence changes the picture.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for middle school students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and are curious about medicine, biology, patient care, research, or the many people who work in healthcare. It fits students who want to explore broadly before deciding which questions or roles interest them most.
Participants should be ready to discuss patient scenarios respectfully, collaborate on team challenges, research a profession, and present what they learn. Curiosity, empathy, and willingness to ask careful questions will help students contribute.
Why Georgetown University?
Studying on Georgetown University’s campus gives middle-school students a memorable place to learn, have fun, and experience campus life in Washington, D.C. The historic campus sits near embassies, institutions, and public conversations that make the wider world feel close, even when the course itself is not connected to government or policy.
The program combines active academics with friendships, campus activities, clear routines, and support as students navigate a new environment. Students can try unfamiliar subjects, share ideas with peers, and build confidence through a structured summer experience. For families, the program offers an engaging balance of learning and fun, with the community and guidance younger students need as they develop independence and discover what they may want to explore next.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive