High School Health Sciences Pathways Summer Academy

• Aspiring scholars who are curious about healthcare, science, and making a difference in their community.
• Learners seeking a summer intensive to help prepare them for college and a career in healthcare.

A comprehensive introduction to healthcare careers

Offered by the UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc Program, the High School Health Sciences Pathways Summer Academy prepares diverse, community-minded high school students for future pathways in healthcare and STEM. Students explore human biology through hands‑on labs, learn directly from health professionals, and gain early exposure to careers in medicine, nursing, public health, and research.

Through engaging coursework, field trips, mentoring, and a capstone project, participants build foundational knowledge and confidence—setting the stage for long‑term success in pre‑health pathways.

• Time: 6 weeks
• Format:
  In-person at the Silicon Valley Campus of UC Santa Cruz (Santa Clara, CA)
• Application Fee: $70
• Cost: $7,000
• Application Period:
  Feb. 16 – May 16, 2026
• Applications Open:
  Feb. 16, 2026

Human biology course taught by experienced faculty.

Microscopy

Microscopy, vital signs monitoring, suturing practice, and guided scientific experiments.

Public health advocacy

Learn about community health challenges and how to become an effective health advocate.

Meet the healthcare community

Connect with doctors, nurses, researchers, and healthcare professionals.

Field experiences

Visit local medical schools, biomedical labs, and community health organizations.

Capstone project

Students share their experiences through a culminating presentation to peers and professionals.

The six‑week, full‑time Summer Academy is designed to immerse high school students in the foundations of health, medicine, and public health. The program runs Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and integrates academic coursework with hands‑on activities and real‑world healthcare exposure.

A
formal human biology course
is taught
twice per week
. In addition to classroom‑based instruction, students participate in clinical skills labs, public health seminars, experiential learning activities, and guided field experiences. Each week builds upon the last, allowing students to progressively deepen their understanding of human health and healthcare systems.

This sample schedule is for illustrative purposes and does not reflect a finalized daily agenda. Human Biology is a formal course meeting twice weekly.

• Day 1 - Foundations of Public Health
• Day 2 - Human Biology + Social Determinants of Health
• Day 3 - Clinical Skills Lab:
  Suturing & Applied Anatomy
• Day 4 - Human Biology + Addiction Medicine & Health Advocacy
• Day 5 - Experiential Learning:
  Medical School Tour

High school students in grades 9-12 (as of Spring 2026) who are curious about science, interested in health careers, and passionate about making an impact in their community.

• Curious about human biology and how the body works
• Interested in careers like doctor, nurse, PA, or public health professional
• Passionate about helping others and improving community health
• Ready to engage in hands‑on learning and real‑world experiences

Whether you dream of becoming a doctor, public health professional, nurse, PA, or another health professional, this program is a meaningful first step toward making that dream a reality.