Quinnipiac University
High School student learns how to listen to lung sounds at Quinnipiac’s School of Nursing, during an interactive day on Quinnipiac’s North Haven Campus.

Summer Camps and Programs for Students

Healthcare Career Exploration Academy for High School Students

Allied health encompasses a broad group of health professionals who use scientific principles and evidence-based practice for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic diseases, promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health and apply administration and management skills to support healthcare systems in a variety of settings. The Healthcare Career Exploration Academy is designed for high school students who want to learn about career opportunities within allied health professions, gain certification in health-related skills, and earn two credits that will transfer to Quinnipiac University.

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Overview

Allied health professionals apply scientific principles and evidence-based practice to optimize patient or client outcomes. This group of dynamic professionals represent 60% of the total healthcare workforce within the United States. Opportunities abound in this growing segment which include professions such as physician assistant, occupational and physical therapists, radiographers, nutritionists, social workers, dieticians, nurses, cardiovascular perfusionists and pathologist assistants. These professionals play an essential role in the delivery of healthcare and related services in the U.S. and throughout the world.

In this exciting 2-week program, high school students will be introduced to a variety of health professions all while engaging in hands-on skill building such as proficiency in taking vital signs, introduction to suturing techniques, fabrication of custom orthoses, basic gait training and transfer skills, bench science laboratory techniques and basic dissection techniques. Also, attendees will have the opportunity to earn certificates in Basic First Aid, Mental Health First Aid and Stop the Bleed. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to earn two credit hours of course credit transferable to Quinnipiac University.

This program is perfect for high school students who are interested in a future career in health professions, those who are problem-solvers and those wishing to build their resumes and gain experience through skill building, certifications, and developing professional skills required of all health professionals.

At the end of this interactive experience, you will walk away with:
  • Three Certifications: Basic First Aid, Stop the Bleed and Mental Health First Aid

  • The opportunity to earn up to two (2) college credits transferable to Quinnipiac University

  • Foundational knowledge in interprofessional education and experience with patient simulation

  • Hands-on, skill-building experiences within specific health professions

    • For example, measuring vital signs, performing suturing techniques, clinical lab dissection, acquiring bench research skills, gait and transfer training, custom orthosis fabrication and sonography/radiology training

  • An understanding of health profession career options, and knowledge of how different professions use their skills and expertise to solve problems across the healthcare industry

Schedule

July 10 - July 21, 2023

  • Sunday, July 9, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Residence check-in for participants with full room & board

  • Saturday, July 22, 9 a.m. – noon: Residence check-out for participants with full room & board

Sample Daily Schedule

Time Activity Details
9 a.m. Morning Program Meeting
Health and Wellness
Nursing profession
Ice breaker activity
Scavenger hunt groups, earn stickers and a prize (coupon for bookstore)
Check-in with the group, quick introduction to the day's theme, and a challenge or game to get excited and motivated for the day!
10 a.m. Morning Lesson
Nursing
  • Holistic Healthcare
  • Vital Signs
QU faculty will teach and discuss the key topic for the day through an engaging lesson that incorporates group discussions, fun activities, and foundational theory.
Noon Lunch Eat and socialize with your classmates

1 p.m.

Afternoon Lesson
Intro to Healthcare
  • Skill building organizational skills, study strategies
  • Activity - let's put it into action
  • Case Study - A Nursing perspective
There is a lot to learn in just a week, but the limited program size means there are lots of opportunities to ask questions throughout the lessons.
3 p.m.

Group Discussion

  • Practice taking your vital signs
  • Analyze your data-baseline, interim and post hike up Sleeping Giant
  • Make comparisons and graph your data
Put what you have learned into practice by working on a project using real data sets to analyze data, detect patterns, and solve problems!
4 p.m. Review and Debrief Meeting
Nutrition and Dietary
A chance to reflect and discuss the day as well as look to the days ahead.
4:30 p.m. Day Program Ends Dismissal for commuter students.
5 p.m. Dinner Dinner will be provided for those students with full room and board.
6 p.m. Evening Activities - Stress management (Yoga class, Spin, Gym access, Group Recreation, Games, Guest Speakers, Independent and Group Enrichment Projects) The evening is reserved for overnight students to have fun, experience our on-campus amenities, and bond with each other and staff through organized enrichment activities.
10 p.m. Quiet Time  

This is a sample schedule and is subject to change.

Program Costs

Option 1: 2-week overnight program from Sunday to Saturday. Includes full room and board as well as evening and weekend activities: $3,360

Option 2: 2-week on-campus commuter program from Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Includes lunch daily: $2,400

Both options offer:

  • Two weeks of faculty-designed programs taught on-campus with educational support staff

  • Technology and software support

  • A Quinnipiac T-shirt

  • A certificate of completion

  • Access to special Quinnipiac Admissions events

Partial financial support may be available for those who indicate the need for financial assistance in their online application. Financial support awards are based on a combination of financial need and academic merit.

Participation Requirements

Participants must be current high school students in grades 10, 11, 12 or recent graduates. Typically, participants are 15 to 18 years of age at the start of the program entering their sophomore, junior and senior years.

Equipment and Materials

Quinnipiac University will provide all required materials, including laptops, for students within this program. Students are welcome to bring their own laptops or other devices for use outside of instruction periods or with the approval of their instructor.

Application and Payment Deadlines

Deadline to apply: Monday, May 1, 2023
Space is limited per session and enrollment is based on when a deposit payment is received.

Deadline to submit payment: Payment is due within 30 days of applying to fully register for a program.

Payment Methods and Refund/Cancellation Policy

Applications are reviewed when they are received and students are accepted on a rolling basis.

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2022 Program Instructors

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Accommodations

Quinnipiac University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as an institution of higher education. Students who have a current IEP or 504 plan are encouraged to share any accommodations or modifications they may require in order to access the fundamentals of a QU summer program or camp they plan to attend.

Students requesting disability-based accommodations should indicate this within the application as well as email summerprograms@qu.edu about any and all specific accommodation needs.

Rules & Regulations

Read Quinnipiac University’s Summer Camp and Pre-College Program Policies