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.

Information

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

FPA offers six weeks of summer programming. The Trauma & Surgical Skills, Cardiology & Resuscitation, Neurology, Dermatology & Plastic surgery courses can each be taken as stand-alone courses. In order to take the Medical Writing & Publishing course, students must take 3 out of 4 clinical courses (Trauma & Surgical Skills, Cardiology & Resuscitation, Neurology, or Dermatology & Plastic surgery). In order to participate in the Clinical Research Program, students must take all four of the clinical courses.

1) The Cardiology and Resuscitation course (June 2-6, 2025) is an intensive one-week camp covering courses designed by the American Heart Association and American Red Cross, and 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 Trauma and Surgical Skills program (Session I: June 9-13, 2025; Session II: July 14-18, 2025) 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.

3) The Medical writing & publishing course (June 16-20, 2025) 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.

4) The Neurology course (June 23-27, 2025) 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.

5) The Dermatology & Plastic Surgery course (June 30-July 3, 2025) 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. Our guest faculty includes a practicing oculoplastics surgeon.

6) The Clinical Research program (July 7-11, 2025). Students are introduced to research methodology and biostatistics in medicine, and 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 12th, 2025. Acceptance into the clinical research program is very competitive and class size is capped at 35.

VIRTUAL OPTIONS

For students who are unable to join us in person, we offer the Cardiology and Resuscitation course virtually from July 14-18, 2025. This course has more of an independent study component, where students receive the course material after registration. Class time is used for exam review.

Dates

  • Cardiology & Resuscitation: June 2-6, 2025 in-person; July 14-18, 2025 virtual

  • Trauma and Surgical Skills: Session I: June 9-13, 2025; Session II: July 14-18, 2025

  • Med Writing & Publishing: June 16-20, 2025

  • Neurology: June 23-27, 2025

  • Dermatology & Plastic Surgery: June 30-July 3

  • Clinical Research: July 7-12, 2025

  • Housing is available and is first come first served after acceptance.

  • Camp Hours are 9a- 2p for all camps.

  • No camp on May 26 or July 4, 2025 (University holidays)

  • Please note Clinical Research includes additional all day attendance on Saturday July 12, 2025.

Application

  • Application must include the FPA application form and personal statement, a school transcript, and SAT, ACT or PSAT scores (teacher recommendation can be used in lieu of scores).

  • Due to the individualized and hands-on nature of our programs, we are only able to accept a limited number of students.

  • International and out-of-state students are welcome to apply.

  • Students accepted to the 6 week program can take advantage of the following additional opportunities: clinical shadowing, general college guidance, awards, and application help.

  • Applications are highly competitive, please do not pay until you have received a decision on your application.

Fees

  • FPA Trauma & Surgical Skills: $1600

  • FPA Dermatology & Plastics: $1500

  • FPA Cardiology & Resuscitation: $1600

  • FPA Neurology: $1850

  • FPA Medical writing/publishing: $1950

  • FPA Clinical Research: $2700

  • $700 scholarship if enrolling in all 6 in-person programs

  • $200 scholarship if enrolled in 1 course by December 1, 2024

  • $350 scholarship if enrolled in 3 or more courses by December 1st, 2024.

  • Optional campus housing: $450/week (First come first served, deadline April 1st)

  • Tuition is only payable after acceptance.

  • Remember, you must take at least 3 of the 4 clinical courses (skills, cardiology, neurology or dermatology & plastic surgery) in order to take medical publishing.

  • The clinical research program requires enrollment in all 4 clinical courses.