The Health & Medicine Institute

Experience a wide variety of health and medical careers and earn certifications by learning hands-on skills with the guidance of practicing professionals.

“ The choice workshops opened up new career paths I had never considered while the passion sessions made me feel more confident in myself and my abilities in this field.

— Rory,   2023 Health & Medicine Alum

About the Health & Medicine Institute...

Do you want to learn the science of saving lives?

At the Health and Medicine Institute you can step into the world of health care in a real-world way! By diving into hands-on medical and health science skills, you will experience what it’s like to work in medical careers and will be guided every step of the way by professional healthcare mentors and faculty. The personalized curriculum explores topics in a variety of health careers such as general surgery, nursing, emergency services, and healthcare technology. In addition to being eligible to earn a wide variety of industry-recognized credentials, you can also lead your own lab work, participate in crisis simulations, and sample a huge array of health care occupations.

Students can also earn their CPR, Stop the Bleed, and Vermont Emergency First Responder (VEFR) Certification at this Institute.

Students can choose between the Northern or Southern Session with different dates and locations.

2025 Institute Information Coming Soon!

For information regarding this Institute’s sliding-scale tuition support, please click here.

Health and Medicine 2024
Health and Medicine 2024

At This Institute You Will...

  • Explore careers in health science, research, and medicine.
  • Practice hands-on medical skills like assessing vital signs and interviewing patients.
  • Earn certifications in CPR, First Aid, and VT Emergency First Responder (VEFR).
  • Choose from a variety of hands-on lab activities and workshops led by health professionals and college faculty.
  • Work closely with medical student mentors throughout the week.
  • Have the time of your life!

Now Offering TWO SESSIONS!

NVTAHEC

NORTHERN SESSION

2025 Institute Information Coming Soon!
Hosted in Partnership with the Northern VT Area Health Education Center (NVTAHEC)

SVTAHEC

SOUTHERN SESSION

2025 Institute Information Coming Soon!
Hosted in Partnership with the Southern VT Area Health Education Center (SVTAHEC)

H&M Logo

Which session should I attend?

Both sessions offer a similar curriculum and a similar experience.

We will do our best to accommodate students who have a date/location preference.

Experience the vibe at Health & Medicine!

Attending this Institute can earn you credit, proficiencies, and certifications!

How To Get High School Credit

We encourage all students who participate in an Institute to use the experience to earn high school credit.

Awarding high school credit is at the discretion of the student’s sending school, so we recommend students make a plan with their high school guidance counselor before attending GIV to earn their credit.

Each school has unique requirements around proficiencies, credits, and PLPs, so there are multiple pathways to awarding credit based on your school's system of assessments.

However, we recommend that high schools award credit by having students produce one or more of the following...
- A presentation to reflect on the overall experience to present for counselors and/or teachers in the fall after their participation.
- A learning journal for submission about areas of learning, activities, reflections.
- Work examples to share with sending school teachers (physical or digital products, writing, videos of presentations, learning journal, etc.) to be reviewed and assessed.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] if we can directly help or support you or your school in determining credit opportunities for your experience at GIV.

Curriculum Format

Partnership with the Northern and Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
1-week intensive
Online introduction for certification opportunities
Student split into two groups that alternate between sessions
Every student gets paired with a professional or graduate medical mentor
Field trips to area hospitals, SimLabs, and guest presenters
Dormitories and roommates
8:1 student-to-staff ratio

Sample Curriculum Topics

Patient assessment & triage
Emergency services
Anatomy and dissections
Disease and microscopy
Surgical techniques
Mental health
Psychology and neurology
Orthopedics: splinting, spinal injuries, and trauma
Physiology
Mass casualty scenarios
and more!

Hours and Opportunities

70+ hours of health and medicine training
Direct support from a mentor
Resume-building
Industry-recognized credentials and certifications to kickstart careers or medical training

Certifications Offered

Vermont Emergency First Responder (VEFR)

CPR/AED

Stop the Bleed

High School Credit Recommendations

Equivalent to one semester of high school credit in 1 or more of the following:

Science - Life Sciences
Science - Engineering, Technology, and Application
Health Education

VT Proficiency Indicators

This Institute’s curriculum has been aligned with the following Vermont proficiency-based graduation requirements at the high school level.

Science
- Life Sciences: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 4a, 4b
- Engineering Technology and Applied Science: 8b, 8c, 8i

Health Education
- Core Concepts: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e
- Analyze Influences: 2a, 2b, 2c
- Access Information: 3a, 3b
- Interpersonal Communication: 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f
- Decision Making/Goal Setting: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g
- Self Management: 6a

Transferable Skills
- Communication: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g
- Self-Direction: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i
- Problem Solving: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h
- Citizenship: 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f
- Informed Thinking: 5a, 5b, 5f

So how does it all work?

Every day is a unique experience filled with expert-led instruction, hands-on investigation, field trips, and immersive learning. We work to build a community around our experiences and share in our passion for everything we explore.

**The schedule is slightly different each year and announced when you arrive!

GIV’s supportive Institute structure is endlessly enriching, empowering, and engaging.

An Example of a Day at the Health & Medicine Institute

7:30 AM: Breakfast
8:30 AM: Morning Medical Activity
10:00 AM: Project Exploration
12:00 PM: Lunch and Free Time
1:00 PM: Afternoon Activity and Recreation
3:00 PM: Project Exploration
5:00 PM: Dinner
6:00 PM: Evening Social Activity
7:00 PM: Evening Workshops
8:00 PM: Game and Free Time
10:00 PM: End of Day

Health and Medicine Faculty

Dr. Nicole Lapointe works as the Executive Director at the Northern Vermont AHEC, a health workforce development agency in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She has a doctoral degree in Education Leadership and Policy Studies through the University of Vermont. Nicole began work in the field of public health in 2000 as a community organizer in rural New Hampshire, improving access to health and human services for the uninsured. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2001 from the University of New Hampshire with a concentration in Community, Administration, and Policy. Nicole is also a community herbalist and lives in West Burke with her husband and young son.

Dr Jennifer Scott
Dr. Jennifer Scott is the Executive Director of Southern Vermont AHEC, a nonprofit organization in Springfield, VT that enhances community efforts to grow and sustain the health workforce in Addison, Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties. Jennifer earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. As a licensed clinical psychologist and a well-established educator and administrator, she has contributed to the fields of psychology and education with numerous presentations, publications, and professional service and has been recognized at the local and state levels for excellence in teaching and clinical practice.
With a career in higher education spanning almost three decades, Dr. Scott has learned at every level, from student to clinical faculty to college president. She is committed to the education and training of students and young professionals, creating opportunities for all to succeed, and serving the needs of individuals, families, and communities.

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