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The Health & Medicine Institute

Do you want to learn how to protect the health and well-being of others? Join this Institute to learn the techniques and career paths of health and medicine!

“The Health and Medicine Institute gave me the first confirmation that I have strong potential and a future career in health care. I feel like it has been the first step in my new journey.”

Summer 2024 dates and information coming soon!

About the Health & Medicine Institute...

Ready to learn the science of saving lives?

Step into the world of health care with the GIV Health & Medicine Institute! You’ll learn clinical skills like diagnostic reasoning, assessing patients, responding to medical emergencies, and communicating effectively on a team. Sessions span the fields of medicine, psychology, clinical lab science, and biomedical engineering. Hands-on activities, scenario-based learning, and interactive case discussions lead to CPR and First Aid certifications.

Students can also earn their Vermont Emergency First Responder (VEFR) Certification in this Institute.

This cutting-edge Institute is a partnership between the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont and the Northern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Participation in this Institute will provide you with practical skills and a unique understanding about health and medicine in Vermont.

Summer 2024 dates and information coming soon!

For information regarding tuition, please click here.

Health and Medicine Students Practice Splinting 2023
Health and Medicine Student in Simulator 2023

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 and First Aid.
  • 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!

Experience the vibe at the Health & Medicine Institute!

Check out photos from the Summer 2023 session below…

View the full album and download photos by clicking here.

Note: This album is arranged in chronological order as events took place throughout the Institute.

Video recap from the Institute coming soon!

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 Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
1-week intensive
Optional 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
1:1 mentorships with health career professionals

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

Nicole is the Executive Director at the Northern Vermont AHEC, a health workforce development agency in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She is a doctoral candidate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies at 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.

Explore the vast array of opportunities that the Healthcare Industry has to offer and jumpstart your career today!

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