Connecting the Classroom to the Clinic
The Prehealth Summer Impact Experience is a cohort-based summer program that brings together Duke and visiting students taking summer courses and interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
Students enrolling in 2 courses during Summer Session I and/or II can gain additional experiences with this program. The cohort model fosters meaningful engagement with like-minded peers while creating a shared academic and experiential foundation.
Experiential activities enhance the summer experience by bridging academic study with real-world contexts in clinical and community settings.
The program emphasizes the importance of moving beyond STEM coursework to gain the broader perspectives necessary for studying medicine, encouraging students to engage with social, cultural, and community dimensions of health.
Eligibility
Current college and postbac students from any university who are taking summer classes.
Information Session
March 30, 7:00pm on Zoom
Click here to let us know you are interested in joining our session!
Application
- Opens: March 1, 2026
- Deadline: April 15, 2026
Program Courses
To be eligible for admission, students must enroll in two courses during the summer term, including at least one prehealth course.
The two‑course requirement can be met in any of the following ways:
- Both courses in Summer Session I
- Both courses in Summer Session II
- One courses in Summer Session I, and one course in Summer Session II
Students interested in enrolling in an area that complements their prehealth course(s) should consider one that fosters creativity, reflection, or interdisciplinary perspectives. This pairing is designed to deepen students’ engagement with scientific material while encouraging critical thinking about its broader human, social, and ethical dimensions.
Students may elect to take additional coursework, up to the four-course maximum, to further enrich their experience. Program staff work closely with each student to develop an appropriate course plan aligned with their academic preparation and goals.
The program is designed to support student success in rigorous summer coursework while also providing opportunities for meaningful engagement beyond the classroom.
Summer I Prehealth Courses
- BIOLOGY 201L - Introduction to Biology: Molecular Biology
- CELLBIO 451 - Introductory Human Physiology
- CHEM 101DL - Core Concepts in Chemistry
- CHEM 202D - Organic Chemistry II
- MATH 105L - Laboratory Calculus and Functions I
- MATH 111L - Laboratory Calculus I
- MATH 112L - Laboratory Calculus II
- NEUROSCI 102 - Biological Bases of Behavior (Team-Based Learning)
- NEUROSCI 223 - Introduction to Neurobiology
- NEUROSCI 362S - Psychedelics and Other Illegal Psychoactive Drugs as Medicines
- PHYSICS 121DL - General Physics I-A
- PSY 102 - Cognitive Psychology: Introduction and Survey
- PSY 104 - Social Psychology
- PSY 330S - Develop Your Life: A Human Development and Human-Centered Design Approach
- STA 101 Data Analysis and Statistical Inference
- STA 199L - Introduction to Data Science and Statistical Thinking
Summer II Prehealth Courses
- BIOLOGY 210S - Reading for Research
- BIOLOGY 267D - Behavioral Ecology and the Evolution of Animal Behavior
- BIOCHEM 301 - Introductory Biochemistry I: Intermediary Metabolism
- CHEM 201DL - Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 202D - Organic Chemistry II
- MATH 112L - Laboratory Calculus II
- MATH 212 - Multivariable Calculus
- NEUROSCI 202 - Medical Neuroscience: Foundations for the Neurological Sciences
- NEUROSCI 217D - Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
- PHYSICS 122DL - General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology
- PSY 102 - Cognitive Psychology: Introduction and Survey
- PSY 103 - Developmental Psychology: Introduction and Survey
- PSY 330S - Develop Your Life: A Human Development and Human-Centered Design Approach
- STA 199L - Introduction to Data Science and Statistical Thinking
Experiential Learning Activities
Activities may include the following:
- Shadowing opportunities
- MCAT prep workshops and individual MCAT advising
- Tour of Duke School of Medicine
- Clinical Conversations: lunch discussions with invited guests (PA or nursing, chalk talks with faculty from departments such as neuro/soc/bio, resident panel)
Financial
Students are responsible for standard course tuition and fees. There is no additional cost for participating in the cohort or associated experiential activities.
Housing and meal plans are available for an extra fee.
Completion
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded the Duke University Trinity College of Arts and Sciences Summer Classroom to the Clinic Impact Experience LinkedIn Badge.
Questions
Contact summer@duke.edu with any questions.