About

Established in 2012, the UC Irvine Summer Surgery Program is an intensive, hands-on experience for high school students interested in surgical medicine and clinical practice. Hosted by the University of California, Irvine Department of Urology, the program immerses participants in real surgical environments and cutting-edge medical technology under the mentorship of UCI surgeons and faculty.

The 2026 Summer Surgery Program offers two-week sessions (Session I: July 6–17; Session II: July 20–31) and a one-week "Better Than Live" option (June 22–26). The curriculum features workshops on open, laparoscopic, robotic, and endoscopic techniques, as well as anatomy courses using dissection and ultrasound. Participants earn Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR certification while observing live surgical cases and mastering the da Vinci surgical robot. A unique component of the program is the medical innovation project, where interns solve real-world problems to improve surgical safety and efficiency and present these to a judging panel composed of experts in medicine and technology.

Admission is highly competitive and restricted to 24 students per session. Eligible applicants must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program and typically maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA. The application portal opens on January 1, 2026. Tuition for the two-week sessions is $5,500, and the "Better Than Live" option is $2,350; these fees include all meals, scrubs, and training materials. Four fully paid scholarships are available for students with demonstrated financial need.

The program is non-residential, meaning students are responsible for their own housing and transportation. For students committed to a future in medicine, UCI’s Summer Surgery Program is one of the few precollege programs designed specifically to give participating students a genuine look inside the operating room.