In this program, students will cover veterinary surgery by performing mock surgeries and bone-settings, research common afflictions such as canine distemper and rabies. They will also explore various methods of diagnosis, including how to detect pain through physical examinations and how to analyze imaging from x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
This is a competitive admissions summer research program designed for teens.
Thanks to the generosity of the BluePearl Emergency Pet Hospital team and our additional instructors, students explored a variety of veterinary specialties. One day, a surgeon took students through the process of performing an organ transplant, and the next day a veterinarian with her own practice introduced students to veterinary oral health care. Class became more exotic when a zoo animal specialist introduced the zoonotic disease lesson, taking students step by step through the process of diagnosing severe illnesses and threats in non-human primates.
Additional lessons included orthopedics, anesthesia, public health, ophthalmology, toxicology, emergency medicine, neurology, and many more.
Cost and Session Information
July 7 - July 25, 2025 | Gann/Bentley, Waltham, MA
Testimonials(9)
"I personally loved all the different types of specialists we met. I had no idea there were so many different branches a veterinarian can go into. The program only further confirmed who I want to be and what I want to do in life. The visit to the pet hospital was especially educational. That hands-on experience allowed me to see first hand the kind of work vets do on a daily basis."
- Student Comment- July 26, 2019
"The Vet Medicine program was truly such an incredible experience I learned so much on how to read x-rays, detect pain and treat the animal when injured. All teachers were amazing and gave great advice on how to succeed in the profession. Class was always so fun and I was constantly interested in everything that was discussed. The field trips to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital and Southwick Zoo were incredibly informative and such a blast. I am so grateful to have had this amazing opportunity. It definitely made me realize that this is exactly the profession I want to do. Definitely an experience I will never forget! "
- Student Comment- July 26, 2019
"I really liked how we had different teachers and it showed different areas of the ved med. I also liked it when we went on trips and did dissections, especially liked going to BluePearl and seeing all the vets in their element. This course really made me want to be a vet."
- Student Comment- July 26, 2019
"It was a very interesting program. Dr. Van Geel was very knowledgeable and explained new concepts well."
- Student Comment- July 12, 2019
"I liked how we had different teachers because it gave us a chance to see a variety of subjects in veterinary medicine. I also liked having a presentation project because it helped me learn the skills of making the presentation(researching), and actually presenting. Overall, this program at BLI was really fun and I learned a lot."
- Student Comment- July 27, 2018
"I like the fact the program includes many different teachers with different experiences and perspectives. I like learning about different kinds of veterinary medicine in order to have a more complete understanding of the career."
- Student Comment- July 27, 2018
"Everyday a new teacher would come in and teach us about their specialty. What I liked most was the fetal pig dissection and some of the other labs we did. I also really liked touring Blue Pearl because I got to see some of the things we talked about earlier in the program."
- Student Comment- July 27, 2018
'My program was both very educational and fun. Simone was amazing and made everything a whole lot more interesting and engaging. The lessons were well planned and taught us about all sorts of different niches of veterinary medicine. I learned so much and gained so much inspiration to be a veterinarian. A truly wonderful teacher. I also loved how much hands-on experience we got and the field trips were great.'
- Student Comment- July 21, 2017
'She was exceedingly knowledgeable and offered first hand experience from which we would learn. The program overall was enjoyable and educational.'
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