Do you have a special passion for animals or pet care? Do the fields of biology, zoology, and medicine pique your interest? At the NSLC on Veterinary Medicine, you will get to step into the veterinary world and learn animal handling techniques, receive lectures on a variety of specialties in veterinary medicine, and receive training for important clinical skills.
Program Highlights
Clinical experiences
Learn and practice suturing and animal restraint techniques.
Visit medical facilities
Interact with practicing veterinarians, veterinary students, and nurses in veterinary hospitals.
Clinical Simulation
Participate in a challenging patient diagnostic simulation.
Dates & Locations
UPenn School of Veterinary Medicine
Philadelphia, PA (Housed at Drexel University)
- July 15 – July 23
- July 27 – August 4
- August 8 – August 16
Hands-on Simulations
Learn what it takes to work with animals in an everchanging profession! The NSLC program will allow you to practice relevant, hands-on skills, including: suturing, performing a physical exam, preparing yourself and your patient for surgery, and giving injections. You will use your communication skills to visit a client with a pet and, with your team, diagnose the animal and come up with a treatment plan! In addition, the NSLC will introduce you to various different career paths within the veterinary field.
While at the NSLC you will:
- Learn how to perform a physical examination
- Communicate with clients and practice diagnosing pets
- Study the anatomy of organs from a variety of animals
- Observe unique pathology and imaging cases
Exclusive Guest Speakers
While at the NSLC’s veterinary medicine summer program for high school students, you will meet with and learn from professionals in the veterinary world.
Examples of past guest speakers include:
Dr. Andrew Hoffman, DVM, DVSc
Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Penn Vet
Dr. Elizabeth Arbittier, BA, VMD
Clinical Equine Field Service, Penn Vet
Dr. Amy Durham, BA, MS, VMD
Faculty Director of Comparative Pathology, Penn Vet
Robert DiMeo
Director for Admissions, Penn Vet
Dr. Erica Miller, DVM
Wildlife Veterinarian
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
An important part of the NSLC is seeing the sites around some of our nation’s greatest cities. These trips are designed as both sightseeing tours and exclusive educational trips specifically tailored to the area of veterinary medicine:
- University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
- Ryan Veterinary Hospital for Small Animals
- The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Philadelphia Zoo
- Adventure Aquarium
- Independence National Historical Park
Leadership Development
At the heart of the NSLC is a leadership curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Leadership topics tailored to the youth leadership program on Veterinary Medicine include:
- Personality Styles and Group Dynamics
- Conflict Resolution
- Negotiation
- Public Speaking
- Intrapersonal Communication
Your NSLC tuition is all-inclusive. Your tuition covers course materials, housing, on-campus meals, social events and transportation throughout your program.
We offer a comprehensive scholarship program to assist qualified students with the cost of NSLC tuition, based on financial need, academic merit and extracurriculars.
Fundraising is a great way to raise funds to contribute toward your NSLC program tuition while also forging relationships with leaders in your community.