Surgical Interventions + Biomedical Engineering Career Concentration

Explore advanced biomedical technology to design surgical interventions

Rigorous application of design and analysis principles to biological systems has yielded medical breakthroughs so significant that they call into question fundamental assumptions about life as we know it. In this Concentration in surgical interventions and biomedical engineering for high schoolers, you’ll explore technological advances that have us reimagining what may be possible in our living world—from lifespan extension to gene editing to growing synthetic organs. Our only limitation now is our capacity to innovate, test, and scale the best ideas. Explore areas of study and careers in biomedical engineering and surgical interventions.

Session 2
Residential: July 21 – August 9
Commuter: July 22 - August 8

Location:
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Staff to Student Ratio 1:6
Tuition
Residential: $7,895
Commuter: $3,995

Tuition + Financial Aid

Admission Process Enroll Now

Wendy Zenzen

Your guide through this exciting field is Wendy Zenzen. A graduate of Stanford University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Wendy is an experienced physician who patented a revolutionary and widely used catheter design. She focuses in biomedical engineering and radiology, specifically neuroradiology and pediatric interventional radiology.

Program description

In surgical interventions and biomedical engineering for high schoolers, you’ll experience the process of designing and implementing a medical intervention. Learn to interpret medical images and use them to diagnose illnesses and injuries in animal specimens. With a diagnosis in hand, you’ll design a medical solution, check its viability with scaled prototypes, then surgically implant the device you design and build into your specimen. Through simulated surgeries and connecting with medical experts, you’ll discover how the latest biomedical technology is being used to create cutting-edge solutions for the most pressing medical challenges. Gain experience with medical interventions such as: clearing a clogged artery, engineering a replacement MCL, and designing a reconstructive device to heal a bone fracture. As you practice thinking like a biomedical innovator, you’ll decide among various options for sharing and scaling technologies, whether by launching a biomedical start-up, pioneering a new drug, or conducting clinical research. Explore the many areas of study and careers in biomedical engineering and surgical interventions.

Decellularize tissue

The final project in this Concentration in surgical interventions and biomedical engineering for high schoolers is a cardiac tissue bioengineering challenge designed in partnership with Dr. Glenn Gaudette, Chair of the Department of Engineering at Boston College. You will perform a lab-based decellularization technique, an essential process for harvesting an appropriate substrate for growing human cardiac tissue.

Case Studies + Medical Ethics

Confront contentious issues in the field of bioengineering through real-world case studies in stem cell research, gene editing, and synthetic biology.

Prototyping

Design and build prototypes of an original medical device using cutting-edge materials and techniques. This program allows you to experience many areas of study and careers in biomedical engineering and surgical interventions.

Northeastern University Bioengineering Research Lab

Visit a Northeastern University research lab and conduct a strength test of a broken bone, apply a 3D printed orthopedic implant, and retest the strength of the surgically repaired bone — all with the support of a full research lab.

Experience a Day in the Life with Tori

Surgical Interventions + Biomedical Engineering

What Lights Me Up:

“I’m definitely a science geek—biology is my favorite. But I also love puzzles and building things. I see the body as kind of a puzzle, the way all the pieces work together, and can probably see myself going into medicine. And I’m a huge foodie too: Thai, Italian, and southwestern are my top three!”

Tori's Schedule

Advisors + Faculty + Speakers

Take a look at some of the advisors, program faculty, and speakers over the years to get a sense of who has had a hand in shaping our curriculum. You get the real deal here at EXPLO.

Erika Fellinger, MD FACS

General Surgeon, Cambridge Health Alliance

Michelle Sergel, MD

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Rush Medical College

Glenn R. Gaudette, Ph.D.

Inaugural Chair, Engineering Department, Boston College

Jeff Karp, Ph.D.

Professor, Brigham and Women’s Hospital + Harvard Medical School + Principal Faculty, Harvard Stem Cell Institute

Dr. Ellen Roche

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering + Medical Engineering Science, MIT

Dr. Kenneth L. Wilson, MD FACS

Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Chicago

David Mulligan, MD FACS

Chief of Transplant Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital

Earn college credit

All EXPLO Pre-College Career Concentrations offer the opportunity to earn two to three college credits before you even enroll in college.

Learn About College Credit

Everything you need for a summer to remember

Explore future careers as a residential student...

Live the on-campus life with a roommate, meals in the dining hall, and all the support you need from live-in deans, and residence directors and advisors.

Residential Program Details

...or a commuter

Enjoy access to all the same facilities and activities as residential students, with the option to spend three evenings of your choice on campus included in your tuition.

Commuter Program Details

Surgical Interventions + Biomedical engineering

Surgical interventions and biomedical engineering for high schoolers

Explore advanced biomedical technology to design surgical interventions

Find answers to the world's medical challenges

Lead Instructor