Inspiring the Future

Advance in Medicine is a fully-funded, five-day summer camp designed for high school and undergraduate students exploring careers in healthcare. Since its inception in 2022, the camp has focused on uplifting future healthcare professionals and emphasizing the importance of representation in medicine.
This year's program was led by directors Ses Yasumaru, Katelynne Au, and Eliette Seo, with support from dedicated faculty and second-year medical student volunteers. Planning began back in January 2025 and the directors were kept busy with coordinating volunteer schedules, ordering materials, promoting the camp, solidifying camp activities, and organizing meals. A conscious effort was made to support local businesses in Elk Grove and Sacramento, with catering provided by Duc Huong, Halal Shop, Bad Bakers, La Esperanza, Honu Hawaiian, and more!

When it came to recruiting camp attendees, applications were distributed through targeted outreach to high schools in the Elk Grove Unified School District, local community colleges, and nonprofits serving underrepresented youth. "We wanted to prioritize students who may not have had previous access to healthcare experiences or mentorship," said Eliette. "It's a privilege to be in this space as medical students, and we feel a responsibility to open the door for others."

The camp opened with a welcome in Room 1A-where medical students attend lectures-and each student received a stethoscope as part of their introduction to clinical learning. The goal was to provide a genuine glimpse into medical education and help students envision their place in the field.

Each day was packed with immersive, hands-on learning. A standout moment was the Mentorship Mixer, where students shared lunch with professionals across diverse fields including pharmacy, biomedical research, anatomy, cardiology, OB/GYN, surgery, education, and emergency and internal medicine. "It was incredibly heartwarming and moving to see so many passionate professionals come together to share their life stories with the campers and inspire them to explore careers in healthcare," said Ses.

Student favorites included the Suture Clinic, where they practiced stitching on pads and tangerines, and the Anatomy Dissection, featuring real sheep hearts to teach cardiac anatomy. "Watching our workshops come to life with the help of our medical student volunteers was incredibly rewarding. Seeing our campers' excitement to learn and enthusiasm for the material made all the preparation and planning feel truly worthwhile," said Katelynne.

On the final day, students participated in Code Blue, a dynamic simulation in which teams were assigned emergency response roles and tasked with treating coding "patients"-intubation mannequins on gurneys in the Simulation Lab. The surprise addition of megaphones and alarms added urgency and excitement as students raced through the halls in response.

The week concluded with a reflective and heartfelt closing ceremony, where participants and volunteers shared memories and celebrated the relationships, growth, and inspiration fostered throughout the program.

Advance in Medicine 2025 was not only a week of academic enrichment-it was a celebration of community, mentorship, and potential. The camp will continue to grow and change as new leadership steps in, but the mission will remain the same: to create an empowering space for the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.

A Special Thank You We extend our deepest gratitude to the Northern California Education Fund for their incredibly generous donation. Your support has not only made this camp possible, but also helped ignite the dreams of future physicians, young minds who will one day change the world through compassion, curiosity, and care. This camp is a testament to your belief in their potential. This is for you, and because of you. Thank you!