Surgical Intern

The FSIE Undergraduate Surgical Internship is a Summer Program designed to provide students with an in-depth experience in general surgery and clinical research. Medical and graduate schools highly value extracurricular and scholarly activities when reviewing applicants. FSIE undergraduate level internships focus on curriculum vitae (resume) building activities. Interns will shadow physicians and/or nurses in the clinic and operating room, receive surgeon lead didactics and participate in hands-on skills labs in the FSIE research laboratory. Interns will also work on research projects tailored to their level of experience. Most undergraduate level interns will have the opportunity to be a part of clinical research projects that will lead to authorship on manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals. Many of our undergraduates have presented their projects at national meetings.

Featured Publications
POEM/Flexible Endoscopic Surgery/NOTES
GERD/Barrett’s/ Esophageal Cancer
Bariatric Surgery
Human Factors/ Surgical Simulation/ Surgical Education
Colorectal Surgery
Liver, Pancreas and Biliary Surgery

POEM Course 2023
BARD HERNIA COURSE
taTME Hands-on Course
Internships
Post-Graduate Fellowships

Featured Publications
POEM/Flexible Endoscopic Surgery/NOTES
GERD/Barrett’s/ Esophageal Cancer
Bariatric Surgery
Human Factors/ Surgical Simulation/ Surgical Education
Colorectal Surgery
Liver, Pancreas and Biliary Surgery

POEM Course 2023
BARD HERNIA COURSE
taTME Hands-on Course
Internships
Post-Graduate Fellowships

Undergraduate Surgical Internship

The formal Summer Surgical Internship is a 5-6 week intensive program with a set curriculum. Many students extend the formal program to stay on and do more independent research depending on their schedules and availability.

Program Directors: Dr Christy Dunst and Dr Lauren Orr
Program Coordinator: Laura Nakata
Administrative Coordinator: Lisa Leeth
OR Education Director: Jason Darnel
Sim Center Education Director: Trihn Stephen

OBJECTIVE
Gain exposure to surgical careers and valuable experience in clinical medical research

Research project: Interns will be assigned a clinical research project to work on during their time with FSIE. Their level of involvement will depend upon their prior experience, time commitment and complexity of the project. Interns will be expected to read relevant medical journal articles, assist in data collection and Institutional Review Board (IRB) proposal writing.
Shadowing: Interns will observe physicians and nurses in the clinic setting and the operating room. Shadowing will include opportunities to focus on a single topic/disease process ideally related to the interns research project. An effort will be made to follow a single patient through the surgical process (initial consultation, testing, surgery, post op).
Attend weekly FSIE Research Meeting (Thursdays 10:00-12:00pm)
Weekly endoscopy skills lab
Suturing workshop
Sterile techniques workshop
Weekly lectures by surgeons
HIPAA training
GI physiology testing
End of program wrap up presentation

Submit the completed online internship application including a CV/resume in PDF format.
Deadline for applications is December 1st. After FSIE committee review, decisions regarding acceptance will be communicated by January 1st.
If accepted, FSIE will contact you for further instructions. You will then be required to provide a digital photo to be distributed to security and staff.
Please be ready to provide a current TB test and routine immunization records and submit to a routine drug screen and background check during orientation week.

Surgical Internships

Description: A semester-long internship designed to provide four pre-medical students exposure to the operating room alongside a diverse team of surgeons. Interns will have the opportunity to observe surgeries and work directly with the attending surgeons to learn first-hand about various procedures and medical pathologies.

Program Director: Dr. Gideon J. Lewis

Assistant Program Director: Darya (Dasha) Sulkouskaya (UCF ‘Spring 25)

Locations: AdventHealth Winter Park

Length of Internship: One semester (Following successful completion of the internship, students will have the opportunity to continue participating in internship-related activities while at UCF)

Shadowing Commitment: Minimum of 4 hours per week (Average Total Shadowing Hours

Completed by Past Interns: 150-200 hours)

Case Studies: Interns will be required to write three peer-reviewed case studies. One will be presented at the end-of-the-semester banquet.

Monthly Surgical Workshop Attendance: Required

– Each month, an attending surgeon of the program will host a hands-on and interactive surgical workshop related to their own surgical specialty. Workshops are mandatory for interns and optional for past interns.

Monthly Meeting with the Masters Attendance: Required

– Throughout the semester, interns will have the opportunity to participate in interactive roundtable discussions with leaders from various industries, including but not limited to: government, business, athletics, entertainment, etc.

Minimum GPA: 3.5

Other requirements:

Completion of application on Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences webpage
Unofficial copy of transcripts/academic audit
Personal Resume
“Weekly View” of Fall or Spring class schedule

Interview: Following a comprehensive selection process, ten applicants will be interviewed by the Program Director and Assistant Directors prior to the start of each semester. Interviews will take place on the University of Central Florida’s Main Campus.

Program Orientation: The first UCF Surgical Internship Orientation will take place during the late afternoon or early evening during the first week of the semester. Details regarding the specific date—and about the second orientation—will be released later in the selection process.

Academic Credit: Registration for MCB 4941 (required ONLY for selected Program Participants – one credit), graded S/U

Expenses: Commuting