Medicine Institute
Explore the transformative power of medicine
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute is an unforgettable experience for high school students. Interested in donning the white coat, but not sure what being a healthcare professional is really like? Gain hands-on experience in the medical field and insight into the many career opportunities available within the various disciplines of medicine. You’ll visit healthcare facilities in Winston-Salem, participate in simulations and labs, and learn basic skills like taking blood pressure and suturing.
At a Glance
2026 Dates: To be announced by November 1
Program Length: Sunday – Friday, overnight
Who Can Apply?: Current 9th – 12th grade students
Tuition: $3,400
*Tuition is subject to change per year
Location: Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus
**Courses carry no secondary school or college credit. Upon completion of the program, an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all Medicine Institute participants.
What You’ll Experience
Topics Covered:
- Internal Medicine
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Neurology
- Ultrasound
- Cancer Care
- Surgery
Hands-On Experiences:
- On-site visit to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
- Tour the Wake Forest School of Medicine and participate in simulation labs
- Explore technology and the latest in medical advances within the hospital including the rehab center and cardiac cath lab
- Practice taking blood pressure, listening to the heart and lungs, interviewing standardized patients, working in a suture lab, and conducting an ultrasound
- Interact, network, and engage with medical school students
*Hands-on experiences are subject to change.
A Day in the Life
Typical Daily Schedule
- 8:00 am – Morning Meeting and Breakfast
- 9:00 am – Welcome and Program Introduction
- 9:30 am – Guest Speaker: Pursuing Pre-Med in College
- 10:30 am – Travel to Hospital
- 11:00 am – Guest Speaker: Research in Medicine
- 11:30 am – Pathways to Healthcare: Medical Student Panel
- 12:00 pm – Lunch
- 12:45 pm – Station 1: Ultrasound Lab
- 1:35 pm – Station 2: Birthing Simulation
- 2:30 pm – Station 3: Respiratory Management
- 3:30 pm – Station 4: Cardiovascular Simulation
- 4:10 pm – Tour of Wake Forest School of Medicine
- 4:30 pm – Travel to Wake Forest University Main Campus
- 5:30 pm – Dinner
- 6:30 pm – Evening Activities
- 7:30 pm – Free Time
- 9:00 pm – Prepare for Bed
- 10:30 pm – Lights Out
*The “A Day in the Life” sample schedule is subject to change.
Meet the Academic Leader
Christina Rinaldi, DO
Academic Leader, Medicine Institute
Christina Rinaldi is an Assistant Professor of General Internal Medicine at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist with a passion for medication education. She currently serves as a Medical Student Clinical Skills Coach for 1st and 2nd-year medical students, in addition to teaching Internal Medicine physicians in training at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Rinaldi is from Sanibel Island, Florida, and obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 2014. For her medical degree, she attended the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Suwanee, GA Campus, graduating in 2018. Dr. Rinaldi has been a resident of Winston Salem, NC, for six+ years. It is also where she completed her three years of Internal Medicine residency training, along with an additional fourth year as a chief resident, at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Rinaldi’s current interests include caring for patients in both the hospital and clinic settings. She values the opportunity to work alongside and educate students and physicians simultaneously.
Sarah Maus, MD
Academic Leader, Medicine Institute
Sarah Maus is an Assistant Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. She cares for patients in both the ICU and outpatient Pulmonary clinic, with clinical and academic interests in interstitial lung disease and critical care medicine. Dr. Maus teaches medical students, residents, and fellows and integrates bedside didactics and mentorship into her practice.
Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Maus earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 2013, followed by her medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 2018. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Wake Forest, served an additional year as chief resident, and finished her Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine fellowship at Wake Forest in 2025.
Her professional goals center on delivering compassionate, evidence-based care for her patients, while advancing medical education for learners at every level. She’s excited to meet future healthcare professionals to explore what a career in medicine involves.
