About Infectious Disease Summer Academy
infectious disease summer ACADEMY
The Infectious Disease Summer Academy (IDSA) focuses on the basic science research, clinical applications, and public health of the field of infectious disease and microbiology. Laboratory learning experiences include microbiology testing, bacteria gram-staining, and Kirby-Bauer testing. Clinical learning experiences include simulating a collection of infectious disease samples, dissecting placentas, observing healthcare professionals to identify methods that reduce transmission of infectious diseases. Public health learning experiences include discussions of the social dynamics that contribute to HIV infection. The health risk-behavior workshops of IDSA focus on behaviors to prevent the spread of respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases.
IDSA Design, stakeholders and goals
IDSA was first offered in 2010 to a group of 14 high school students from Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago. Learn more about the founding story of WHSP. The foundation of the Infectious Disease Summer Academy is the high school-university science community model. Learn more about why the WHSP model was created. High school girls, their parents/guardians, science professionals, and university students have defined and active roles in the IDSA. Learn more about the stakeholders of IDSA.
IDSA consists of five modules that are delivered during one week in the month of July. Learn more about the design of IDSA. IDSA is designed specifically for high school girls to: (1) experience laboratory and clinical procedures conducted in the fields of infectious disease and microbiology; (2) explore and prepare for careers in the fields of infectious disease and microbiology; (3) develop science mentoring relationships with science professionals and university students who research and practice in the fields of infectious disease and microbiology; and (4) to be empowered with women’s health knowledge that is embedded in the fields of infectious disease and microbiology. Learn more about the goals of IDSA.
idsa academy leaders
Patricia Garcia, MD, MPH, Sarah Sutton, MD, and Melissa Simon, MD, MPH are the IDSA academy leaders. These three prominent women physicians work together as a team to collaborate with education management to set the direction of the academy curriculum. They identify fellow scientists and clinicians in their departments to facilitate the authentic science and health learning experiences to the high school students in the state-of-the-art research and clinical facilities at Northwestern University.
Patricia Garcia, MD, MPH
Presidential Advisory Council on HIV-AIDS
Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Sarah Sutton, MD
Assistant Professor in Medicine-Infectious Diseases
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Melissa Simon, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology-General and Medical Social Sciences
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
