Frequently Asked Questions

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The American Academy of Medicine and Surgery (AAMS) is a community of learning and connection for young aspiring physicians and surgeons. Through the Academy, you can apply to our highly selective surgical skills summer programs in cardiothoracic and trauma surgery.

Yes! Some students each year enroll in all three programs. This requires acceptance into each program independently. Some students also complete the Basic-Intermediate Program one summer and plan on doing both the Advanced and Trauma Programs the following summer.

The Fellowships are extremely selective opportunities for students that have excelled in the Programs. You must have completed the prerequisite Program to be able to apply for the Fellowships. The Dr. Gates Fellowship in Surgical Education and the Dr. Singh Fellowship in Surgical Education allow interns to undergo rigorous training and serve as Teaching Assistants (TAs) for the Basic - Intermediate and Advanced Programs respectively. The Dr. Lam & Dr. Sandhu Fellows in Trauma Surgery will be awarded a week-long shadowing opportunity with Dr. Lam and Dr. Sandhu within clinics and ORs at the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, and the Keck Hospital of USC. For more info visit the Fellowships site.

The Basic – Intermediate Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Summer Internship is held at the West Los Angeles/West Beverly Hills Marriott next to the UCLA campus. Students will develop hands-on skills with surgical-grade instruments, porcine hearts, and instruction from world-renowned surgeons.