Stay academically engaged this summer with a course at the Larner College of Medicine as part of the University of Vermont’s Summer University. Designed for learners at all stages, from precollege students and undergraduates to graduate students and working professionals, these courses provide opportunities to earn academic credit, explore emerging health issues, and advance career goals.
Flexible learning options accommodate busy summer schedules, with offerings available in concentrated four-week sessions in person, online, and in hybrid formats.
Public Health Courses Addressing Environmental and Social Challenges
Summer courses at the Larner College of Medicine emphasize public health topics related to environmental factors and social determinants of health, with several offerings open to learners beyond traditional health care disciplines.
Climate Change Emergencies May 18–June 26
Climate Change Emergenices examines the public health challenges posed by floods, droughts, extreme heat, wildfires, and disruptions to food systems. The course explores how these events can contribute to complex humanitarian crises, civil unrest, military conflict, and large-scale migration, while also considering policy implications.
This course is taught by Langdon Lawrence, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Public Health, and is open to all students, including those without a health care background. The fully online and asynchronous format allows participants to complete the work on their own schedule.
Sophia Piffard, who earned a neuroscience degree in 2021 and completed a master of public health degree in 2025, credits the course for guiding her career toward environmentally focused community health.
“I felt empowered by understanding the mechanisms of climate change and equipped with the skills to become a leader in this field,” Piffard said. “Regardless of major or career trajectory, the Earth connects us all and the time is now to prioritize the health of the planet. I walked away with a deeper understanding of the cascading, overlapping effects of climate change on the Earth and its inhabitants.”
Social Determinants of Health May 18–June 26
Taught by Melanie Meyers, N.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Public Health, this three-credit course examines the major social factors that influence population health. The course analyzes how inequities in social structures contribute to health disparities and unequal outcomes.
Dr. Meyers is a naturopathic physician whose work integrates lifestyle and preventative medicine into chronic disease care. Her clinical experience serving Vermonters across a range of socioeconomic backgrounds sparked her passion for reducing community- and population-level health disparities.
This course is offered in an asynchronous online format and is open to graduate-level students in any specialty, as well as other learners with instructor permission.
Global Mental Health June 29–August 7
Dr. Meyers also teaches Global Mental Health, a three-credit course that explores how mental illness is defined and addressed across diverse cultural contexts. Topics include mental health identification, innovative treatment and prevention strategies, and the influence of culture on mental health promotion efforts.
The course is asynchronous and online, open to all graduate-level students in any specialty, and to other learners with instructor permission.
Additional Summer Learning Opportunities
Beyond Larner College of Medicine offerings, community members—including adult learners and high school students—can enroll in summer courses such as Wild First Aid, Plant-Based Medicine, and Biomedical Science & Human Disease through UVM Professional and Continuing Education (PACE).
PACE also offers summer start dates for programs including the Certificate in Gerontology, the Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Certificate, the Grief and Bereavement Specialist Certificate, the Integrative Healthcare Certificate, and more.
Together, these offerings reflect UVM’s commitment to accessible, interdisciplinary education that addresses pressing public health and community needs.
Learn more about Summer University and Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Vermont.
