15 Online Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student curious about medicine, online medical summer programs for high school students are a smart way to start exploring the field without committing to an in-person program. Medical summer (and virtual!) programs let you explore subjects such as anatomy, public health, and medical research, without the high cost of in-person camps. Many of these programs are offered by leading universities and organizations, giving you access to expert instructors, interactive learning, and even networking opportunities with peers and professionals. Beyond classroom learning, these programs often focus on practical skills and real-world experiences, helping you see what a future in medicine might look like.
For students passionate about careers in healthcare, online medical summer programs for high school students are a great way to test your interests before college. To make it easier to find the best options, we’ve put together a list of the top 15 online medical summer programs for high school students. Each program runs during the summer months, is fully virtual, and connects you directly with the world of medicine and healthcare.
1. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,595
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: Generally in March
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 14–18
CNV-X is a selective, online neuroscience program that explores psychiatry, psychology, and behavioral science. Each day includes live lectures by Stanford faculty, interactive discussions, and small-group capstone projects focused on real-world psychiatric and social challenges. You will dive into a variety of topics, from AI in neuroscience and neuroimaging, to mindfulness, trauma, and ethics in clinical care. The program ends with a presentation, where you and your team share your project with peers, faculty, and family.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships, started by Harvard entrepreneurs, connect high school students with leading startups in fields such as AI, health tech, finance, and media. The program lets you take on projects that match your interests while working directly with startup teams. Across eight weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience, collaborate with company founders and leaders, and build real-world skills that will help you explore future career paths. With a flexible commitment of just 5–10 hours per week,,, it’s a great way to strengthen your skills and explore career paths.
3. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Application Fee: $40 | Participation Fee : $850
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering grades 9–12 in fall 2025, aged 14 or older at the program’s start
This two-week Stanford AIMI (Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging) is an online medical summer programs for high school students that gives a look into how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare. Each day blends technical lectures with research projects, where you will collaborate with Stanford student leads and faculty mentors. The program also includes sessions on Virtual Career Lunch & Learns, social activities, and the option to continue with an extended independent research project. At the end of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school; students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective research opportunity designed for ambitious high school students interested in real research. It provides personalized 1-on-1 mentorship with Ph.D. scholars, allowing you to dive deep into an independent research project of your choice. Over the course of 12 weeks, you’ll work closely with your mentor to develop a research paper on a topic that excites you. You can explore diverse fields such as psychology, physics, economics, computer science, engineering, data science, chemistry, international relations, and more, making it a great way to gain early exposure to academic research.
5. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: In-person and virtual
Stipend: Virtual interns earn a $500 scholarship upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: June - August; virtual program runs for 5 weeks
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (in the US for the virtual program and in Baltimore City, MD for the in-person program) from underrepresented backgrounds are eligible to apply
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) introduces high school students to neuroscience research through online seminars and hands-on projects. You will explore topics such as brain anatomy, neurological disorders, and research methods, while gaining practical lab experience. The program combines educational lectures with fundamental lab practices and experiments. You will also get a closer look at career paths in neuroscience and related disciplines, helping you to discover what a future in the field looks like.
6. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Location: In-person and virtual
Cost: Virtual program fee: $4,380
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Program Dates: Virtual session: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: generally in early June
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors (16+) and seniors, as well as undergrad pre-med students
The virtual Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) program offers high school students an introduction to clinical practice. Using case-based learning and medical simulations, you’ll explore different medical specialties and gain a better understanding of patient care. This online medical summer program for high school students also includes interactive sessions with medical students, residents, and admissions officers, as well as discussions on medical ethics and the healthcare system, giving you a well-rounded perspective on what a career in clinical medicine looks like.
7. Eve & Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program (Virtual Sessions)
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: None
Acceptance rate / cohort size:
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7 – 17 | Session 2: July 21 – 31
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Open to current 11th and 12th graders residing or attending school in Los Angeles and adjacent counties
The virtual Eve & Gene Black Summer Medical Career mentorship program is designed specifically for high school students interested in the field of medicine. Through virtual sessions with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, you’ll explore different medical careers and understand the daily responsibilities of practitioners across specialties. You will take part in interactive discussions with general pediatricians as well as specialists such as surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, infectious disease experts, ophthalmologists, radiologists, child life specialists, and various therapists (physical, speech, occupational, or cognitive). At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion recognizing your achievement.
8. Dartmouth Precollege Online – Regenerative Medicine: Healing with Science
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Courses are offered year-round, including the summer months, and are available in various formats such as two- or four-week sessions
Application Deadline: Applications are processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to high school students ages 13 and above
The Dartmouth Precollege Online Program lets high school students experience college-level learning through video lessons and personalized mentor guidance. You can explore a variety of subjects—from regenerative medicine and psychology to biology and finance—taught by Dartmouth instructors. Each course includes a final capstone project where you apply your learning and receive direct feedback from a mentor. At the end of the program, you will earn a Dartmouth Certificate of Completion.
9. Zon Lab – Camp Zon
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: July 14 - 25
Application Deadline: Generally in late April
Eligibility: Open to high school students or rising college freshmen, aged 16 or older
Camp Zon is a two-week online research program where high school students focus on anemia studies using zebrafish as a model system. You’ll gain hands-on experience contributing to experiment design, data analysis, and presenting your results, while also attending lectures by leading scientists and learning basic coding skills. This paid opportunity allows you to explore cancer biology and blood development, while sharpening their critical thinking and presentation abilities. You will also participate in career guidance sessions and interactive Q&A sessions with laboratory researchers, thus gaining insights into a scientific career.
10. Cornell Precollege Studies
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,940 per credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Enrollment is capped at 30 students
Dates: June 23 - August 1
Application Deadline: December 2
Eligibility: High school students with at least one semester of introductory biology
The Cornell Precollege Studies course dives into the microscopic world of contagious diseases by exploring the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis—how microbes detect, bind, and invade host cells. You’ll analyze microbial toxins, host defenses, and how pathogens evolve alongside their hosts. The program includes small-group discussions and poster sessions, helping you to practice crafting scientific arguments, and interpreting medical microbiology literature. This is a good opportunity to understand the science behind contagious diseases.
11. UC San Diego – Research Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive with limited enrollment per program
Program Dates: Timing varies by subject area and format—ranging from short-term to several-week sessions over the summer
Application Deadline: Deadlines are listed individually for each track and format
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; subject prerequisites may apply
The virtual UC San Diego’s Research Scholars Program gives high school students an opportunity to participate in specialized research in areas such as bioengineering, life sciences, marine science, and business. You will gain hands-on experience through lab experiments, case study analysis, and simulations. Focused tracks such as the Institute of Engineering in Medicine and Business Research will help you in developing strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, while preparing you for future STEM or business studies.
12. Wake Forest University – Pre-College Online Medical Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Each course is priced at up to $1,595
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Program Dates: Courses run throughout the year in flexible 2 and 4-week session formats
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and above
Wake Forest’s Pre-college online medical program gives high school students a practical way of exploring health-related fields—from general medicine to cancer, sports, women’s health, bioscience, and psychology. Taught by the Wake Forest School of Medicine faculty, each course combines lectures and simulations with mentor support. At the end, you will complete a capstone project to showcase your learning and receive a Certificate of Completion from Wake Forest University.
13. UCLA Summer Sessions – Online Medical Courses for High School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Tuition varies by course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Program Dates: Multiple sessions available
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 or older by the start of the program
UCLA’s Summer Online program offers high school students a unique opportunity to experience college-level learning from anywhere. You can select from a diverse range of courses in subjects such as sciences, engineering, humanities and pre-med studies. These classes are designed to match UCLA’s academic pace and academic quality, with video lectures taught by world-class professors. You will have to do readings and assignments, as part of the program.
14. Columbia University – Online Medical Research Courses (Pre-College Summer Program)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: 1-week course: $2,815 | 2-week course: $3,965 per session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: Session A (2 weeks): July 7 – 18, 2025 | Session B (2 weeks): July 21 – August 1, 2025 | Session C (1 week): August 11 – 15
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; applications remain open on a space-available basis
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program allows high school students to explore challenging courses in medicine and health. You can take classes on Introduction to Human Physiology, Neuroscience, Public Health and Epidemiology to help you build a strong foundation for a career in the medical sciences. Through interactive lectures, discussions, and projects with Columbia faculty, you’ll gain first-hand exposure to current medical research and practices. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Columbia University Certificate of Participation and an evaluation letter highlighting your performance.
15. UC Irvine School of Medicine – Summer Online Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Program Dates: Session One: June 23 – July 11 | Session Two: July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically closes in late January or early February
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–18, with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3/4.0
The UCI Summer Online Research Program is a three-week experience that gives high school students an introduction to healthcare research methods. You will learn how to develop hypotheses, design experiments, and critically assess scientific literature, building a strong foundation for a career in medical research. Students from underserved communities in Southern California may be eligible for scholarships. Throughout the program, you will receive mentorship from UCI undergraduates, graduate students, and medical students, all guided by a faculty mentor from the School of Medicine.
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