15 Free Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
For high school students interested in medicine, summer programs offer a hands-on way to explore healthcare, build foundational skills, and gain exposure to real-world medical settings. Whether you're shadowing physicians, participating in clinical simulations, or assisting with research, these experiences can deepen your understanding of the field and help you explore potential career paths.
Many of the programs on this list are free or fully funded, making them accessible to students regardless of financial background. Hosted by leading hospitals, universities, and healthcare organizations, they also provide opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and college readiness.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve curated a list of 15 free medical summer programs for high school students eager to explore the world of healthcare.
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) Program - Bioengineering Internship
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Stipend: At least a $500 stipend, but those from underrepresented groups in biomedical research may get $1500 through special grants.
Acceptance Rate: Less than 3%
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years of age are eligible.
The SIMR Bioengineering Internship is an intensive 8-week program where you'll collaborate one-on-one with a Stanford graduate student or postdoctoral fellow on cutting-edge biomedical research. Offering research opportunities across eight disciplines — including immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, cardiovascular medicine, bioengineering, and bioinformatics. This program provides hands-on experience, personalized mentorship, and workshops on data analysis, scientific methods, and professional development.
With an acceptance rate below 3%, SIMR is highly competitive, admitting around 50 students each year. In the final two weeks, you'll design a research poster and present your findings to peers, mentors, and the Stanford community.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: High school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
The Veritas AI Internship Program, led by Harvard graduates, is an 8-week opportunity for students with AI/ML experience to work on real-world projects with VC-backed startups. Mentors come from top institutions like Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey. Interns gain hands-on experience, network with industry professionals, collaborate with company leaders, and receive a completion letter at the end.
Location: Remote
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee. Financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 25 students per year
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Eligibility: U.S. high school students 14+ with a background in math, computer science, or healthcare are preferred.
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a two-week virtual program designed for high school students interested in machine learning in healthcare. The curriculum covers core AI concepts, evaluation methods, and real-world challenges, offering a deep dive into how AI enhances patient care and medical research.
Participants engage in live lectures, group discussions, coding workshops, and career talks with industry experts. Working in teams, students analyze healthcare data and explore AI-driven solutions to improve medical outcomes.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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 is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
5. Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston/Cambridge/Somerville, MA
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Application Deadline: January 31
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or recent graduates who live or study in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program supports underrepresented high school students interested in neurology. Participants meet neurologists, explore careers, and gain hands-on research experience.
A pre-program boot camp covers essential research skills, and each student works with an MGH Neurology faculty mentor on a project. The program concludes with a research presentation, with support for publishing work and applying for awards.
6. Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science Summer Research Program
Location: Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: Third week of June until the second week of August (8 Weeks)
Eligibility:
Must be 16 years old by the program start date
Currently enrolled in high school
Students must be entering sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school
GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or all A’s and B’s in math and science classes
The RITMS Summer Research Program is an 8-week biomedical internship focused on translational medicine. Interns join research teams, contribute to projects, and explore how scientific discoveries become clinical treatments. With mentored lab work, discussions, and career sessions, participants study disease mechanisms, drug development, and healthcare innovation, gaining hands-on experience in experiment planning, data analysis, and research presentation.
7. UCSF’s CURE Research Internship Program
Location: The University of California, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: February 16
Program Dates:
Orientation: June 12 – 13
Internship: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Currently in 11th grade (high school) or enrolled at CCSF (community college); at least 16 years old by program start; minimum GPA of 2.5; completed Biology or Chemistry with a grade of B or higher
In the CURE Program, you will gain hands-on research experience under the guidance of UCSF faculty, post-docs, and graduate students. The program is designed to support educationally disadvantaged students and provide them with opportunities in biomedical research, including basic, clinical, behavioral, and population sciences. You will learn how to conduct experiments, analyze data, and present your findings. At the end of the program, you will showcase your research at the Research Symposium, gaining valuable experience in scientific communication.
In addition to research training, this is one of those summer internships for high school students in the Bay Area that also offers college and career planning support. You will receive advice, application guidance, and professional skills training to help you succeed in science and healthcare.
8. The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford
Location: Institutes of Medicine, Stanford University, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; students with financial needs may receive a $3,000 stipend
Application Deadline: February 23
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility:
Rising high school juniors or seniors; 16 years old by program start
Must live and attend high school in select Northern California counties (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz)
GPA: Minimum cumulative unweighted 3.0 (including Fall 2024 grades)
Must have a computer and internet for the internship
The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) is a six-week program for rising high school juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds. Participants work with Stanford faculty and researchers, gaining hands-on experience in science, medicine, and research while completing a research project.
Designed for students with little or no prior research experience, PIPS introduces them to biological sciences and medical research. The program supports diversity in medicine and science, encouraging students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in these fields.
9. HOPP Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22
Eligibility:
Live in NY, NJ, or CT within 25 miles of the center
Have a 3.5 GPA in science subjects,
Be eligible to work in the United States, and be at least 14 years old by June
The HOPP Summer Student Program at MSKCC is an 8-week internship for students interested in translational cancer research. Participants conduct independent research, attend training sessions, and tour labs at one of the world’s leading cancer centers.
With an acceptance rate below 10%, this prestigious program places students in biomedical or computational labs under the guidance of a HOPP principal investigator and mentor. Research covers various cancer types using cutting-edge technologies.
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Stipend: $2,400
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 30 – July 25
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors
Johns Hopkins’ ISPEED program is a four-week residential internship focused on biology, life sciences, healthcare design, and biomedical engineering. Run by JHU’s School of Medicine, it offers project-based learning, research talks, field trips, and hands-on lab work. Participants work at the BME Design Studio and Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab, gaining skills in computer programming, machine learning, and scientific computing. The program ends with a final showcase, where students present their projects.
11. ResearcHStart at the University of Chicago
Location: This program involves multiple institutions and will be held at various locations in Chicago and Urbana-Champaign.
Stipend: $3,000
Application Deadline: January 20
Program Dates: 8 weeks; typically from mid-June to the first week of August.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program are eligible.
ResearcHStart is a highly competitive cancer research program run by UChicago, UIUC, UIC, Northwestern, and Rush University. Each year, 30 students gain hands-on experience in cancer immunology, bioengineering, experimental therapeutics, and disparities.
Participants train in top labs, attend career workshops, and connect with faculty and mentors. The program concludes with a research symposium, where students present their findings.
12. High School Internship Program at Kaiser Permanente
Location: The internship is conducted at most KP locations across the country.
Stipend: $15.50 - $18 per hour
Application Deadline: Applications typically close at the end of December (tentative, based on previous years).
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: Students aged 16-19 can apply
This seven-week paid internship provides hands-on experience in healthcare fields like nursing, pharmacy, and laboratory sciences. Participants work alongside professionals, shadow experts, and attend educational workshops. The program also includes weekly skill-building sessions and networking opportunities with mentors, supervisors, and industry leaders.
13. Medical Student Research Internship Program at Scripps Research Translational Institute
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: A stipend will be provided
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8 or June 16 – August 22
Eligibility: Highly motivated students in high school who will be at least 16 years old before the internship begins can apply.
This competitive 10-week internship selects 40 students nationwide for a college-level research experience in translational science and precision medicine. Participants explore digital health, clinical genomics, and community engagement while learning study design and clinical trial analysis. By the program’s end, students present a scientific concept to peers and mentors, gaining valuable research and analytical skills.
Location: Students can choose their research location
Stipend: $2,500
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: Start dates are set by the coordinating center and mentor. High school students must begin by early June and complete 8–10 weeks of research.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and have a GPA of 3.0 or above are eligible.
This federally funded program offers biomedical research opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. Participants work with a mentor, conduct research at their chosen institution, and develop lab skills in biology, genetics, neuroscience, and more. Beyond hands-on experience, students receive ongoing mentorship for up to 9 months after completing their research.
15. Summer High School Research Internship at the Houston Methodist
Location: Students can choose their research location – local colleges, hospitals, schools, or private research labs.
Stipend: $2,500 - $6,000
Application deadline: January 31
Program dates: June 9 – August 1
Eligibility: Currently completing your junior or senior year, at least 16 years of age
The Houston Methodist Summer High School Research Internship offers hands-on experience in medical research and healthcare. Students work with undergraduates, conduct independent projects, and receive guided mentorship in translational research. The program includes lab work, scientific writing training, and career development sessions. It culminates in a research symposium, where students present their findings to scientists, students, and staff.