Top 15 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
Summer programs for high school students are a great way for you to explore potential careers, gain practical experience, and build professional connections. These programs are often hosted by prestigious colleges and organizations, making them an impressive and accessible option if you’re looking to dive deeper into your interests. Many summer programs for high school students offer hands-on learning, exposure to real-world environments, and a head start on future academic and career goals.
If you’re interested in medicine, these experiences can be eye-opening. From shadowing doctors to conducting research, medical summer programs give you a chance to test your passion early on. That’s why we’ve carefully selected the top 15 medical summer programs for high school students to help you discover the best opportunities out there!
1. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11 and 12 from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical science
The SHIP program at Fred Hutch Cancer Center offers an eight-week paid internship for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical sciences. You’ll begin with two weeks of immersive training, learning lab techniques like DNA isolation, sterile technique, and gel electrophoresis. For the next six weeks, you’ll join a research group, working alongside a mentor and contributing to real-world scientific projects.
You’ll also attend seminars on ethics, health disparities, data visualization, and college prep. Throughout the program, you’ll gain exposure to research culture, learn valuable skills, and conclude with a final presentation shared with your peers, mentors, and family.
Location: Remote
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; May 11 for the regular admission deadline for the summer cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; the summer cohort starts on June 2
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships offers an 8-week virtual internship experience for driven high school students. You’ll be placed in a selective, fast-growing startup from industries such as medicine and health tech—many with over $1 million in funding. Throughout the internship, you’ll work on real projects alongside startup managers and receive mentorship from a dedicated Ladder Coach. You’ll also present your work directly to the company.
The program is ideal if you're looking to build your resume, gain professional experience, and explore different career paths in a startup environment. You can view potential internship roles in medicine here.
3. Veritas AI's AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Multiple rolling deadlines
Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Dates: Jun 9 - Aug 11 (Sundays, 11 AM - 1:30 PM EST)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience.
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine program, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You will get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
4. Harvard Medical School Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: February 3
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Eligibility: Boston and Cambridge high school students; ages 16 and above by the program start date; a minimum GPA of 2.70
As one of the top summer programs for high school students, Harvard Medical School’s Project Success program gives high school students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to explore biomedical careers through a seven-week, paid internship. You’ll work in a research lab with mentoring from scientists and physicians.
Beyond the lab, you’ll attend seminars, hospital site visits, and workshops on writing, speaking, and computer skills. The program also provides academic year support through special seminars and career guidance. You’ll receive mentorship from faculty and get to attend seminars at affiliated hospitals and biotech companies.
5. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins, Baltimore + Virtual
Stipend: $15/hour (in-person only)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: 8 weeks (in-person) or 5 weeks (virtual) in the summer
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors living in Baltimore City (in-person) or anywhere in the U.S. or Canada (virtual)
As one of the best summer programs for high school students, the Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS), hosted at the Department of Neurology, lets you explore neuroscience through mentored research and clinical experiences. You'll join faculty-led research projects, attend seminars, meet Johns Hopkins scientists, and shadow neurologists.
Weekly sessions focus on career planning and professional growth. At the end, you’ll present your work through an oral or poster presentation. JHIBS is designed to help you discover a future in neuroscience and medicine while supporting you with mentorship, transportation funds, and real-world exposure.
6. The Wistar Institute High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: Wistar Institute, Philadelphia
Stipend: $1,500
Cohort Size: 15 students
Application Deadline: April 7
Dates: July 7 – 31
Eligibility: High school students; at least 16 by the program start; have at least one completed high school science course; Philadelphia high school students are preferred
Wistar’s High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research gives 15 high school students a four-week deep dive into lab science. You’ll receive guided training in biomedical techniques, participate in active research, and explore the scientific literature that drives discovery. Along the way, you’ll connect with mentors and learn about different careers in research. At the end, you’ll present your project findings to peers and professionals. No experience is required to participate in this program.
7. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Stipend: Minimum stipend of $500 for all selected students
Cohort Size: 50
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 22
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in the fall; ages 16 and above by the program start date; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
As one of the top summer programs for high school students, SIMR at Stanford University is an intensive eight-week summer research program for high school juniors and seniors. You’ll get to work in a Stanford lab, conducting research on medically relevant topics under a one-on-one mentor. After selecting your preferred research areas from eight options, you'll be matched with a faculty-led lab team.
The program’s goal is to boost your interest in medicine and science by giving you direct exposure to research practices. If you prefer, you can also participate in a hands-on bioengineering boot camp instead of lab research.
8. Medical College of Wisconsin: Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM)
Location: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Application Deadline: November 1 – March 1
Dates: Mid-June – Early August
Eligibility: Milwaukee rising juniors, seniors, or June graduates; aged 16 and above; a minimum science and math GPA of 3.0
Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM) is a six-week summer program hosted by the Medical College of Wisconsin for high school students interested in medical careers. You’ll participate in clinical simulations, attend mentoring sessions with medical students, and shadow physicians and healthcare professionals weekly.
Another one of the top summer programs for high school students, AIM encourages you to explore a wide range of careers in medicine and allied health while increasing your knowledge of community health challenges. You’ll also complete a final presentation on a health condition of your choice. AIM is an option to explore if you’re seeking early exposure to clinical settings, biomedical research, and academic preparation in a supportive, mentor-guided environment.
9. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas
Stipend: $6,800 (10-week program); $6,120 (9-week program)
Cohort Size: Up to 12 students
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 20
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors, ages 18+ by program start
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences is a prestigious research opportunity hosted at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. If you're a Texas high school student passionate about allied health or biomedical sciences, this full-time summer experience lets you work hands-on in a research lab under faculty mentorship.
You’ll engage in real lab work Monday to Friday, attend expert-led seminars, and participate in poster and presentation competitions. With only up to 12 students selected each year, the program offers exclusive access to MD Anderson’s research environment and ends with a final presentation and celebration luncheon.
10. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE)
Location: Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Application Deadline: February 3
Dates: 7-11 weeks starting June 18
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; 16 by the start of the program; reside in and/or attend school in Massachusetts
The CURE Program at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is a paid, full-time summer research internship for students interested in careers in scientific research. Lasting 7–11 weeks, this program offers you hands-on experience in cancer research under the guidance of leading scientists. You’ll receive scientific skills training, attend research seminars, and participate in journal clubs, networking events, and professional development workshops.
You'll also prepare and present a research abstract, with opportunities to attend and present at scientific conferences. In addition to building research knowledge, the CURE program helps you explore biomedical careers while connecting with a strong academic and professional network in the Boston research community.
11. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Dates: Mid June – Mid August (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Students who are 16 years of age by June 24 of the year of application; AP science is recommended
If you’re a high school student interested in cancer research, Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center offers a full-time, 8-week Summer Research Volunteer Program. You’ll work closely with faculty, postdocs, and grad students on real projects, gaining lab experience in fields like immunotherapy, genetics, and clinical drug development.
The program includes weekly seminars, research presentations, and networking with peers and professionals. You'll be matched with a mentor and may assist a research team or manage your own project. Running from mid-June to mid-August, this program offers valuable insight into biomedical careers and helps you develop key research skills.
12. Magee-Women’s Research Institute (MWRI) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Magee-Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh
Stipend: $1,800 stipend (only if you qualify for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania)
Acceptance Rate: Less than 8%
Application Deadline: December 2 – February 7
Dates: 6 weeks starting June 16
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors; over 16 by program start; reside in the local southwest Pennsylvania region
The MWRI High School Summer Internship Program is a competitive experience designed for students interested in biomedical research. You’ll be matched with a mentor at Magee-Womens Research Institute or Magee-Womens Hospital to conduct your own project in fields like reproductive or infant health. The program also features Lunch & Learn sessions, where scientists discuss their professional journeys.
At the end of the internship, you’ll deliver a presentation of your work to peers and MWRI staff. Faculty mentors come from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine and Engineering, giving you exposure to leading-edge research and guidance.
Location: University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800 for the 10-week program
Cohort Size: Up to 10 students
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 20
Dates: Typically, June to August
Eligibility: Texas high school students (incoming seniors for the fall and 18 years or older by June 2) who identify as economically disadvantaged, educationally disadvantaged, with disabilities, or a first-generation student
UPWARDS is one of the top summer programs for high school students that offers a paid, full-time summer research training experience at MD Anderson Cancer Center. You’ll work 40 hours a week in a faculty lab, conducting cancer-related biomedical research. The program includes didactic courses, scientific seminars, and career development events.
This immersive summer opportunity is designed to encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue graduate programs and careers in cancer research and biomedical science through early exposure and skill-building. Mentorship is a key feature, helping you explore future academic paths in STEM. The experience culminates in a research poster session.
14. MD Anderson’s Therapeutics Discovery and Development Internship
Location: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Stipend:
$6,800: 10-week program
$27,000: 26-week program
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: January (tentatively)
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: High school graduates who have been accepted to an undergraduate program with intentions of attending in the upcoming fall semester; 18 years or older by program start
The Therapeutics Discovery and Development Internship at MD Anderson gives students a look into how novel cancer treatments are created. You'll work full-time in a fast-paced, collaborative research setting focused on small molecules, proteins, and cell therapies. This program is for students interested in translational medicine, as it blends clinical insight with biotech innovation.
Guided by industry-level drug developers and academic researchers, you’ll help design therapies with real potential to reach patients. From teamwork to hands-on lab work, this internship offers a deep dive into the drug discovery pipeline, helping you build experience that bridges science and patient care.
15. Medicine Institute: Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,400
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Application Deadline: Rolling, starting in November
Dates: July 6 – 11 or July 20 – 25
Eligibility: Current 9th – 12th grade students
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute is a career exploration program for high school students interested in healthcare. You’ll learn essential clinical skills like suturing, patient interviewing, and using ultrasound tools. You'll explore medical topics, such as cardiology, internal medicine, and cancer care, through hands-on labs and facility tours.
The program includes a visit to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and simulations at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. You’ll also have the chance to network with current med students and gain an insider’s view of life in healthcare.