15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Colorado
If you are a high school student curious about medicine, there is few better ways to explore your interest than through summer medical programs. These programs let you build clinical skills, learn from doctors and researchers, and see what different areas of medicine involve. Participating in a medical program can also set your college applications apart if you’re applying to competitive pre-med undergraduate programs.
Many summer medical programs for high school students in Colorado are run by universities, hospitals, and research centers, so you get access to structured learning and mentorship from leading professionals. Depending on your goals, you can choose from research internships to clinical skill camps, all designed to help you explore your interests and understand what working in healthcare looks like.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve put together 15 summer medical programs for high school students in Colorado that offer clear structure, mentorship, and meaningful learning.
1. Children’s Hospital Colorado – Summer Child Health Research Internship
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application deadline: February (applications open in December)
Eligibility: Colorado high school seniors, 18+ at program start
This nine-week internship places you in a biomedical research lab focused on child health, where you’ll gain experience with research projects. As part of this summer medical program for high school students in Colorado, you will learn lab techniques such as experiment design, data collection, and analysis while contributing to active projects under the guidance of pediatrics faculty. Weekly seminars will help you connect your work to broader themes in medical research. At the end of the program, you will prepare a research abstract and present your findings in a poster or oral format – just like professional scientists. One of the program’s highlights: If your project is accepted at a professional conference, your travel and registration costs are fully covered, so you can present your work to a wider audience. The entire experience is designed to give you early insight into how medical research is conducted at the university level.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
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. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Children’s Hospital Colorado – Medical Career Collaborative (MC²)
Location: Multiple sites in Colorado (Denver Health, Anschutz, Broomfield, Colorado Springs, Highlands Ranch)
Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~17% (60 students annually)
Program Dates: Six weeks, varies by site
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores in the Denver metro or Colorado Springs area
MC² gives you six weeks of paid experience in Colorado hospitals, where you will spend 100–120 hours rotating through departments and learning from medical professionals. As part of this summer medical program for high school students in Colorado, you’ll take part in seminars on healthcare careers, certifications such as CPR, and group projects with fellow students. You will visit multiple healthcare facilities and see how they operate and compare different approaches to patient care. And the program doesn’t stop after summer – you will continue to receive mentorship and career guidance to help you plan your next steps. With only 60 students selected each year, MC² is one of the most competitive hospital-based internships in the state, making it a standout opportunity if you’re interested in medicine.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. CU Pre-Health Scholars Program (High School Track)
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer intensive: Weeklong sessions in June and July; exact dates vary by grade level + Saturday Academy sessions: Once a month in September, October, November, February, March, and April + Annual celebration in May
Application deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school students in Colorado
This multi-year program is designed to help high school students build a strong foundation for a career in healthcare. Each summer, you’ll take part in intensives that introduce you to labs, biotechnology, and health equity projects. During the school year, you’ll return monthly for Saturday sessions, where you’ll develop skills and earn certifications. The program also covers topics such as financial planning to help you prepare for the future. With ongoing mentorship and guidance throughout high school, this is a good pre-health pathway available to Colorado students.
6. University of Colorado – BOLT Camp
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost: $975 (limited scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 2–5 | June 9–12 | June 23–26
Application deadline: Open until filled
Eligibility: High school students
BOLT (Biomedical Engineering Outreach and Leadership Training) introduces you to the exciting world where engineering connects with medicine. Over the course of the program, you will work in teams to design, build, and test prototypes aimed at solving healthcare challenges. Through faculty-led workshops, you’ll learn engineering concepts and see how they apply in clinical settings. The camp also focuses on leadership and teamwork, giving you the opportunity to collaborate with other students and build solutions together. The final day features a design competition where you present your prototype to instructors and classmates. BOLT indeed blends creativity, problem-solving, and medicine to create an unforgettable experience.
7. Medical Student Experience @ University of Colorado
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost: $650 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
This one-week program gives high school students a closer look at what medical training is really like. You will learn basic clinical skills such as suturing, injections, and physical exams in supervised labs. Anatomy sessions and medical simulations help you understand how physicians approach patient care. You will also attend research presentations to see how science is connected to clinical work, and spend time each day with medical students and faculty who can answer your questions about career paths in healthcare. By the end of the program, you will have a clear picture of both the skills and academic preparation needed for medical school.
8. SciVet @ Colorado State University
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost: $1,770 (residential) | $1,170 (commuter); fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 21 students
Program Dates: July 16 – 20
Application deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+
SciVet is a weeklong program that combines veterinary medicine with field-based science. With only 21 students admitted each year, you’ll be part of a small, focused group and receive personal mentorship from faculty experts. You will take part in labs and outdoor projects on topics such as wildlife research, pollination, and animal health. Activities include everything from tree coring to equine-assisted therapy, showing how veterinary science is connected with entire ecosystems. The small group size ensures you receive direct mentorship while exploring multiple areas of veterinary medicine and biological sciences, a great choice if you’re considering a future in animal health and environmental research.
9. University of Colorado – STEM Research Experience
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, and CU Boulder campus
Cost: $2,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 6 – July 25
Application deadline: Priority March 2 | Regular March 30
Eligibility: Students aged 16+ by program start
This six-week program pairs you with a university mentor in subjects such as neuroscience, immunology, or pulmonary science. You will learn how to design and conduct experiments while working alongside graduate students and faculty. Weekly seminars cover research skills such as literature review, data analysis, and presenting results. At the end of the program, you will prepare a professional research poster and share your findings with peers and mentors. The program is structured to mirror the workflow of a university research lab, giving you practical training in scientific methods. It’s best suited for students who are looking for an advanced academic challenge before college.
10. University of Colorado – Biomedical Research Bootcamp
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost: $1,200 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 9 – 20
Application deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
Biomedical Research Bootcamp condenses core lab skills into two intensive weeks. You will develop essential lab skills such as experiment design, data collection, and recording results under faculty supervision. You’ll also visit advanced facilities to see how modern research equipment is used, and take part in discussions on ethics and research methods that connect your daily lab work to broader scientific practices. By the end of the program, you will draft a research proposal – just like scientists do when starting new projects. The program is a good choice for students who want structured preparation in biomedical science before diving into college-level research.
11. Colorado Health Careers Academy
Location: Arapahoe Community College (Littleton) & Community College of Denver (Lowry)
Cost: $229 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: ACC (Littleton Campus) Session: June 9 – 27 | CCD (Lowry Campus) Session: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: January 31 (priority); rolling afterward
Eligibility: High school students and young adults (ages 16–24)
This three-week academy gives high school students a hands-on introduction to a range of healthcare careers. You will take part in labs, webinars, and job shadowing across medical and allied health fields to see which path interests you the most. The program also includes career panels and skill-building workshops, where you’ll practice interview techniques and resume-writing skills, and earn a Basic Life Support certification. Advisers will help you connect your strengths with possible healthcare pathways and map out clear next steps for your career.
12. CU Science Discovery – Neuroscience
Location: University of Colorado Boulder, Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building
Cost: $650
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 28 – August 1
Application deadline: June 13 (Session I) | July 18 (Session II)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
This one-week course takes you into the world of brain science, focusing on how the brain functions and adapts. You will conduct small experiments on memory, perception, and behavior while learning from faculty lectures. Guest speakers will show you how neuroscience is connected with psychology and genetics, and Lab tours will give you a closer look at the tools researchers use to study the brain in detail. By the end of the week, you will understand how brain science connects to medicine and mental health. It’s a short but powerful program for students curious about neuroscience and its applications in the real world.
13. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual (open to Colorado students)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: Five weeks in summer
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in North America
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week virtual internship that introduces high school students to the exciting world of neuroscience and biomedical research. You will attend daily online sessions led by scientists, where you’ll learn about advances and challenges in these fields, and learn about the scientific method, experimental design, and data analysis. Through group discussions and presentations, you’ll learn to explain scientific ideas clearly – an important skill for college and future careers. You will also join personal development workshops to build skills for college and future careers. The program includes college preparatory classes to help you plan your academic path after high school. With its selective admissions, JHIBS is one of the more competitive virtual neuroscience programs available for a rewarding research experience
14. Michigan State University – Health Sciences Scholar Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: May 7
Eligibility: 10th- and 11th-grade students with GPA 3.0+
This four-week institute introduces high-school students to health sciences and medical careers. You will take part in workshops, simulations, and networking sessions with faculty who share their expertise and career journeys as medical and healthcare professionals. Along with academic activities, you’ll build soft skills such as leadership and professional communication – skills that are essential in any healthcare career. Daily classes bring together motivated students from across the country in a collaborative learning environment. Best of all, the program is free, making it an accessible way to explore medicine without cost barriers.
15. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,500 + $95 application fee (financial assistance available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 23 – July 4 | July 14 – 25
Application deadline: Opens in January
Eligibility: High school students 16+ (juniors/seniors under 16 may apply)
This two-week internship lets you train with Stanford faculty and residents in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. Mornings kick off with lectures on anatomy, imaging, and cardiothoracic diseases. In the afternoons, you’ll head into the labs to practice suturing, vessel anastomosis, and porcine heart dissections – using surgical instruments in a structured clinical setting. The program blends advanced medical knowledge with technical skill-building, making it one of the few surgery-focused options for high school students.
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