15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Houston
Summer programs offer high school students a chance to gain hands-on experience, explore career interests, and build practical skills outside the classroom. If you’re interested in medicine or healthcare, these programs can help you identify which areas of the field excite you most, from clinical practice to biomedical research.
If you’re a student in Houston looking for a local summer program, you’re in luck!, You’ll have easier access to hospitals, research centers, and universities, reducing travel and housing challenges while still gaining meaningful exposure to the field. Local programs also allow you to build connections with professionals in your community, which can lead to mentorship opportunities and future internships closer to home.
To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of the top 15 summer medical programs for high school students in Houston. Each program offers a different perspective on healthcare, helping you develop skills, explore real-world applications of science, and begin shaping your path in medicine.
15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Houston
1. Houston Methodist Summer High School Research Internship
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 - July 31
Application Deadline: December 2 - January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 16+ by the program start date, 3.5+ GPA
During this program, you’ll contribute to active translational research projects under the guidance of faculty and lab scientists, gaining skills in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication. Alongside your lab work, the program offers professional development through seminars, career-focused workshops, and peer networking opportunities. You’ll present your research findings at a symposium, engaging directly with healthcare professionals and researchers.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program type
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; ~15%
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts in a year, including summer, fall, winter, spring
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines that vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students available for 10–20 hours
Ladder Internships is a program where you can pick an area you want to explore, like healthcare, tech, business, or mental health. You are then matched with a high-growth startup and work on projects through a virtual internship. During the internship, you’ll work in close collaboration with a manager from the startup and a Ladder Coach. They’ll guide you through tasks, and by the end of the program, you’ll share your work and research with the team.
3. MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800 for the 10-week program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 2 - August 8
Application Deadline: November 18 - January 15
Eligibility: Texas high‑school seniors, 18+
You’ll work full-time in biomedical research labs under the guidance of full-time faculty, gaining foundational experience in scientific inquiry and hands-on lab techniques. The program also includes seminars, research discussions, and a chance to compete in poster, abstract, and elevator pitch challenges. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your findings during a formal presentation with your peers and mentors.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students; preferred GPA 3.3+
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program lets you complete a research project one-on-one with a PhD mentor. You’ll spend 12 weeks learning how to review sources, set up methods, look at data, and write about your results. By the end, you’ll create a research paper that can be submitted to journals or included in college applications. You’ll also join feedback sessions with other students and receive career advice.
5. UTHealth Houston Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $750 upon successful completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 12 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship is a six-week research experience designed to connect high school students with university-level science and public health research. You’ll be matched with a mentor based on your interests and devote around 20 hours per week to hands-on project work. The internship culminates in a final presentation of your findings. It’s a valuable opportunity to explore STEM fields, build communication skills, and get exposure to public health research.
6. University of Houston MohanLab Summer Internship Program
Location: MohanLab, University of Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 2 - July 25
Application Deadline: March 28th
Eligibility: Rising high‑school seniors
This is an eight‑week, hands-on research internship for students interested in biomedical and health sciences. The program begins with one to two weeks of instruction in foundational laboratory techniques, followed by research under the mentorship of a scientist or graduate student. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your findings at the Mohan Lab joint laboratory meeting, with a chance to contribute your project toward publications, making this a solid option among summer medical programs for high school students in Houston.
7. UTHealth McGovern Medical School — High School Summer Research Program
Location: McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,800
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 8 - July 2
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, 16+
In this four-week program at McGovern Medical School, you’ll work on biomedical research alongside faculty and student mentors on interdisciplinary projects related to medical sciences. The program lets you develop laboratory skills, strengthen your scientific knowledge, and build communication and professional development skills. You’ll also network with healthcare professionals and participate in seminars that enrich your exposure to medical careers.
8. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer; July-August (tentative, exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: December 1 - March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Through this program, you’ll engage in educational presentations, professional development training, and Virtual mentorship, all designed to build your foundational skills in neuroscience and behavioral science. You’ll also learn basic lab techniques and experiment design through structured virtual sessions, tailored to mirror hands-on research as closely as possible. The virtual track culminates in a certificate of completion, giving you formal recognition for your participation.
9. Medicine Encompassed (ME) Student Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Year-round, rolling
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Medicine Encompassed is a student-led nonprofit offering flexible virtual internships dedicated to medical education and outreach. In this program, you’ll collaborate virtually with fellow high school students worldwide, contributing to accessible learning materials such as study guides, blog content, and medically-informed resources. Roles typically include positions such as writer, editor, or resource creator, allowing you to build skills in scientific communication, teamwork, and content development.
10. Baylor College of Medicine DocPrep Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: One week in summer (dates vary)
Application Deadline: Starts in March, deadline varies
Eligibility: Rising seniors from South Texas‑affiliated high schools
DocPrep introduces high‑school seniors to the academic challenges of medical school. As a participant, you will attend lectures, receive guidance on college and medical school applications, and improve your scientific communication skills through workshops led by Rice University graduate students. Baylor medical students serve as counselors, offering peer mentorship and insight into the medical school experience. Because the program lasts only a week, it’s a good option among summer medical programs for high school students in Houston, if you’re balancing other summer commitments.
11. Baylor College of Medicine Saturday Morning Science (SMS) Summer Research Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Stipend: Minimum wage in TX
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 11 - August 4
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students,18+, prior Saturday Morning Science participation required, U.S. Permanent Resident
The SMS Summer Research Program offers an eight‑week experience in biomedical research. You’ll spend 40 hours a week in the lab working closely with a Baylor faculty mentor and attending “Lunch and Learn” sessions on professional development. Regular group meetings encourage collaborative problem-solving and help you to learn how to do research in other areas. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work at the SMS Summer Research Symposium.
12. UT Southwestern Medical Center High School Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: 2 weeks starting from June (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Late September - Early February
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12
Through interactive sessions led by medical professionals, including psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and clinical social workers, you’ll explore a variety of roles in healthcare, from psychotherapy and neuroscience to neuropsychological testing and community psychiatry. Mentors will also share their personal stories and answer questions related to their journey in healthcare, including things like a day in the life of a medical professional. This is a great option if you are still deciding which specific area of healthcare you’re interested in.
13. The Health Museum – Global Teen Medical Summit
Location: The Health Museum and the University of Houston campus, Houston, TX
Cost: TBD; scholarships available on a need-basis
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: July (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: TBD, varies yearly
Eligibility: High‑school students aged 14–18
The Global Teen Medical Summit offers a week of behind‑the‑scenes tours and medical simulations. You’ll visit the Texas Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma hospital and a medical school, while participating in ethical case studies and design challenges. During the 5 days, you will stay at the University of Houston with peers and professionals. The program emphasizes teamwork and problem-solving, culminating in a group project presentation.
14. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $40 application fee; $850 participation fee; need-based financial aid available for both
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 16 - 27
Application Deadline: December 9 - February 28 (fee waiver deadline: February 21)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), 14+, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is a two-week virtual program that immerses you in the technical and clinical aspects of AI for healthcare. Each day, you’ll engage with expert-led lectures that clarify AI principles in medicine, collaborate in group research sessions under the guidance of Stanford student leads and researchers, and join “career lunch-and-learn” events featuring guest speakers from academia, industry, and government. If you’re especially driven, there may be opportunities to extend your involvement with an independent project beyond the structured schedule.
15. UH Sequencing Core Virtual Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Undisclosed stipend from the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program partnership
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in biomedical research, especially in immunology or precision oncology
In this program, you’ll work on a research project at the intersection of immunology and oncology. Guided by Ph.D.-level mentors, you'll receive training in sequencing techniques, bioinformatics, and data analysis. The program culminates in a virtual presentation of your work, offering an experience that mirrors graduate-level research. Since it's remote and provides a stipend, it's one of the most accessible summer medical programs for high school students in Houston and across the country. You can apply through the U.S. Army’s Educational Outreach Program.
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