15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in New York
If you are a high school student in New York interested in pursuing a career in medicine, summer can be the perfect time to explore your interests and gain practical experience locally. Not only does a local summer program save you a ton of money on travel and housing, but also allows you to build a strong network in the field early on. Plus, if you’re considering interning in NY after the summer, or looking to apply to a university in the state, knowing the medical industry in the region early on can help.
Many summer medical programs for high school students in New York give you the opportunity to explore healthcare through lab work, mentorship with doctors and scientists, and guided research projects. These programs help you understand how medicine works and how doctors connect with people and communities.
In this guide, we’ve shared 15 of the best summer medical programs for high school students in New York. Whether you want to explore neuroscience, or learn how doctors care for patients, these opportunities will give you practical experience and prepare you for college and future careers in healthcare.
1. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s Brooklyn Scholar Athletes with Academic Goals Program
Location: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free with a stipend
Program Dates: June 25 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Open to high school students, with priority for sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Brooklyn Scholar Athlete with Academic Goals (BK-SWAG) program at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University gives you a chance to combine your love of sports with an interest in health science. In this program, you will learn skills in sports medicine and healthcare, shadow professionals in clinics, and practice essential skills such as basic first aid. You will also earn a CPR certification and take part in sessions on mental health. Along the way, you will join workshops on health disparities, get personalized guidance to prepare for college, and go on field trips. The program also includes community service, which helps you grow as a leader and manage your time better. To wrap it all, you and your group will present a research project that shows what you learned during the program.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
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 is a selective start-up internship program that gives ambitious high school students the opportunity to intern with high-growth start-ups. These companies span a wide range of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options in their application Form here. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. During the program, you will work closely with start-up managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work directly to the company. The virtual internship runs is usually for about 8 weeks. Here is the application form.
3. Roswell Park High School Summer Research Program
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 26 - August 8
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors who live and attend school in Western New York, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and are at least 15 years old when the program begins
The Roswell Park High School Summer Research Program (SURE-CAN program) is a summer medical program for high school students in New York that lets you explore cancer research at one of the nation’s leading cancer centres. Over six weeks, you will learn lab skills in either a dry lab or wet lab, while exploring topics such as cancer biology, genomics, and new tools including AI and medical imaging. You will also learn research ethics, statistics, and see how fields such as engineering and physics connect with biology to improve cancer treatments. During the program, you will join seminars and activities to sharpen your scientific communication skills, and at the end, you will present your research findings at a formal symposium.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
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) | No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a summer medical program for high school students in New York who want to dive into research. In this 12-week program, you will be paired 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor to work on an independent research project of your interest. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have written your own independent research paper! You can choose research topics from a wide range of 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.
The duration of the program ranges from 12 weeks to 1 year.
5. Columbia University’s YES in the HEIGHTS
Location: Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), New York, NY
Cost: No cost
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: December 13
Eligibility: Open to students ages 14 and older who show strong academic performance and interest in science. Preference is given to local students and those who have taken part in HICCC or Columbia University events or activities
Columbia University’s YES in the HEIGHTS program is a two-summer internship at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. You will work with researchers and doctors to learn about cancer and take part in research. Over two summers, you will learn lab skills and data analysis, while either creating your own research project with your mentor or join one of the ongoing projects. You will also practice reading and presenting research papers in a weekly journal club, make a plan for your academic goals and learn how to write a scientific paper. In your second summer, you will take things even further and give a scientific talk about your work.
6. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University Labs
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Program Dates: 5 weeks during the summer, exact dates not mentioned
Application Deadline: Applications will open in October
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors who live in New York City, with preference for students from Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx
The BRAINYAC program at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute lets you dive into the world of neuroscience through hands-on research. You will be paired with a Columbia neuroscientist who will mentor you on a specific project. The program starts with weekend training sessions in the winter and spring, and continues with a seven-week full-time summer internship. Along the way, you will learn lab skills, practice research methods, and earn a stipend. You may also qualify for a paid Merit Fellowship to keep working in your mentor’s lab. In addition, you will join an alumni network and take part in special events and trips.
7. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Cost: No cost. Stipend of $1,200
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: Applications generally open in December and close in February
Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school juniors with a 3.5 GPA in science, live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of MSK’s Main Campus in Manhattan, be legally authorized to work in the U.S., and be at least 14 years old by June
At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the world’s top cancer research centers, the Summer Student Program offers an 8-week internship in either a biomedical or computational lab. You will work with a mentor who will guide you, and help you build technical skills and real research experience. During the program, you will practice lab techniques, work on an independent project, and learn about fields such as computational biology, genomics, optics, immunology, and pharmacology. It is a great way to have a feel of cancer research and learn from experts in the field.
8. Columbia University’s BrainSTORM
Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Program Dates: From June of the first year through May of the next year
Application Deadline: January 1
Eligibility: High school students
Columbia University’s BrainSTORM program, funded by the Groff Foundation, gives you two unique ways to learn about brain science. From September to May, you will join monthly seminars led by experts on topics such as dementia, genetics, brain care, and testing. Then, starting in June, you will work with a mentor on a research project either in person, online, or a mix of both. You will practice research skills, data analysis, and scientific writing. At the end of the program, you will present your work at a research symposium and poster session.
9. IYRC’s Medicine and Research Summer Program @ Columbia University
Location: Virtual + in-person at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S), New York, NY
Cost: $700 for the base program or $1,000 if you add the community program option. Early-bird discounts and need-based financial aid are available
Program Dates: June 21 – August 30
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school and college students
Columbia University’s International Young Researchers’ Conference Medicine and Research Summer Program lets you learn about medicine in multiple ways, both through live sessions and independent learning. You will study healthcare with doctors and specialists in areas such as primary care, heart health, skin, brain surgery, and cancer. Throughout the program, you will build skills through research workshops, patient interview simulations, and peer feedback. You will also create a community project and attend lectures delivered by Columbia University doctors, researchers, and medical students. At the end of the program, you will present your project and can even enter the Harvard Alumni for Global Women’s Empowerment essay contest. If you choose, you can take it further by joining the Community Health Literacy Worker program, which includes in-person sessions at Columbia and a final presentation at a college symposium.
10. Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center’s BEYOND ALBERT
Location: Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Cost: Free with a $2,500 stipend
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to Bronx high school students who are at least 16 years old and will be entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall
The Bronx Einstein Youth Oncology Network Dedicated to Academic Learning, Biomedical Education, and Research Training (BEYOND ALBERT) program gives you the opportunity to work on scientific research with guidance from an Einstein faculty mentor. You will learn lab skills, practice data collection and analysis, and create research presentations to share with faculty. Beyond the lab, you will take part in professional development workshops and seminars, and attend talks led by faculty, students, and postdocs from MECCC. If you choose, you can join the weekly after-school program from September to May, where you will continue building your research skills through scientific talks and workshops.
11. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: Free with a need-based stipend offered
Program Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors, age 16+ at program start
Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a team-based summer research experience that helps you dive into scientific research with guidance of a mentor. You will learn lab skills, and practice collecting and analyzing data, while working in advanced research facilities. During the program, you will also take elective courses, attend lectures, join networking events, and take part in group activities to connect with other students and scientists. Each team is led by science trainees from Rockefeller, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Weill Cornell Medicine. By the end of the program, you will build research skills, gain experience in the lab and discover what it means to work as a scientist.
12. CUNY School of Medicine’s Sophie Davis Health Professions Mentorship Program (HPMP)
Location: The City University of New York’s School of Medicine, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: April 19
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors with an overall minimum GPA of 80
The CUNY School of Medicine’s Sophie Davis Health Professions Mentorship (HPMP) program is designed for students interested in careers such as nursing, physician assistant, or occupational therapy. The program runs for two years, starting in your junior year of high school with a four-week summer session in July, followed by monthly Saturday classes during the school year. With guidance from the Sophie Davis faculty and medical students, you will work on a community project to address a healthcare problem in NYC, while building skills in decision-making and teamwork. You will also attend seminars, practice problem-solving, explore clinical cases, learn about healthcare careers, prepare for college admissions, get SAT/ACT support, and take part in mock interviews.
13. Mount Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education Medical and Scientific Exploration Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (paid)
Program Dates: July 1 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Applicants must show an interest in biomedical sciences, attend a NYC public or charter school, and be from an underrepresented minority group and/or an economically disadvantaged background
The Medical and Scientific Exploration Program at the Mount Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education introduces you to health and medical careers while building a strong foundation in cellular and molecular biology. Through weekly rotations, you will visit different labs and clinical departments at the Mount Sinai Health System to see medicine in action. You will take part in activities such as virtual lab tours and discussions, connect with faculty, healthcare staff, and medical students, and learn about important issues concerning healthcare and health disparities.
14. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: $850 + a $40 application fee; no stipend; fee waivers available
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older and U.S. citizens
This Stanford AIMI (Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging) Summer Research Internship is a virtual program for high school students interested in how AI is transforming healthcare. You will explore how AI helps solve problems in medicine and work with a team to research a real medical challenge using AI tools. Throughout the program, you will develop research skills, join group work sessions, and learn from guest speakers about careers in medicine and technology. You will also connect with mentors, including researchers and Stanford student leads, for guidance and support. After the program, you may have the chance to continue your work through an extended research project.
15. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD / Virtual
Cost: No cost. Hourly wages and transportation funds are paid to in-person interns while virtual interns are paid a fixed stipend of $500
Program Dates: June - August (8 weeks in person) | July - August (virtual 5 weeks)
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: You can apply if you are a rising high school junior or senior. If you want to join the in-person internship, you must attend a high school in Baltimore
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) summer research program is designed for students interested in neuroscience and in making the field more inclusive. You will learn basic lab skills, join training sessions, and work on research with guidance from experienced scientists. During the program, you will take part in hands-on projects, group discussions, scientific seminars, and weekly sessions to build personal and professional skills, while also connecting with neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins. The program is available on campus or online, offers an hourly stipend, and covers transportation costs. At the end of the program, you will share your research work through an oral or poster presentation.
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