15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Ontario
If you’re a high school student interested in medicine or healthcare, summer internships can be a great way to gain early exposure to the field. These programs let you explore different areas—such as clinical work, biomedical research, public health, or mental health—while learning practical skills and connecting with professionals. You’ll also get a sense of what studying and working in healthcare might involve.
In Ontario, there are a variety of summer medical internships designed specifically for high school students. Many programs provide hands-on experience in hospitals, research labs, or community health organizations, while others offer virtual opportunities that fit your schedule. These internships help you build skills, develop professional connections, and explore potential career paths before entering college.
Below, we’ve curated a list of 15 summer medical internships for high school students in Ontario to help you get started.
1. University of Toronto – Youth Summer Program
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Cost/Stipend: $1,668 per module
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Module 1: July 7–11 | Module 2: July 14–18 | Module 3: July 21–25 | Module 4: July 28–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 (grade 9 students eligible for Module 4 only)
At Med YSP, you spend a week exploring medical science through lectures, lab work, and case studies in Toronto’s Medical Discovery District. Each student selects one module for the week — Human Physiology covers body systems and experiments such as lung capacity tests; Pharmacology and Toxicology focuses on drug interactions at the molecular level; Molecular Biology and Genetics uses DNA analysis to solve a mock crime; Microbiology examines bacteria, viruses, and public health responses. The program draws students from across Canada and internationally, offering a focused introduction to key areas of medical research and practice.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; varies by cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year – Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort – Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships offers a dedicated medical and health tech track for high school students interested in exploring careers in healthcare. You’ll be matched with a high-growth start-up in fields such as health technology, medical data analytics, or healthcare consulting. Throughout the program, you’ll work on real-world projects—such as designing patient education tools, researching medical innovations, or analyzing health data—under the guidance of both your company manager and a Ladder Coach. The program is fully remote, allowing you to collaborate with professionals globally, and concludes with a presentation of your work to the organization.
3. NOSM University – CampMed
Location: Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ontario
Cost/Stipend: $450
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: Sudbury: July 7–11 | Thunder Bay: July 14–18
Application Deadline: March 24
Eligibility: High school students across Northern Ontario completing Grade 10 or 11
Hosted by NOSM University, CampMed introduces students from Northern Ontario and other rural or remote communities to careers in medicine and health sciences. Over the course of the week, you’ll engage in hands-on learning, clinical skills workshops, and simulation-based activities. Sessions also explore Indigenous and Francophone health traditions, giving you insight into culturally responsive healthcare. The program offers opportunities to connect with mentors and peers from similar backgrounds, with the long-term goal of building healthcare capacity in underserved regions.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — participate from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Program fee applies (varies by duration)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year — Summer (June–August), Fall (September–December), Winter (December–February), Spring (March–June)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort — Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Duration: 12 weeks to 1 year
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3/4 or higher; no prior experience in the chosen field required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct independent, Ph.D.-mentored research in fields including medicine, public health, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering. Working 1-on-1 with a doctoral mentor, you’ll design and execute your own research project, gaining skills in critical thinking, literature review, data analysis, and academic writing. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a professional research paper that reflects your findings..
5. Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Discovery Healthcare
Location: Multiple locations across Southwestern Ontario (see program site for details)
Cost/Stipend: C$325.99 + tax
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Program Dates: Week 1 – July 7–11 | Week 2 – July 14–18
Application Deadline: Opens March 1
Eligibility: Ontario students entering grades 9–12
Discovery Healthcare is a week-long summer camp for high school students interested in medicine and healthcare, hosted by Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Led by medical students, the program provides hands-on clinical training in skills such as suturing, casting, and wound care. You’ll tour healthcare facilities, meet professionals from various specialties, and work through diagnostic case studies. Sessions also explore how social factors influence health and how communities deliver care, with each camp tailored to the local healthcare needs of its region.
6. Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto – Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: University of Toronto
Cost/Stipend: No cost; C$1,600 stipend upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Program Dates: July 2–25
Application Deadline: Typically closes in March
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11 who self-identify as Indigenous or Black
The Summer Mentorship Program is a four-week initiative at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine designed to introduce Indigenous and Black high school students to careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work. Through labs, lectures, and hands-on activities, you will gain academic and professional insight while building networks with mentors and healthcare professionals. The program also offers academic support, the opportunity to earn a high school credit, and a C$1,600 honorarium.
7. University of Ottawa Pre-Medicine Enrichment Program
Location: University of Ottawa
Cost: $370 CAD per week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7–11 | Session 2: August 11–15
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The University of Ottawa’s Pre-Medicine Enrichment Program offers a hands-on introduction to human anatomy and physiology at the cellular level. You will practice clinical skills such as suturing, administering injections, and applying casts. You will also be studying neurobiology and exploring careers in nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and other healthcare fields. The program includes lab tours and weekly mentoring sessions with medical students, professors, and healthcare professionals.
8. Stanford Center for AI in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: $40 application fee; $850 program fee (financial aid available)
Cohort Size: ~25 students
Program Dates: June 16–27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 in the fall
Led by Stanford student leaders and researchers, this internship explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. You will take part in technical lectures, hands-on research projects, and mentoring sessions. You will also participate in social activities and career-focused virtual lunches featuring guest speakers from academia, industry, and government. A Certificate of Completion is awarded to participants who attend the full program, with the option to continue an extended independent research project in AI and healthcare.
9. Emily Stowe Scholar Program
Location: Women’s College Hospital, Grenville St, Toronto
Cost: No cost
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Grade 11–12 students, at least 16 years old by the start date, who identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized women, trans, two-spirit, non-binary, or living with a disability
The summer program immerses students in health research projects while providing seminars, panels, and networking events focused on health sciences. You will engage in weekly group discussions and conclude the program by presenting at a student-led Research Symposium. Supported by the Emily Stowe Scholar Program, it works to reduce barriers and increase representation in healthcare and research, supporting students from early education through to professional careers.
10. University of Toronto's Pharmacy Summer Camp
Location: University of Toronto
Cost: $799/week for Weeks 1–3; $649 for Week 4
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: Week 1: July 7–11 | Week 2: July 14–18 | Week 3: July 21–25 | Week 4: July 28–31
Application Deadline: Typically closes in May
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
This summer camp introduces high school students to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences through themed weekly programs in human physiology, pharmacology, pharmaceutical science, and communication. You engage in hands-on activities, interactive labs, and expert-led sessions on drug development, medication use, and the pharmacist’s role in healthcare. Faculty and industry professionals share real-world insights from hospitals, clinics, and research environments.
11. Immerse Education- Medicine Summer Programme in Toronto
Location: University of Toronto
Cost: Starting from £3,695
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: July 6–19
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The program covers key topics in medicine, including human anatomy, biomedical sciences, and patient care. You will join small-group sessions led by university tutors, complete a self-chosen research project, and take part in practical activities alongside theoretical learning. Academic guidance and personalized feedback help deepen understanding and support future university applications. You will receive a certificate upon completion.
12. Sleep: Neurobiology, Medicine, and Society
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all high school and college students
This free, self-paced course explores sleep from a neuroscience, medical, and public health perspective. You’ll learn how the brain regulates sleep, how substances such as caffeine and alcohol impact it, and the biological processes behind sleep cycles. The course covers common sleep disorders, their health effects, and how sleep influences memory, learning, and decision-making. Through video lectures and interactive modules, you’ll build a strong foundation in sleep science—valuable for students interested in medicine, neuroscience, psychology, or healthcare.
13. Introduction to the Biology of Cancer- Coursera
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all high school and college students
Offered by Johns Hopkins University through Coursera, this self-paced course explains cancer at the molecular and cellular level. You’ll study how cancer develops, spreads, and is treated, including topics like cancer genetics, tumor biology, and environmental and hereditary risk factors. Through video lectures, readings, and quizzes, you’ll also explore the social and clinical impacts of cancer. This is an excellent starting point for students interested in medicine, oncology, or biomedical sciences.
14. University of Texas Southwestern – Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: No information available
Dates: 2 weeks in June
Application Deadline: Typically early February
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders and incoming college freshmen
The program offers high school students an introduction to careers in mental health. You’ll engage with professionals, including psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, social workers, and physician assistants, through interactive sessions and career talks. Topics include psychotherapy, interventional psychiatry, neuroscience, and community mental health. This program provides a broad perspective on the mental health field.
15. United Planet Virtual Internship
Location: Remote (host organizations in 20+ countries)
Cost: Program fee varies by duration
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment; not selective
Program Dates: Flexible start dates; 4 to 24 weeks (part-time or full-time)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students (typically 16+), college students, and recent graduates; internet access and English proficiency required
United Planet’s Virtual Internship Program offers a remote opportunity to collaborate with international nonprofits and community organizations. You can engage in projects across public health, environmental sustainability, education, business, and social justice, among others, gaining practical experience while supporting global initiatives. Throughout the internship, you’ll develop professional skills, cross-cultural communication, and an understanding of international development, with guidance from a United Planet advisor. Previous interns have worked on fundraising campaigns, health outreach materials, environmental research, and virtual teaching.
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