13 Medical Programs for High School Students in Michigan
If you’re a high school student trying to decide whether medicine is the right path, structured programs can give you more clarity than coursework alone. Instead of relying on assumptions about what doctors or researchers do, you can observe clinical workflows, work through case-based simulations, assist with lab research, or examine how public health systems operate. These programs usually involve mentorship and project work, so you’re actively learning how professionals analyze problems, document their findings, and communicate results, rather than just observing.
Why should you attend a program in Michigan?
Michigan offers a strong range of medical learning environments through its universities, hospitals, and research centers. Across the state, programs span biomedical science, neuroscience, public health, clinical simulation, and emerging areas like health technology. Whether you already live in Michigan or are considering programs there for the summer, these opportunities provide access to reputable institutions and well-defined medical training environments.
Below is a curated list of 13 medical programs for high school students in Michigan.
If you’re looking for online STEM programs, check out our blog here.
1. BioMed Focus
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: Opens October 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in Michigan; more details here
BioMed Focus is an eight-week, full-time medical program for high school students in Michigan interested in biomedical science. You are placed in a university laboratory and work under the supervision of a PhD candidate or postdoctoral researcher on a hypothesis-driven project. The program is centered on experimental design, data collection, and interpretation within an active academic research environment. You also receive training in scientific writing and oral communication to support professional-level research presentations. A separate college-preparation course covers academic planning, applications, and scholarship opportunities. The program concludes with a formal research symposium where you present your findings to faculty, peers, and family members.
2. Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive is a 10-week online program examining how artificial intelligence is applied across healthcare and medical research. You’ll study machine learning concepts with direct relevance to fields such as genomics, medical imaging, diagnostics, neuroscience, and drug discovery. Mentors support you as you learn how AI models are trained, tested, and evaluated in healthcare contexts. You’ll also develop foundational Python programming skills through structured assignments. Emphasis is placed on connecting computational methods to real clinical and research problems. The program concludes with a research project applying AI tools to a specific medical challenge.
3. University of Michigan’s Aspirnaut Program
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 8–10 students accepted annually
Dates: June 14 – July 24
Application deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Rising seniors who are at least 16 years old. Preference is given to students from socio-economically disadvantaged communities
The Aspirnaut Program is a six-week residential research internship at the University of Michigan for high school students from under-resourced communities across Michigan. Participants are placed in an active life sciences research laboratory and contribute to ongoing projects alongside faculty, graduate students, and research staff. You’ll also learn how research findings are communicated within academic and professional settings. In addition to lab work, academic enrichment includes standardized test preparation and college advising sessions. Students live on campus with housing and meals provided, allowing full immersion in university life.
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
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online research experience that allows you to complete an independent medical or health science research project. You’ll work one-on-one with a PhD-level mentor to develop a focused research question and move through each stage of the research process. Projects commonly fall within biomedicine, neuroscience, public health, or psychology. The program includes workshops on research design, data analysis, and academic writing to support your independent work. Regular mentor meetings focus on refining methodology, arguments, and interpretation of results. You also receive feedback on drafting and revising a formal research paper. The experience concludes with a symposium-style presentation of your completed work. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Henry Ford Health Department of Surgery High School Mentorship Program
Location: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Stipend: $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 students (for the internship)
Dates: Runs during the academic year with a summer internship between June and August
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Detroit-area high school students
This year-long mentorship program introduces high school students to careers in medicine and surgery through workshops and hospital-based learning. During the academic year, you attend Saturday sessions held in the Surgical Simulation Suite. These sessions focus on hands-on practice in suturing, knot-tying, and laparoscopic techniques using simulation equipment. The medical program for high school students in Michigan also includes hospital tours and opportunities to observe physicians and surgical teams at work. You interact with medical students and healthcare professionals to learn about training pathways and career options. A select group of participants is selected for a paid summer internship upon completion of the program.
6. Wayne State University’s Discovery to Cure High School Internship Program
Location: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students annually, less than 12%
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising seniors at least 16 years of age
In this eight-week, full-time biomedical program for high school students in Michigan, students spend approximately 40 hours per week working in a university laboratory under the guidance of faculty and research staff. Research areas include oncology, immunology, reproductive biology, toxicology, and precision medicine. Weekly seminars complement lab work by covering research methodologies and current scientific topics. Mentors support you as you develop hypotheses, conduct experiments, and analyze results. The program concludes with an oral presentation where you formally share your findings.
7. RYSE MED Program
Location: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: June 29 – August 8
Application deadline: Starts in February
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders in Metro Detroit with at least a 2.5 GPA (2.75 for seniors)
The RYSE MED Program is a free, year-long medical pathway experience that combines clinical exposure, research, and health equity education. During the six-week summer immersion, you shadow healthcare professionals in hospital settings and observe clinical workflows. The program also includes simulations and virtual reality clinical exercises designed to introduce medical decision-making. You’ll work in teams to research a health equity issue affecting your local community. This research culminates in an infographic presented to medical professionals and peers. After the summer, you remain involved through academic-year mentoring and enrichment sessions focused on leadership development, college readiness, and long-term planning in healthcare-related fields.
8. Biomedical Career Advancement Program (BCAP)
Location: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend may be available depending on funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application deadline: April 7
Eligibility: 10th-12th graders with at least a 2.75 GPA; Priority given to Detroit-area and Wayne County residents and students from disadvantaged backgrounds
BCAP is a six-week summer research internship at Wayne State University School of Medicine, where participants spend four days a week working on biomedical research in a lab setting under faculty supervision. Fridays are dedicated to structured skills training and professional development activities. Technical instruction includes pipetting, microscopy, gel electrophoresis, CPR certification, and phlebotomy. Mentors support you in creating and improving your research project throughout the program. The Michigan high school medical program ends with a research symposium where you showcase your work to peers and university staff. Additionally, the program includes panels and workshops that explore various biomedical and healthcare careers.
9. Summer Youth Program – Jackson Hospital
Location: Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, Jackson, MI
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; invitation-only
Dates: June 9 – August 8
Application deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores to seniors
The Summer Youth Program at Jackson Hospital is an eight-week volunteer opportunity for high school students who have completed at least one year of high school. You commit to working at least one four-hour shift per week in assigned hospital departments, focusing on non-medical tasks that support daily operations and patient services. The program provides exposure to hospital workflows and professional healthcare environments. Before starting, participants complete an interview, orientation, and required health screening. Upon completion, students receive a certificate and a professional reference.
10. NSLC: Medicine & Health Care
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $4,195 (residential); Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 8 – 16 | July 21 – 29
Application deadline: Opens in October; Rolling till full
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
The NSLC Medicine & Health Care program is a nine-day residential experience focused on clinical practice and healthcare systems. You’ll participate in simulations involving patient diagnosis, surgical procedures, and emergency response scenarios. Hands-on workshops introduce foundational clinical skills such as suturing and decision-making under pressure. The program includes lectures led by physicians and public health professionals on diagnostics, ethics, and leadership in medicine. Collaborative group projects explore public health challenges and healthcare delivery models. Site visits to medical schools and clinical facilities provide additional exposure to professional settings. Leadership and communication training are integrated throughout the experience.
11. American Cancer Society - High School Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Varies by institute
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program starts
The American Cancer Society High School Program is a two-week virtual experience centered on cancer research and oncology-related careers. You’ll work with the eCLOSE Institute on guided research projects and case studies. These activities examine cancer biology, prevention strategies, and treatment challenges. The program presents research methodologies while illustrating how scientific inquiry influences clinical care and public health decisions. Participants will work collaboratively with peers through discussions and group projects. Interactions with professionals help clarify the various roles within cancer research and healthcare. Additionally, participants are encouraged to take advantage of ongoing networking and career development opportunities beyond the summer session.
12. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application deadline: February 9
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 16–18)
This online medical program for high school students in Michigan is a six-week experience focused on neuroscience and neurological disorders. Participants attend live sessions three times per week, including lectures, journal discussions, and virtual lab activities. Program topics often include Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias alongside core neuroscience principles. You’ll also get to observe neurology grand rounds to better understand clinical reasoning and patient case evaluation. The curriculum covers discussions on how social, economic, and cultural factors influence neurological healthcare outcomes. The program concludes with a final research project grounded in the program content.
13. Regenerative Medicine Course - Dartmouth University
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,895
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-length courses available, details here
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
The Regenerative Medicine course at Dartmouth University introduces you to the science of repairing and regenerating human tissues and organs. Through virtual lectures and case studies, you study stem cells, tissue engineering, biomaterials, and regenerative technologies. The curriculum connects these concepts to medical challenges, including organ shortages, wound repair, and chronic disease. Topics also include emerging tools like 3D bioprinting and their role in biomedical innovation. Students apply their learning by completing a capstone project. Those who finish this virtual medical program for high school students in Michigan earn a certificate from Dartmouth University.
Image source - UCLA