11 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students in Boston
If you’re a high school student interested in medicine, summer programs can help you explore healthcare in greater depth than a typical biology class allows. Through guided research, clinical exposure, and academic seminars, you can begin to understand how physicians, scientists, and healthcare teams diagnose conditions, design studies, and evaluate evidence. You also develop skills in scientific thinking, communication, and collaboration while connecting with mentors and peers who share an interest in medicine.
Why should you attend a program in Boston?
Boston is home to major teaching hospitals, medical schools, and biomedical research institutions that create structured learning opportunities for high school students interested in healthcare. You might contribute to laboratory research, analyze clinical data, practice clinical techniques in simulation settings, attend medical seminars, or explore how artificial intelligence is used in diagnosis and patient care. Whether you live in the Boston area or are traveling to the city for the summer, you can engage with programs in the city that help you learn about medicine and the opportunities in the field.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed this list down to 11 medical summer programs for high school students in Boston.
If you are looking for summer programs in Boston, check out our blog here.
1. CURE – Summer Only Program
Location: Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Longwood Medical Area, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid summer internship (stipend provided)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 7–11 weeks (summer)
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors or college freshmen–juniors; must be at least 16 years old and live in or attend school in Massachusetts
The CURE – Summer Only Program is a full-time, paid cancer research internship that places you directly into a Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center research lab for an authentic biomedical research experience. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor and spend your summer contributing to ongoing cancer research projects while learning the scientific concepts and technical lab skills used by professional researchers. Alongside lab work, the program includes scientific skills training, research seminars, journal clubs, and structured professional development focused on careers in science and medicine. You’ll also participate in networking and social events that connect you with peers and scientists across the Longwood Medical Area.
2. Veritas AI – AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students interested in artificial intelligence; prior exposure to Python or AI concepts recommended
The AI + Medicine Deep Dive is a specialized virtual program offered by Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, for high school students interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. The program introduces you to how AI and machine learning are applied in real medical contexts, including disease diagnosis, medical imaging, and clinical decision support. You will engage in hands-on projects involving building and experimenting with AI/ML models to analyze medical data and improve healthcare outcomes. You will also learn how to interpret and explain AI model outputs in ways that are meaningful for doctors and patients. Through guided instruction and project-based learning, the program emphasizes both technical skill-building and ethical considerations in medical AI. This deep dive is well-suited for students considering future studies or careers in medicine, biomedical research, or health-focused AI.
3. Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston/Cambridge/Somerville area)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (stipend provided; exact amount not publicly listed)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: June 30–August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors, recent high school graduates, and undergraduates living or studying in Massachusetts; must be eligible to work in the U.S.
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is a highly immersive, paid summer internship that introduces you to real neuroscience and neurology research at Mass General. You’ll work full-time in a research lab under the mentorship of an MGH Neurology faculty member, contributing to ongoing projects rather than simulated exercises. The program begins with a structured bootcamp focused on research skills, professional expectations, and lab training, followed by mentored research work throughout the summer. You’ll also attend weekly didactic sessions led by neurologists and neuroscientists, exposing you to both clinical neurology and neuroscience research pathways. The experience culminates in a formal research presentation, helping you build confidence in scientific communication and research storytelling.
4. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, building robotic arms in engineering, and moot courts in law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including biology, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School and HMS‑affiliated research laboratories
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who reside in Boston or Cambridge, are at least 16 years old by the program start, and have completed biology, chemistry, and algebra (minimum 2.70 GPA)
Project Success is a summer research internship program at Harvard Medical School where high school juniors and seniors conduct mentored biomedical research under the supervision of scientists and professionals. During the summer, students spend full days in labs, participate in seminars, and gain exposure to research practices and scientific environments. The program also includes collaborative group learning experiences, workshops focused on improving scientific communication skills, and career planning sessions to help students understand potential pathways in science and medicine. At the end of the session, participants are required to present their summer research findings in a formal presentation, showcasing their acquired knowledge and skills while also demonstrating their ability to communicate complex scientific concepts.
6. Mass General Brigham Youth Program
Location: Mass General Brigham (Boston, Revere, and Chelsea area)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internships and summer jobs (no cost to participate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~75 students per cohort
Dates: Multi-year program beginning in 10th grade (summer and academic-year components)
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: 10th-grade students attending Boston Public Schools, Revere High School, Chelsea High School, or Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers; minimum 3.0 GPA
The Mass General Brigham Youth Program is a multi-year healthcare pipeline program that supports students from 10th grade through college as they explore careers in medicine, research, and health sciences. Starting in 10th grade, you’ll focus on career exploration and community-building, then move into paid internships, skill-building workshops, and college and career advising during 11th and 12th grade. You gain hands-on experience through paid summer jobs and internships across Mass General Brigham hospitals and departments, including areas like emergency medicine, nursing, neurology, radiology, psychiatry, research labs, and public health. You’ll be mentored by healthcare professionals and supported through weekly workshops that emphasize professional skills, confidence-building, and long-term planning.
7. Junior Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid volunteer program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70 students
Dates: June 29–August 21
Application Deadline: April 3 (or earlier if 100 applications are received)
Eligibility: High school students entering their junior or senior year
Boston Medical Center’s Junior Summer Volunteer Program (JSVP) is an eight-week opportunity that offers you firsthand exposure to hospital life through weekly volunteering and professional development. You’ll commit to one recurring three-hour volunteer shift each week in outpatient areas such as patient ambassador services, food pantry support, or pediatric clinics, depending on hospital needs and your interests. In addition to volunteering, you’ll attend a weekly lecture series led by BMC healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, surgeons, social workers, and administrators who share insights into patient care and healthcare careers. The program begins with an orientation and concludes with a completion celebration, and you’ll receive documentation of your service hours and a certificate at the end. Preference is given to Boston residents, and full participation across the eight weeks is expected.
8. Aspiring Physician and Medical Scientist Summer Program
Location: MGH Institute of Health Professions (Boston, MA)
Cost/Stipend: $4,500 tuition (+ $540 optional college credit; no stipend)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: July 20–31 or August 3–14
Application Deadline: Rolling admission (closes when full)
Eligibility: High school students interested in medicine or medical research
The Aspiring Physician and Medical Scientist Summer Program is a selective, two-week, on-site experience designed for high-achieving high school students who want early exposure to medicine and medical research. Hosted by the MGH IHP Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation Research, the program emphasizes hands-on learning through immersive simulations across surgery, emergency care, cardiology, and other clinical specialties. You’ll learn directly from MGH IHP faculty and instructors affiliated with Harvard Medical School, gaining insight into both clinical practice and the pathways that lead to careers as physicians or medical scientists. Collaborative activities and problem-solving exercises are built into the curriculum, helping you develop critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills used in healthcare settings.
8. Mini Med School
Location: Tufts University (Medford/Somerville Campus & Boston Health Sciences Campus)
Cost/Stipend: $3,625–$6,950 depending on session and housing (no stipend)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 22–26 or July 5–17 or July 19–24
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11–12 or Spring high school graduates; must be at least 16 years old and have completed one year of high school biology
Mini Med School is a summer intensive designed for students who want a realistic introduction to medical school–style learning at Tufts University School of Medicine. Depending on the session you choose, you’ll spend one to two weeks attending lectures on current medical topics, working through clinical case studies, and participating in hands-on training such as suturing, taking vital signs, and using clinical simulation equipment. A major highlight of the program is time spent in Tufts’ Clinical Simulation Center and advanced anatomy labs, where you’ll practice skills in a setting similar to what medical students use. You’ll also take part in Q&A sessions with physicians, medical students, admissions staff, and professionals from related health fields like dentistry, veterinary medicine, and physician assistant studies.
9. MEDscienceLAB Forensics
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $2,800 tuition (scholarships available for Boston-area students)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22–26 or July 13–17 or July 20–24 or July 27–31
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who are at least 16 years old by the start of the session
MEDscienceLAB Forensics is a one-week, full-day program that introduces you to the science behind crime scene investigation through hands-on lab and simulation work. You’ll work as part of a forensic science team to investigate a mock crime scene, collect physical evidence, interview witnesses, and analyze samples using techniques commonly used in medical and forensic laboratories. The program blends laboratory analysis with realistic case simulations in the MEDscience Simulation Lab, helping you understand how biological, chemical, and physical evidence is used to solve crimes. Throughout the week, you’ll learn directly from research and healthcare professionals at Harvard Medical School while building practical lab and analytical skills.
10. Innovations in Health Professions
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $7,095
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12–24
Application Deadline: January 15 (priority), February 27 (regular), March 15 (late)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in high school
This two-week experiential pre-college program introduces you to the wide range of careers in the health professions through hands-on learning and patient-centered exploration. You’ll work with Northeastern faculty across different health fields while focusing on how healthcare impacts individual patients and broader communities. Throughout the program, you may take part in medical simulations, practice clinical skills, and complete advanced CPR certification and Stop the Bleed training. In past years, students have also visited an ambulance dispatch center to see what first-responder work looks like in real time. By the end of the program, you’ll have a clearer understanding of health-related career paths and whether fields like medicine, allied health, or community health align with your interests.
11. Stanford's AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Paid summer internship (stipend provided)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 7–11 weeks (summer)
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors or college freshmen–juniors; must be at least 16 years old and live in or attend school in Massachusetts
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two‑week virtual summer program focused on artificial intelligence in medicine and healthcare research. Participants engage with lectures, discussions, and guided project work led by mentors connected to the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging, exploring how AI tools and methods are applied in clinical and research settings. Throughout the internship, students work on research projects and collaborate with peers to deepen their understanding of technical and clinical aspects of health‑related AI applications. The experience concludes with reflection on their work and opportunities to demonstrate what they’ve learned about AI’s role in addressing real‑world healthcare challenges.
Image source - Immerse Education