15 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students in Chicago
Summer medical programs can be a valuable opportunity for high school students interested in exploring careers in healthcare and biomedical science. These programs often introduce you to core medical concepts while also providing exposure to practical skills used in research and clinical settings. You may participate in laboratory experiments, research projects, lectures from medical professionals, and collaborative activities with peers who share similar interests. Many programs are hosted by universities, hospitals, and research institutes, which allows you to learn from faculty members, physicians, and researchers. Through these experiences, you can gain insight into medical careers while also building connections with mentors and professionals in the field.
Why should you attend a program in Chicago?
Chicago is home to several universities, hospitals, and research institutions that host summer programs focused on medicine and biomedical science. These programs offer opportunities to dive into laboratory research, data science projects in health, public health studies, and clinical career exploration. You may also attend workshops, lectures, and research presentations led by faculty and healthcare professionals. These opportunities may be especially useful for students who live or study in Chicago, as well as those interested in spending time in a city known for its medical and research institutions.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down 15 medical summer programs for high school students in Chicago.
If you’re looking for programs in Chicago, check out our blog here.
1. UChicago ResearcHStart
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: January 19
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 by the start of the program and residents of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana
UChicago’s researcHStart program places students in research laboratories working with established cancer researchers. During the program, you will engage in full-time laboratory work focused on fields such as cancer immunology, bioengineering, experimental therapeutics, and cancer disparities. You will gain hands-on research experience while learning about scientific approaches used in cancer studies. The program also includes career development and skill-building workshops, as well as a faculty lecture series focused on cancer research. The program concludes with a research symposium where you will present your work to family members, researchers, and the scientific community.
2. Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks; the program is offered in multiple cohorts across spring, summer, and winter
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 12 who have completed the AI Scholars program or have a background in coding
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs designed for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, you will explore how AI and machine learning are applied in healthcare and medical research. You will work on project-based tasks involving the development of AI models for applications such as disease diagnosis and medical imaging. The program also examines how AI-generated insights can support doctors and patients in medical decision-making. You will gain exposure to the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine while working on real-world case scenarios. You can learn more through the program brochure and application form.
3. Chicago EYES (Educators and Youth Enjoy Science) on Cancer
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5,000/year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: December 1
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer (for two consecutive summers) + monthly activities (two to four hours/month) during the school year
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, who are at least 16 years of age at the start of the program; applicants must be residents of Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana.
Chicago EYES (Educators and Youth Enjoy Science) on Cancer is a research training program designed for students interested in biomedical and cancer research careers. In this program, you will work full-time in the laboratories of established cancer researchers for two consecutive summers. Each summer research experience lasts eight weeks and focuses on hands-on laboratory work. You will participate in research across basic, translational, clinical, and population-based cancer studies. The program also includes a summer lecture series and year-round workshops focused on career development and research skills. You will present your research at a final symposium, showcasing your work to peers and mentors.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Medical Track
Location: Remote! You can participate from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Dates: Varies by cohort; sessions run in the summer, fall, winter, or spring, with options ranging from 12 weeks to a year.
Eligibility: Students in high school who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research opportunity tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive mentored research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas for high schoolers to explore. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on a research project. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from a range of subjects, including medicine, healthcare, psychology, physics, economics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. You can find more details about the program application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. MedSTEM Explorers @ Rush University Medical Center
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid, amount is not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 27
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors residing in Chicago with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
MedSTEM Explorers is a six-week paid summer pre-internship program hosted at Rush University Medical Center. During the program, you will explore careers in healthcare and STEM through workshops, discussions, and research activities. You will also investigate real-world health issues affecting Chicago communities while exploring healthcare professions. The program also includes academic enrichment activities focused on college readiness and course planning. Over the course of the program, you will develop workplace skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and time management through structured training. On successfully completing the program, you may be considered for the MedSTEM Pathways internship.
6. Northwestern University Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program
Location: Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: January 6
Dates: June 22 – July 31 (high school students) | June 8 – July 31 (undergraduate students)
Eligibility: High school juniors and undergraduate students, ages 16 and up
The Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program is a six- to eight-week paid summer research experience at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, hosted by the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care. You will be paired with a Northwestern faculty mentor and work on a basic or clinical research project related to lung disease. In addition to lab work, you will attend workshops focused on college and graduate school application preparation, career development in science and medicine, and have the opportunity to shadow a clinician. The program wraps up with a poster presentation at the annual Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium.
7. MedSTEM Pathways @ Rush University Medical Center
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 27
Dates: June 15 – July 31 (Summer session); spring and fall sessions also available
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors residing in Chicago with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
MedSTEM Pathways is a multi-session program designed to support students in exploring healthcare and related career pathways. During the program, you will participate in sessions that combine academic preparation with internship experiences. The summer session includes classes focused on college readiness, life skills, and workplace training. Over the course of the program, you will develop skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving through structured learning activities. You may also earn industry-recognized certifications, including ECG technician or certified nursing assistant. The fall and spring sessions allow you to continue your internship experience.
8. UChicago’s DSI Summer Lab
Location: The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year; ~22 students in the past cohort.
Application deadline: January 12
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicago area; familiarity with at least one programming language and coursework in computer science, statistics, and math is preferred.
The DSI Summer Lab is an eight-week paid research program hosted by the University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute. During the program, you will work with mentors on applied data science research projects across fields such as computer science, social science, public policy, and biomedical research. You will collaborate with researchers while learning research methodologies and analytical techniques used in data science. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary work that connects data analysis with real-world research questions. You will also have access to near-peer mentoring, social gatherings, and group work on projects to connect with the rest of the cohort. The curriculum is designed to help you become familiar with research practices and teamwork in a university research setting.
9. Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS)
Location: University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students from underrepresented backgrounds
The CHESS program is an eight-week summer program designed for high school students interested in cancer research and health-related careers. As a participant, you will work in a University of Illinois Chicago faculty lab on an independent research project. You will be matched with a lab based on your research interests, which may include molecular biology, computational research, or biostatistics. The program also includes workshops, lectures, and activities focused on research and academic skill development. Over the course of the program, you will learn about research practices, formal writing, and scientific communication. The program concludes with a research symposium where you will present your summer work.
10. Summer at UChicago’s Contagion: Infectious Agents & Diseases
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: March 12 (regular deadline)
Dates: June 15 – July 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 who are at least 14 years old and have completed a high school biology course
Contagion: Infectious Agents & Diseases is a three-week course offered by the University of Chicago that explores the science of infectious diseases. During the program, you will study the biology, evolution, and spread of viruses such as Ebola, HIV, and influenza. You will also examine bacterial pathogens such as E. coli and their role in disease outbreaks. The course explores how emerging diseases develop and how scientists study and control their spread. You will additionally conduct laboratory activities using techniques such as PCR, CRISPR, and DNA sequencing in the University of Chicago labs.
11. Summer at UChicago’s Mathematical and Computational Research in Biological Sciences
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Dates: July 7 – 23
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 who are at least 14 years old and have completed a high school biology course
UChicago’s Mathematical and Computational Research in Biological Sciences pre-college track focuses on the role of mathematics and computing in modern biological research. You will study how biological molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins perform their functions. You will also learn how computational tools can be used to visualize and quantify biological processes. The program introduces basic coding techniques for analyzing biological data. You will work with high-performance computing resources available at the University of Chicago Research Computing Center. The curriculum additionally covers how to communicate research findings through scientific posters.
12. UChicago’s Career Insight: Healthcare and Biological Sciences
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $5,890 (residential) | 4,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Dates: June 15 – 25
Eligibility: Current 9th- to 11th-grade students, ages 14 and up
This course, a part of UChicago’s two-week pre-college program, is designed to offer high school students a look at careers in healthcare, medicine, and research. During the program, you will attend sessions led by UChicago faculty to learn about key concepts in the biological sciences through lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities. In the afternoons, you will connect with medical/healthcare professionals through presentations, interviews, and career treks around Chicago. Career Advancement staff will help you explore possible academic and career pathways. Additionally, you will complete a small-group final project along with reflection essays during the program.
13. UChicago’s Research in Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $15,200; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 11
Dates: June 15 – July 10
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who have completed high school biology and are at least 15 years old
UChicago’s Research in Biological Sciences (RIBS) is a four-week intensive summer program focused on laboratory research in biological sciences. During the program, you will learn molecular, microbiological, and cell biology techniques commonly used in research laboratories. The course begins with training in basic laboratory methods before moving on to more advanced molecular techniques. After the initial training period, you will spend the remaining weeks working on an independent research project. Most of the program is spent conducting experiments in the laboratory. The program concludes with a research forum where you will present your project's results.
14. Explorations in Neuroscience: Neurons, Behavior, and Beyond @ UChicago
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300 (residential) | $6,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th- to 11th-grade students who have completed at least one year of high school biology, ages 14 and up
This UChicago pre-college course introduces high schoolers to neuroscience by examining how the brain’s structure and function shape neurological conditions and human behavior. You will explore how electrochemical signals and neural circuits give rise to processes such as memory, movement, language, emotion, sleep, and learning. The curriculum uses inquiry-driven investigations, including analysis of primary scientific data. You will also gain insights into experimental methods used in neuroscience research, including fluorescence microscopy, molecular sequence analysis, and behavioral assays. Additionally, the course will help you compare nervous systems across species to explore how the human brain has evolved.
15. Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students/year
Application deadline: March 2
Dates: July 13 – 25
Eligibility: High school students who are residents of Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County in Indiana
The Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology is a multi-institutional program hosted each summer by various medical and educational establishments in the U.S. It introduces students to cancer research and healthcare-related careers. In this program, you will participate in hands-on research activities using a laboratory kit provided for at-home experimentation. You will explore concepts related to cancer biology and oncology research through guided activities. The program also includes workshops focused on career development and research skills. You will interact with professionals working across different areas of cancer research and healthcare and learn about a range of roles in oncology and biomedical science.
Image source - University of Chicago