15 Medical Camps for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in medicine, camps are a great way to explore the field. These short, intensive programs go beyond classroom learning to help you understand how hospitals function, the day-to-day functioning of doctors and nurses, and to gain experience in labs. Whether you're curious about surgery, emergency medicine, research, or public health, these programs allow you to test out different areas of interest early on.
How Are Camps Different from Other Programs in High School?
Many university programs feature lengthy academic courses, but medical camps tend to be shorter, more targeted, and emphasize practical experience. You engage in labs, hospital tours, and small-group case studies, offering a glimpse into healthcare careers without the extensive commitment of full university programs. By participating in these camps, you gain early exposure to the responsibilities and challenges of healthcare, helping you make informed decisions about pursuing medicine in college.
To help with your search, here’s our curated list of 15 medical camps for high school students.
If you are interested in summer camps, check out our blog here.
1. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~27 slots per session
Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors; at least 16 years old by the first day
The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp (DDC) is an interdisciplinary educational program. You will examine outbreak simulations, analyze real-world case data, and piece together public health scenarios. You will work in teams and see how scientific research, communication, and disease prevention work together to protect communities. You'll also meet CDC staff who share insights on how their roles influence global health.
2. Veritas AI – AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: High-school students with prior coding or AI Scholars experience
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. Students get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients.
3. University of Illinois College of Medicine STEM Camp
Location: College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Rockford, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1-week day camp
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High-school students aged 16+
This program illustrates how science, engineering, and technology influence the future of healthcare. Participants will gain hands-on experience with lab equipment, master lab safety procedures, and investigate current research challenges tackled by real scientists. Throughout the week, instructors will lead you through designing experiments and analyzing data.
4. Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18
The Career Insights Program offers high school students an introduction to professional environments across multiple industries. As a participant, you can expect to engage in hands-on projects with established companies and connect with industry experts through interactive workshops. You'll also visit operational sites, including offices, factories, and headquarters. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work to industry professionals. You can explore career paths in subjects such as medicine, engineering, law, business, journalism, fashion, and more. The program also includes weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions where you will receive personalized feedback. You can find more details about the application here!
5. Camp CHLA – Health Care Career Exploration Camp
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive (small cohort)
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 19 | Session 2: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Freshmen, sophomores, or juniors living in Los Angeles County
The camp offers a week-long hospital immersion opportunity to explore various pediatric medical specialties in one location. Participants will shadow healthcare professionals, learn CPR and emergency response techniques, and gain insight into how teams care and support patients. The program gradually introduces more advanced practical tasks and discussions about patient needs. Participants will also have the chance to meet medical professionals who share their career paths in healthcare.
6. Heads Up – Behavioral Health Careers Camp
Location: Numerous sites across Montana
Cost/Stipend: Free; transportation stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-day summer programs
Application Deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
This program introduces you to careers in mental health, including counseling, peer support, and psychology, which are rapidly expanding nationwide. Through case simulations and workshops, you'll see how behavioral health professionals assist with stress, trauma, and addiction. Additionally, the program trains you in Teen Mental Health First Aid, equipping you with practical skills to support your school and community. You will have the opportunity to work with practicing behavioral health professionals, particularly in Montana's rural and underserved regions.
7. Methodist Fremont Health Career Exploration Camp
Location: Methodist Fremont Health, Fremont, NE
Cost: $45 (includes food)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 participants
Dates: 2-day sessions
Application Deadline: Early spring
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
This brief camp provides a straightforward and friendly introduction to various healthcare careers. Participants will tour hospital departments, meet staff in different roles, and participate in hands-on simulations. As they learn more, advisors will also share helpful tips on scholarships, volunteering, and college programs. Since the camp is short and affordable, it's a good early step for students just starting to explore medical possibilities.
8. Camp Med – Northwest AHEC
Location: Various locations across the Northwest AHEC region
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come registration (varies)
Dates: Varies by location
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: 8th–12th graders (virtual) | 9th–12th graders (in-person)
Camp Med offers a free, flexible way for North Carolina students to explore healthcare careers. The virtual option lets you progress at your own speed through modules covering body systems, local health issues, and medical ethics. The in-person version features workshops, tours, and skills practice. Throughout the program, you’ll learn about the health needs of your community and how medical services support local populations. It provides a low-pressure environment for high school students to begin exploring healthcare careers.
9. John A. Burns School of Medicine – Oahu Teen Health Camp
Location: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI (and other sessions on each of the Hawaiʻi islands: Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Big Island, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited seats
Dates: February 7
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
This one-day camp offers hands-on experience with skills such as casting, suturing, and CPR. Each Island hosts its own session, providing a chance to explore medicine in a real-world setting. You’ll learn about the unique challenges and circumstances a healthcare career might involve in island communities.
10. MD Camp at Ohio State
Location: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
Cost: $325 tuition; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited to Ohio residents
Dates: 3-week summer session
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders from Ohio; GPA 3.0+ overall, 3.3+ STEM recommended
This program aims to mimic the medical school experience in an engaging yet challenging way. Participants attend lectures, engage in peer-group case discussions, and practice clinical skills such as phlebotomy and suturing with supervision. Shadowing in hospital settings enables observation of doctors' interactions with patients. Community-service projects expand understanding of healthcare beyond hospital environments. Combining academic rigor, teamwork, and practical skills, the camp supports students genuinely interested in becoming doctors.
11. Lebanon Valley College Health & Biomedical Sciences Summer Camp
Location: Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
Cost: $1,275
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited enrollment
Dates: July 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: Until full
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This camp offers a rigorous scientific curriculum combined with a residential college experience. Participants will take part in hands-on labs covering areas such as neuroscience, immunology, physiology, and more. By interacting with healthcare professionals, students learn about various career paths in medicine beyond just becoming a doctor. Living on campus fosters independence and helps develop social skills.
12. Achieve in Medicine (AIM-High) Day Camp
Location: NSU Davie/Fort Lauderdale Campus and NSU Tampa Bay Regional Campus, Clearwater, FL
Cost: $1,800 tuition; $50 application fee; limited scholarships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: NSU Davie/Fort Lauderdale Campus: July 6 – 10; July 12 – 17 | NSU Tampa Bay Regional Campus: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling (scholarships first-come)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders with minimum 3.2 GPA
Achieve in Medicine (AIM) High is a five-day summer medical day camp where you'll learn basic clinical skills, such as taking vital signs, and then progress to more advanced workshops like dissection and simulated medical scenarios. Throughout the week, physicians and medical students introduce you to various specialties, including pediatrics, sports medicine, and emergency care. The program also includes leadership and communication activities that emphasize that medicine is a collaborative profession. VR and AR technologies are used to demonstrate modern tools doctors are starting to use in practice.
13. University of South Dakota Healthcare Summer Careers Camp
Location: Lee Medical Building, University of South Dakota – Vermillion, SD
Cost: $100 tuition; limited financial aid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students
Dates: June 8 – 13
Application Deadline: May 12
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This six-day residential camp provides a comprehensive introduction to healthcare careers and college readiness. Participants will engage in medical demonstrations, observe professional settings, and understand how coursework relates to future career options. The week also includes team-building activities and recreational time for students. This campus experience helps you envision yourself in a pre-med program and fosters connections with staff and other students.
14. Health Science Summer Camp at Oakland University
Location: Oakland University School of Health Sciences, Rochester, MI
Cost: Cost varies; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: June 15 – 19 | June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12
This program introduces several healthcare roles, such as radiologic sciences, clinical diagnostics, and public health. You will participate in group activities that simulate real healthcare teamwork. By practicing tasks in advanced simulation labs, you'll gain insight into what working with patients involves. Over time, you’ll see how each role contributes to maintaining community health.
15. Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research – Molecular Medicine Camp
Location: University‑based workshops at campuses including University of California, Berkeley (CA), University of California, San Diego (CA), Columbia University (NY), and University College London (UK); plus online and commuter options
Cost: Tuition required; exact cost varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Various 1-2 week sessions depending on location
Application Deadline: Varies depending on session
Eligibility: Ages 14–18; strong school performance recommended
This camp focuses on disease at the molecular level, helping you understand how cells change in cancer, immunology, and neurological disorders. You start with instructor-led lessons taught by PhD-level scientists and then apply concepts in laboratory modules. Over time, you’ll work on a final mini-research project where you design an experiment or perform a bioinformatics analysis.
Image source - Veritas AI Logo