13 Medical Programs for High School Students in Boston

If you are interested in medicine beyond the high school curriculum, consider a structured medical program. Medical programs allow you to build clinical or research skills, learn about advanced biomedical concepts, work in professional research or healthcare settings, and connect with medical professionals, researchers, and academics. As a participant, you will also learn about potential career paths you can choose, from core healthcare professions to allied and administrative roles in medicine.

Why should you attend a program in Boston?

Boston offers a wealth of opportunities to high schoolers interested in exploring the medical and healthcare fields. From laboratory research to immersive clinical experiences, these programs can give you a head start in understanding the complexities of medicine, public health, and biomedical science. You will learn through instruction, clinical experience, research, or opportunities to shadow healthcare professionals, which can offer a realistic view of careers in healthcare. 

To make the search easier, we have put together a list of 13 medical programs for high school students in Boston. 

If you are looking for summer programs in Boston, check out our blog here.

1. Harvard Medical School’s Project Success 

Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Boston/Cambridge high school juniors and seniors who will be over 16 by June 29, hold a GPA of 2.7 or higher, are from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, and have completed courses in biology, chemistry, and algebra when the program starts

Project Success is a seven-week research internship designed for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in science. Here, you will work at Harvard Medical School or a Harvard-affiliated biomedical research lab, conducting research on disease, treatment, or health. As a participant, you will also find opportunities to develop technical lab skills. Mentorship is a core aspect of the experience, with the curriculum incorporating opportunities to learn directly from researchers and clinicians within the Harvard network. In addition to lab tasks, you will attend seminars and participate in site visits to hospitals and biotechnology companies.

2. Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Medicine

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 10-week cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling; you can learn apply here.
Eligibility: High school students with AI/ML experience or prior completion of the Veritas AI Scholars program

Veritas AI runs a variety of fully virtual programs focused on hands-on AI exploration. The Deep Dive: AI + Medicine is designed to introduce high schoolers to the role of artificial intelligence within healthcare and medicine. As a participant, you will spend 25 hours learn about and working on AI applications that help address a need within medicine/healthcare. The curriculum also covers topics such as neural networks and basic clinical evaluation. You will also find support from mentors to work on projects focused on the intersection of AI and medicine. 

3. Mass General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program

Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent graduates, ages 16 and up, who are Massachusetts residents or students legally authorized to work in the U.S. and are fully vaccinated for COVID-19

The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is a full-time summer internship for students interested in exploring neurology and neuroscience. The program starts with an introductory professional bootcamp covering lab procedures, research methods, and scientific communication. Then, you will join a neurology research lab, where you will contribute to ongoing projects while receiving guidance from experienced faculty mentors. Over six weeks, you will attend weekly seminars led by neurologists, participate in field trips, and conclude the program by presenting your research findings. This paid internship also offers long-term academic and career mentorship, helping you prepare for future studies and careers in neuroscience.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Medical Track

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here. 

5. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center’s CURE

Location: Various sites in Boston, MA (Longwood Medical Area)
Stipend: Paid weekly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small research cohort
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are at least 16 and living in or attending school in Massachusetts

The CURE (Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences) Program at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is a full-time, paid summer internship for students interested in biomedical research and cancer science. You will work on mentored research projects, gaining hands-on laboratory experience while developing scientific and professional skills. The program offers skill training, exposure to experimental techniques, research seminars, journal clubs, networking opportunities, and career exploration activities. You will also present your findings at conferences, gaining experience in communication and professional development while connecting with scientists.

6. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program (YSP)

Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend availability varies by year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; cohort size varies by year
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are permanent residents of Massachusetts and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents   

Northeastern’s YSP is a six-week summer research experience for high schoolers interested in research. You will join a university lab and work under the guidance of faculty and graduate mentors on ongoing research, including studies in medical or biomedical fields. In addition to lab work, you will attend seminars led by university faculty, explore STEM career paths, and participate in visits to industrial and research facilities. The program also offers college and career guidance to help you plan your future educational path. The program will end with a poster presentation, allowing you to share your findings with peers and faculty.

7. Mass General Brigham Youth Program

Location: Mass General Brigham hospitals and affiliated sites in Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 75 students/year
Dates: Academic year and summer programs (multi-year commitment)
Application deadline: Summer deadlines; applications open in the spring. You can contact your school counselor for details.
Eligibility: Students in 10th grade in Boston, Revere, or Chelsea enrolled in partner schools or Boston public high schools with a minimum 3.0 GPA 

The Mass General Brigham Youth Program offers high school students a multi-year, hands-on introduction to healthcare careers. Starting in 10th grade, you will gain real-world experience through mentorship, paid internships, and career exploration in hospitals and research settings, while building skills, confidence, and professional connections. Over the course of the program, you will gain exposure to emergency medicine, nursing, neurology, radiology, pathology, psychiatry, respiratory services, and other areas in healthcare. The program supports you through college with ongoing guidance, alumni networking, and college advising.

8. Boston Medical Center’s Junior Summer Volunteer Program 

Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort size: 70
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application deadline: April 3 or when 100 applications are received; the application window opens on March 6
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; preference given to Boston residents.

The Junior Summer Volunteer Program is an eight-week program that offers an opportunity to explore the daily operations of a healthcare facility. As a volunteer, you will commit to at least one three-hour shift each week at the Boston Medical Center, engaging in tasks that support hospital operations and taking on volunteering roles in one of the facility’s departments, which includes the outpatient pediatric clinic. You will attend one-hour lectures led by professionals like physicians, nurses, surgeons, social workers, and healthcare administrators. During the program, you will explore a range of roles in healthcare and medicine, as well as the inner workings of a hospital. You will receive credits and a certificate of completion upon completion of the program.

9. MGH Institute of Health Professionals Aspiring Physician and Medical Scientist Summer Program

Location: Massachusetts General Hospital IHP, Boston, MA
Cost: $4,500 + optional college credit: $540
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students/year
Dates: July 20 – 31; August 3 – 14
Application deadline: Rolling (payment due upon acceptance)
Eligibility: High school students; competitive admissions

The Aspiring Physician and Medical Scientist Summer Program at MGH IHP offers high school students a two-week hands-on exposure to medicine and medical research. You will learn through healthcare simulations, sessions led by MGH IHP faculty and Harvard Medical School instructors, and exposure to clinical and research-based approaches to patient care. The curriculum covers topics like anatomy, emergency room skills, neurology, surgery, and CPR. The program emphasizes practical skills, critical thinking, and professional development. You will leave with a certificate that you can add to your college applications. Optional college credit is also available.

10. MEDscienceClinical @ Harvard Medical School

Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,250 (four-day program) or $2,800 (five-day program); a limited number of scholarships are available to Boston-area students.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions between June and August; check dates here.
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students 

Harvard’s MEDscienceClinical is a four- to five-day program that introduces high school students to emergency medicine through simulation-based instruction. As a participant, you will learn about and practice CPR, intubation, IV insertion, suturing, and trauma care in Harvard’s simulation labs. The curriculum covers case-based diagnosis and emergency response, while providing exposure to various healthcare roles. You will also earn certifications in CPR/AED and Stop the Bleed (limited to 5-day sessions) and participate in MEDchats, structured Q&A sessions with healthcare professionals across specialties. The program focuses on helping you build the skills and knowledge required for careers in healthcare settings.

11. Harvard Medical School’s MEDscienceLAB 

Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800 (five days) | $2,250 (four days); a limited number of scholarships are available for Boston-area students.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August; check dates here.
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 and up

Harvard Medical School’s MEDscienceLAB is a four- to five-day program focusing on the intersection of clinical research and patient care. Here, you will work in a lab, run experiments using techniques like DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and ELISA on patient-derived samples, and link lab findings to patient outcomes through simulations. You will work in a team to interpret test results, identify conditions, and make treatment decisions, simulating the diagnostic workflow in translational medicine. You will also have access to MEDchats, interactive sessions that connect you with professionals across biomedical science, biotech, and public health, and offer insights into academic and research careers.

12. Tufts University’s Mini Med School

Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville Campus and Boston Health Sciences Campus, MA
Cost: Commuter: $3,625 (one week) or $5,425 (two weeks) | Residential: $4,650 (one week) or $6,950 (two weeks); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1 (Commuter Only): June 22 – 26 | Session 2: July 5 – 17 | Session 3: July 19 – 24
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11 and 12 and spring high school graduates who have completed 1 year of high school biology and are 16 years of age by the program start date

Tufts University Mini Med School is a one- to two-week in-person program for high school students interested in medicine and health professions. Here, you will attend lectures on cutting-edge medical topics, work through clinical case studies, and gain skills in the Clinical Simulation Center and anatomy lab while practicing suturing, taking vital signs, and other essential medical techniques. The program includes Q&A sessions with Tufts faculty, medical students, and professionals from fields such as dentistry, veterinary medicine, and physician assistant studies, offering insight into medical school and career options. You will also create a capstone project on a clinical skill or health topic of your choice.

13. Northeastern University Accelerate Pre-College Programs: Innovations in Health Professions

Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: $7,095 (includes tuition, housing, meals, course materials, and activities); need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 – 30 students/program
Dates: July 12 – 24
Application deadline: January 15 (priority); February 27 (regular); March 15 (late)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors

The Innovations in Health Professions program offers high school students a two-week introduction to careers in healthcare. You will gain hands-on exposure to clinical skills, medical simulations, and emergency response techniques such as CPR and Stop the Bleed, while learning about patient-centered and community health. You will also work alongside faculty from various health fields, participate in interprofessional activities, and refine your decision-making and reflective thinking skills through program activities. The program combines hands-on learning with campus life, offering housing, meals, and social activities, while offering insights into pathways available in medicine and allied health professions.