15 Medical Programs for High School Students in Washington State
As a high school student, participating in medical-focused programs is a reliable way for you to gain early exposure to the healthcare field. These programs combine training with industry experience, providing you with the opportunity to practice practical skills, observe professionals, and understand how various clinical roles work together. Along the way, you’ll meet mentors, connect with peers who share similar goals, and gain clarity about whether a future in medicine is the right fit.
Why should you attend a program in Washington State?
Across Washington State, universities, medical schools, and healthcare systems host a range of opportunities in medicine and health practice. You might help run experiments in a biomedical lab, shadow clinicians during patient rounds, or learn how medical technology and data shape treatment decisions. Whether you live in the state or are traveling from elsewhere, these programs help you build valuable experience while discovering which areas of healthcare interest you most.
To make the search easier, we’ve compiled a list of the top 15 medical programs for high school students in Washington State.
If you are looking for internships in Washington State, you can check out our blog here.
1. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: January 19 – March 13
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (16+) with a strong science background; Must be residing in Greater Seattle or surrounding areas
This eight-week paid internship introduces you to biomedical research through a structured mix of training, mentorship, and project work. During the first two weeks, you’ll undergo lab instruction in essential techniques, including PCR, DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, and tissue culture. Once prepared, you’ll join an active research group and contribute to ongoing studies in cancer and related biomedical fields while learning how professionals manage experiments day to day. The program includes weekly sessions on topics like biostatistics, health equity, and bioethics to broaden your understanding of the scientific landscape. You’ll also participate in college and career workshops that outline academic pathways in STEM. The experience concludes with a formal research presentation, during which you will share your findings with colleagues, mentors, and family members.
2. Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; You can apply here
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students who have either completed the AI Scholars program or are experienced with AI concepts or Python
This ten-week program focuses on how artificial intelligence is reshaping medical research, diagnostics, and clinical decision-making. Designed by Harvard graduate students, the curriculum introduces you to machine learning models used to interpret medical images, detect disease patterns, and predict treatment outcomes. You’ll work in interactive coding environments that mirror the tools used in computational medicine, giving you practical exposure to real datasets. Topics span genomics, neuroscience, drug discovery, and hospital operations, allowing you to see multiple applications of AI in healthcare. Throughout the course, you’ll receive guidance from mentors during project development and technical sessions. By the end, you’ll complete a research project that applies AI methods to a specific medical question and present it as part of your final deliverable.
3. Seattle Children’s Research Training for High School Students
Location: Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; 16 spots available
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 5 – March 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors within commuting distance of downtown Seattle; More details here
This program provides you with structured exposure to biomedical research through lab activities, lectures, and an independent project. Over several weeks, you’ll learn how to use microscopes, run PCR tests, perform bacterial transformation, and practice gene-editing techniques. Instruction from researchers introduces subjects such as immunology, infectious diseases, and global health, helping you connect laboratory skills to real medical challenges. You’ll also take part in college and career workshops and tour research facilities to understand professional pathways in science. A core element of the program is designing and conducting your own research project under a mentor's guidance. At the end of the session, you’ll present your learnings to the Seattle Children’s community.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Medicine Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+
This 12-week research program pairs you with Ph.D.-level mentors to complete an independent academic project in fields such as medicine, neuroscience, public health, or psychology. You’ll meet regularly with your mentor to refine your topic, develop your methodology, and review your progress, creating a research experience similar to undergraduate work. The program integrates research skills training, writing support, and topic-specific guidance to help you produce a full-length academic paper. You can choose from an extensive list of disciplines or collaborate with your mentor to craft a customized research focus. Those who complete all requirements may qualify for academic credit through UC San Diego.
5. SPARK Summer Internship Program
Location: Greater Seattle area with some remote options
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; Up to $500 stipends
Acceptance Rate: Less than 5%
Dates: 8-10 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: May
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The SPARK Summer Internship Program matches you with project teams working on research in fields such as biotechnology, machine learning, robotics, and data visualization. For eight to ten weeks, you’ll collaborate with a small group under the guidance of a mentor who will help you learn technical skills and navigate research workflows. Past project topics have included DNA sequence classification, neural network modeling, semiconductor materials, and computational tools for organizing scientific data. You’ll also participate in professional development sessions to understand future pathways in STEM. At the conclusion of the program, teams share their project outcomes with mentors and peers.
6. ISB High School Summer Internship
Location: ISB facilities in Seattle
Stipend: $5,000 is awarded in 3 splits
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: U.S. high school students currently enrolled in 11th grade
This eight-week paid internship allows you to work on interdisciplinary projects within systems biology, a field that integrates biology with computation, math, and engineering. As an intern, you’ll join active labs and contribute to topics such as cancer biology, microbial evolution, microbiome analysis, or algae-based bioengineering. You’ll work closely with a mentor, learning experimental design, coding, data analysis, and research documentation. The program includes interviews with ISB staff across scientific and administrative departments, offering insight into multiple STEM career paths. You’ll also build a project website to track progress, which may help develop educational materials used by partner schools. The internship also covers leadership and communication training to support your development as a young researcher.
7. Biomedical Research Internship for Growth of High School Trainees from Underrepresented Populations (BRIGHT-UP)
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; Around 20 spots
Dates: June – August (1 week orientation, 6 weeks internship)
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: High school students (especially those from underrepresented backgrounds)
BRIGHT-UP is an eight-week paid internship that begins with a week of orientation that blends lectures with laboratory training to prepare you for more advanced work. You’ll then join a research lab for six weeks, where you’ll learn specialized techniques while contributing to an active project guided by scientific mentors. Weekly sessions focus on professional communication, college planning, and pathways in biomedical careers. You’ll also attend lab tours, panels, and discussions that introduce different areas of research. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your findings at a symposium attended by peers, mentors, and members of the UW community.
8. The Providence Phlebotomy Training Program
Location: Multiple Providence locations
Stipend: Paid (Earn-to-Learn program offers $17/hour)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer (varies by requirement and location)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school diploma or equivalent required
The Providence Phlebotomy Training Program provides structured preparation for individuals aiming to meet Washington’s licensure and national certification requirements for phlebotomy. The curriculum includes real-time instruction, online learning modules, simulated practice, and supervised clinical rotations where you’ll work directly with patients to collect blood and other diagnostic specimens. Classroom training runs full-time during weekdays, while clinical hours vary by site and may require early mornings, evenings, or weekend shifts. Some locations offer an Earn-to-Learn option, which combines paid training with a guaranteed job placement upon completion and a required employment contract.
9. Neuroscience Summer Student Program
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $3,200
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: October 31 – December 15
Eligibility: High school students or recent graduates (18+) with a minimum GPA and a STEM GPA of at least 3.2 each
The Neuroscience Summer Student Program at UW Medicine offers an eight-week introduction to both research and clinical practice in the neurosciences. As a participant, you’ll spend time in a laboratory conducting an individual research project while also observing neurosurgical procedures and shadowing clinicians in neurology and neurosurgery clinics. Weekly Grand Rounds, faculty lectures, and resident education sessions will help you understand how neuroscience concepts translate from basic science to patient care. The experience concludes in a formal presentation where you’ll share your project findings with faculty and peers.
10. University of Washington: UDOC
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA (hybrid)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; 30 students per year
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 10 – March 20
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in Washington State who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or hold DACA status; Must belong to an underrepresented group in health professions
UDOC is a free, six-week summer program designed to broaden access to health careers for high school juniors from underrepresented backgrounds in Washington State. The experience combines three virtual weeks with three weeks on the UW Seattle campus, giving you exposure to fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, public health, and rehabilitation sciences. Hands-on simulations, clinical skills workshops, and small-group activities introduce you to core concepts in patient care and biomedical science. You’ll also receive mentorship and guidance on academic preparation, health-career pathways, and navigating college applications. All program expenses, including travel, are covered to reduce barriers to participation.
11. Na-ha-shnee STEAM Summer Institute
Location: Washington State University, Spokane, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July
Application Deadline: Opens in Spring
Eligibility: Native American high school students who are interested in health sciences or STEAM fields
The Na-ha-shnee STEAM Summer Institute introduces you to healthcare and STEAM fields through hands-on workshops and cultural learning. Over the course of the program, you’ll practice skills such as CPR and first aid, learn about traditional medicine, and engage in labs led by healthcare providers and WSU faculty. You’ll also hear teachings from Native American elders and participate in leadership development activities that connect health education with community knowledge. Time on the Spokane campus gives you a sense of academic life while offering direct interaction with students in health sciences programs.
12. Roots to Wings Program – PNWU
Location: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima, WA
Cost: No cost
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Indigenous students (including high school students), particularly from the Yakama Nation, or students from rural communities
The Roots to Wings program at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences introduces you to a wide range of health professions through collaborative learning and mentorship. You’ll rotate through labs and simulations, including chemistry experiments, electromyography demonstrations, patient-care scenarios, and birth simulations to understand how different clinical disciplines approach real medical challenges. The program operates as a co-mentorship model, meaning you’ll not only learn from PNWU students but also contribute your own perspectives to help shape future healthcare providers. Each session provides exposure to roles spanning medicine, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, EMS, and medical assisting.
13. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 + $45 application fee (financial aid is available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; ~50 students per year
Dates: June 15 – 26; July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+) with solid math or computer programming skills, or those who have worked on a healthcare project
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week online program designed to familiarize you with the role of AI in medical imaging and clinical decision-making. You’ll engage in daily sessions that blend instruction on core AI concepts, hands-on machine learning applications, and analysis of real healthcare datasets, while collaborating on group projects guided by Stanford-affiliated mentors. The program also includes virtual “Meet the Expert” sessions with professionals from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit fields, giving you insight into the many career paths that intersect with AI in healthcare. If you complete every requirement, you’ll earn a certificate. Those wishing to go further can apply for extended independent research opportunities under faculty guidance.
14. sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students; Underprivileged students in neuroscience or those without any research experience preferred
The sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program is a free, five-week online opportunity that guides you through the process of conducting independent research using open-access scientific tools. Each week includes a recorded lecture and a journal club session where you’ll analyze and discuss published neuroscience papers with peers and volunteer mentors. If you’re in the synchronous track, you’ll receive individualized guidance as you design a research question, carry out an analysis, and prepare your project for presentation. At the end of the program, you’ll deliver a 10-15-minute presentation and submit a written paper, which you can later expand or submit to student journals.
15. Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,000 + $45 application fee; Financial aid is available
Cohort Size: ~50 students per year
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be 14 years or older by the program's start
The Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a two-week online program designed to familiarize you with how AI is applied in healthcare settings. As a participant, you’ll explore core topics including medical data limitations, evaluating AI models, ethical considerations, and the practical deployment of AI in clinical environments. Learning takes place through a mix of self-paced lessons, collaborative discussions, and small-group activities that highlight how health-focused AI systems are built and validated. The program also features interactive talks with experts from universities, industry, and public institutions. New and evolving fields, such as generative AI and foundation models, are incorporated into the curriculum. Once you complete all the program components, you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion.
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