15 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students in Washington State
If you’re a high school student exploring careers in health and science, medical summer programs offer solid options for you. These opportunities give you structured skill-building, exposure to clinical or research environments, and give you access to professional and industry connections. Whether you’re interested in clinical shadowing, biomedical research, public health, or health-tech intersections, summer programs are a great way to test your interest in medicine beyond the classroom.
Why should you attend a program in Washington State?
Washington State has numerous reputable institutions and organisations that host medical-focused opportunities that combine academic content with practical exposure and mentorship. These programs are a great way for you to gain access to strong health-science infrastructure, research labs, and hospital systems during the summer break and build your profile. Whether you live in Washington or are visiting from elsewhere, these programs offer a supportive environment to explore medical careers at an early stage.
To help with your search, we have a list of 15 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students in Washington State.
If you are looking for programs in Washington State, you can check out our blogs here and here.
1. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Pathways Research Explorers Program
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $500 participation award
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 16 students/session
Dates: Session 1: July 28 – August 8; Session 2: August 11 – 22
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: 10th and 11th-grade students living in Seattle or the surrounding areas; must have completed an introductory biology or chemistry course
The Pathways Research Explorers offers a hands-on medical summer program for high school students in Washington State that will introduce you to biomedical research through laboratory activities, facility tours, and mentorship from professional scientists. Hosted by Fred Hutch, the program immerses you in key research areas such as cancer biology, immunotherapy, epidemiology, and biostatistics, while allowing you to practice fundamental lab techniques in the Learning Lab. Working in a small, supportive cohort, you’ll have the chance to engage directly with scientists at various career stages, gaining insight into how medical research is conducted and applied. In addition to lab experience, you’ll participate in sessions that explore academic pathways and careers in science and medicine, helping you build a clearer sense of your future goals.
2. Veritas AI's AI+Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 10-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling applications for different cohorts: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students from around the world; AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
The Veritas AI + Medicine Deep Dive is an innovative program designed to help you explore how artificial intelligence is transforming modern medicine and healthcare. Through expert-led lectures and small-group mentorship, you’ll gain hands-on experience applying AI concepts to medical data and real-world problems. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI and its applications in medicine, then explore key topics such as medical data preparation, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and convolutional neural networks (CNNs). You will also take a deep dive into advanced areas, such as image segmentation, transfer learning, and clinical evaluation. At the end of the program, you will work on a group project with your peers, designing and creating an AI+medicine project.
3. University of Washington Office of Healthcare Equity – UDOC High School Program
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Current Washington State high school students completing their junior year by July 1, with a demonstrated interest in health careers; U.S. citizens or permanent residents only
The UDOC High School Program introduces you to a wide range of medical and healthcare careers through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. It offers a valuable foundation if you’re exploring future paths in medicine, healthcare, or biomedical research. Designed to help you understand how different fields within health sciences work together, the program will introduce you to diverse health professions, including medicine, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medical research. You will be engaged in interactive skill-building workshops, simulations, and mentorship sessions with professionals and current university students to ensure that you gain a deeper understanding of both the academic and practical aspects of healthcare education and practice, to help you find a health career that aligns best with your interests and strengths.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Medicine Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year for spring, summer, fall, and winter; Summer Cohort begins June 1
Application Deadline: Rolling applications for each cohort; you can apply to the program here
Eligibility: Current high school students with a high level of academic achievement
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, including medicine, health science, and neuroscience. 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.
5. Seattle Children’s Research Training Program for High School Students
Location: B. Wayne Hughes Building, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 16 students/cohort
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors with a strong interest in biology, biochemistry, microbiology, public health, or a related scientific field; must reside within commuting distance of Downtown Seattle
The Seattle Children’s Institute offers immersive in-person research training summer programs for high school students in Washington State who wish to explore medicine, biology, and biomedical research. The program provides hands-on exposure to scientific inquiry and laboratory techniques used in real-world medical research. As a participant, you will work within the Seattle Children’s Research Institute and polish your foundational skills through workshops, lectures, and independent projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. Throughout the program, you will learn about topics in biochemistry, immunology, gene editing, and infectious diseases, and you will participate in practical lab sessions involving microscopy, PCR, bacterial transformation, and immunoassays. You will also engage in college readiness and career exploration workshops that will provide a comprehensive introduction to the academic and professional pathways in medicine. The program culminates with an independent research project and a final oral presentation, giving you a platform to demonstrate your skills and experiences.
6. Camp Prov High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Forest Park, Everett, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Minimum 1 week in the summer
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This program gives you a meaningful and hands-on opportunity to explore community care and healthcare-related services as you work directly with children who have special needs, and their siblings attending Camp Prov. You will serve as a “buddy” and support campers through daily activities such as arts and crafts, sensory play, music, storytelling, splash park time, and movement sessions. You will be guided by camp unit leaders, caregivers, and registered nurses, and learn the importance of compassion, communication, and teamwork in a caregiving environment. The experience gives you insight into fields such as pediatrics, occupational therapy, and special education, while allowing you to make a tangible difference in your community. As a new volunteer, you will be required to attend a mandatory orientation to prepare you to support campers and staff.
7. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutch campus, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Financial award upon successful completion of the internship; exact amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year, residing in Greater Seattle or surrounding areas, and at least 16 years old
The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a prestigious eight-week paid internship that gives you a chance to experience biomedical research firsthand. This medical summer program for high school students in Washington State is ideal if you’re eager to explore science and medicine but haven’t yet had extensive research experience. Through structured mentorship and professional development, SHIP helps you build both laboratory and career skills in an authentic research setting. The program begins with two weeks of hands-on laboratory training, where you’ll learn essential safety protocols, experimental techniques, and gain an introduction to Fred Hutch’s pioneering research. For the following six weeks, you’ll join a research group, working in pairs under the guidance of scientists and mentors. Beyond lab work, SHIP includes research seminars, professional development workshops, and community-building activities, helping you prepare for college and future STEM careers. The internship concludes with a final presentation to researchers, peers, and family.
8. Biomedical Research Internship for the Growth of High-school Trainees from Underrepresented Populations (BRIGHT-UP)
Location: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: 8 weeks from June – August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who qualify for low-income status or will potentially be the first to attend college in their family
The BRIGHT-UP Program at the University of Washington School of Medicine is an intensive 8-week biomedical research internship designed to provide meaningful lab experience for educationally and economically under-resourced high school students, to increase representation in the biomedical sciences. During the program, you will work alongside faculty and researchers in university labs to develop project-specific laboratory techniques and learn how scientific discovery contributes to improving healthcare. You’ll also take part in Pathways to Science discussion panels and lab open houses, which introduce you to professionals across different scientific disciplines. The program enables you to explore the medicine and research field while giving you a platform to develop your skills in a lab environment.
9. Doctor for a Day
Location: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not very selective
Dates: Multiple monthly sessions
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to all students
The Doctor for a Day Program is an engaging and interactive initiative designed to inspire educationally and economically under-resourced students to explore careers in medicine and healthcare. It is run almost entirely by medical students and gives you a chance to experience what working in healthcare is like, with hands-on, skill-based workshops and demonstrations. The program emphasizes representation and equity in healthcare to improve access and patient care within the community. During the event, you will rotate through stations that teach physical examination techniques, patient interviewing skills, and basic suturing. This will give you a better understanding of the nuances of healthcare careers and the basics of various foundational concepts.
10. MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare (M.A.S.H.) Camp
Location: Facilities in the Puget Sound region, the Spokane region, and the Yakima region, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Pierce, South King, Kitsap, and North Thurston counties
M.A.S.H. Camp, hosted by MultiCare Health System, is an immersive and interactive opportunity to explore the dynamic world of healthcare and engage directly with medical professionals from both clinical and non-clinical fields, gaining a behind-the-scenes understanding of how hospitals and healthcare systems operate. Throughout the program, you’ll participate in hands-on learning stations, mock medical scenarios, and facility tours while learning about a wide range of departments, including emergency medicine, intensive care (adult and pediatric), oncology, labor and delivery, surgery, pediatrics, information technology, and healthcare administration. In addition, the program includes college and university visits, helping you map out your future academic pathway in medicine or health sciences.
11. Na-ha-shnee STEAM Summer Institute
Location: Washington State University, Spokane, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free; all expenses covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9–12
The Na-ha-shnee STEAM Summer Institute at Washington State University, Spokane, is an immersive medical and STEAM summer camp for high school students that introduces participants to a wide range of health science and STEAM careers. The program enables you to engage in hands-on learning led by healthcare professionals, WSU faculty, and current health sciences students. Through interactive workshops and skill-based sessions, you will learn first aid and CPR, explore traditional medicine and Native American elder teachings, and develop leadership skills. The program emphasizes cultural awareness, collaboration, and personal growth while offering a unique perspective on healthcare and community health practices. You will also gain a glimpse into college life and enjoy meals, educational materials, and cultural activities for free, making this an inclusive and accessible opportunity.
12. University of Washington Nurse Camp
Location: University of Washington School of Nursing
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The UW Nurse Camp is a free, week-long summer program for high school students in Washington State designed to introduce you to the field of nursing and promote diversity in healthcare. Hosted by the University of Washington School of Nursing, this program aims to make nursing education and careers more accessible. Throughout the week, you will gain valuable insight into what it’s like to be a nurse, explore different areas of the nursing profession, and learn about the college admissions process and pathways to nursing school. The camp combines hands-on learning activities, interactive workshops, and mentorship from nursing faculty and students, giving you a realistic view of both the academic and clinical aspects of nursing.
13. STEM Summer Program at Whitman College – Pre-Health Majors
Location: Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
Cost/Stipend: Available on inquiry
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The Health Professions Preparation program at Whitman College offers aspiring healthcare students a well-rounded foundation that goes beyond academics. Designed to help you develop both scientific knowledge and the personal qualities essential for success in medicine, the program emphasizes compassion, leadership, ethical practice, and communication skills alongside strong performance in the life sciences. Whitman encourages exploration across disciplines, as more than one-third of students accepted into medical and health professional schools come from non-science majors. Through personalized advising, a liberal arts curriculum, and a focus on integrity and critical thinking, you’ll gain the preparation needed to pursue careers in medicine, public health, and other healthcare fields with both intellectual depth and human understanding.
14. Roots to Wings Program – PNWU
Location: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Slightly selective
Dates: Rolling
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Indigenous students, particularly from the Yakama Nation, or students from rural communities
The Roots to Wings program at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) is a unique co-mentorship initiative that connects youth from Yakima County with future healthcare professionals. Designed to inspire you to explore careers in healthcare and the sciences, the program blends academic enrichment with community empowerment. Through engaging hands-on labs and simulations, you will explore areas such as chemistry, anatomy, emergency medical services, physical therapy, nursing, and patient care, including specialized simulations like childbirth and electromyography (EMG).
15. COPE Junior Health Scholar
Location: Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Cost: $595 (3-month track); $475 (6-month track); $325 (9-month track)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Training in March, and program commencement in April
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school students age 16-17
The COPE Health Scholars – Junior Health Scholar Program gives you a rare opportunity to experience life inside a healthcare setting while still in high school. Designed for students eager to explore medicine, nursing, or allied health careers, this medical summer program for high school students in Washington allows you to shadow professionals and participate in patient care activities under supervision. You’ll gain firsthand insight into the teamwork, communication, and compassion that define clinical environments. You may work alongside experienced health scholars or independently, depending on the site and role. The program will help you develop essential skills such as patient comfort care, clinical decision-making, administrative competence, and professional communication while benefiting from mentorship from healthcare professionals. Though not a traditional summer-only experience, this immersive opportunity will keep you engaged even in the fall. You will receive a certificate of completion and preferred admission into the Health Scholar program to continue your clinical journey beyond high school.
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