17 Online Summer Medical Programs for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in a healthcare career, you should consider joining a high school medical program. These programs offer a valuable opportunity to explore various medical fields, including psychology, neuroscience, and oncology. They offer insight into the profession, allowing you to gain work experience, develop relevant skills, and receive mentorship from professionals.
Many of these programs are offered by colleges and established institutions, making them a worthwhile addition to your resume. To enhance accessibility, these programs are often available in both online and in-person formats.
Here are 17 online summer medical programs for high school students worth exploring!
1. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual (or in-person at Johns Hopkins University)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer (virtual)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors living in the U.S. or Canada
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program is for high school students interested in pursuing research and clinical careers in the behavioral sciences, such as psychiatry or psychology. The program also offers a glimpse into brain health-related sciences, such as neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroscience. During the virtual experience, you will learn basic laboratory techniques and conduct experiments, as well as attend professional development and mentorship training sessions. You will also take part in educational presentations, and upon finishing the program, you'll receive a certificate of completion.
2. Veritas AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
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. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
3. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 program fees + $40 application fee; financial assistance available
Cohort Size: Around 25 students
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; High school students over the age of 14; Applicants with strong math or computer programming skills or experience with a healthcare project are preferred
Stanford AIMI’s summer research internships for high school students are for those interested in exploring the technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare through a hands-on experience. As a participant, you will attend daily lectures that introduce you to the fundamentals and technical aspects of AI in healthcare. You’ll also participate in mentored activities with Stanford Student Leads and researchers and in hands-on group sessions, working on research projects. Aside from that, you’ll get to attend “Virtual Career Lunch and Learns” sessions led by industry professionals and participate in social activities with your peers. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate 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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 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.
5. SHE in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500 (taxable)
Cohort Size: Up to 20 students
Dates: 2 weeks in July
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school students living in Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana
The Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology program is designed for students interested in exploring biomedical careers, especially in the field of cancer. As a participant, you'll explore cancer science and care while gaining practical experience in cancer research through a home laboratory kit. You will also take part in a genetics research project and a patient case study. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to attend workshops on career development and skill-building, led by industry professionals. You will also participate in daily faculty lectures and panel discussions, with opportunities to network with mentors and peers.
6. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Location: Virtual (in-person options available too)
Cost: $1,595; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: March 1; Rolling
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14-18
Stanford’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is a 10-day summer program that introduces students to concepts in neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology. The program focuses on teaching students to think like clinical neuroscientists and provides them with the opportunity to participate in a collaborative capstone project. You will learn how to approach clinical problems in psychiatry and psychology, examine common questions in neuroscience and behavioral science, and collaborate with others on a team-oriented research project. You’ll also get to attend interactive seminars hosted by Stanford faculty and researchers.
7. UT Southwestern: Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: 2 weeks in June
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th high school students
UT Southwestern offers two-week internships for high school students interested in exploring the world of psychology and mental health. As a participant, you will work with psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and licensed clinical social workers, thereby learning more about their respective fields. During online sessions, you will analyse and work on topical readings from mass media articles or scientific journal articles. You’ll also get to participate in career-focused discussions and hear from industry professionals. This program also offers a chance to develop and expand your professional network.
8. Georgetown University: Pre-College Online Program – Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Low to medium selectivity
Dates: Multiple 1-week, 2-week, and 4-week sessions from July to August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: U.S. high school students ages 13 and up
Georgetown University provides flexible online pre-college programs that allow high school students to explore their interests before entering college, with courses in fields like business, STEM, medicine, and others. In the medicine course, you will learn about the various roles involved in a healthcare team and explore treatment plans for cases such as kidney transplants, vascular disease, and cancer. You’ll also learn the difference between complementary and integrative medicine techniques and complete a capstone project that showcases all your acquired knowledge. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
9. Summer@Brown Online – Breakthroughs: An Exploration of Laboratory Organisms in Biomedical Research
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,218; scholarships available
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; Must be between the ages of 14-18; Must have finished a high school biology course
Summer@Brown Online offers several medical and health studies courses you can participate in if you’re interested in exploring the medical field. One of them is the “Breakthroughs: An Exploration of Laboratory Organisms in Biomedical Research” course, which focuses on the various types of lab organisms and their use as models for human health and disease in biomedical research. You’ll get to learn about things like how to work with different organisms and the ethical considerations of doing so. You will review both classical and recent studies, explore virtual lab tours, and listen to lab members discuss their research. The course will end with a final project that involves you doing research into an organism of your choice.
10. Harvard Medical School Pre-College HMX Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students older than 13
The Harvard Medical School Pre-College HMX Program offers students flexible learning courses to explore various medical concepts through real-world applications and interactive activities. The program allows you to take college-level courses over the summer, with content curated by doctors, scientists, and Harvard Medical School professors. Some of the courses currently available include Biochemistry: From Molecules to Medicine, Genetics: Unlocking the Power of DNA, Pharmacology: From Drug Discovery to Patient Care, and more. As a participant, you’ll be able to explore topics that interest you and get a glimpse into what college academics will look like. Once you complete a course, you’ll get a certificate of completion from Harvard Medical School.
11. UCI School of Medicine – Pre-Med Pathway Programs: Summer Online Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 23 – July 11 (session one); July 14 – August 1 (session two)
Application Deadline: Rolling; January – February
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3; Priority is given to students in higher grades.
The UCI School of Medicine provides multiple pre-med pathway programs, such as the Summer Online Research Program, which is a three-week course aimed at high school students to introduce them to different healthcare research methods. As a participant, you'll be paired with a mentor, who will be a UCI undergraduate or graduate student majoring in biomedical research. You'll learn why evidence-based medicine matters, understand responsible research involving human subjects, and more. You'll also develop skills to critically analyze medical literature and write research reports. You might even get the chance to co-author a paper with your mentor and submit your abstract to a national conference.
12. Wake Forest University: Online Medical Programs for High School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,495; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Low to medium selectivity
Dates: Several 2-week and 4-week sessions in a year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and up
Wake Forest University offers several online medical programs for high school students taught by Wake Forest medical doctors and professors. You can participate in various subjects such as sports medicine, cancer, psychology, women’s health, bioscience, and more. During the program, you will receive guidance from experienced mentors in your relevant field. Later in the program, you'll work on a capstone project with guidance from your mentor, encompassing topics and concepts learned throughout the course. If you finish at least 70% of the course assignments and your final project, you will receive a certificate of completion.
13. Johns Hopkins University: Global Health Leaders Conference
Location: Virtual
Cost: $99 conference fee; financial aid available
Dates: July 13 – July 25
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 of any nationality
The Johns Hopkins University Global Health Leaders Conference is an international event providing high school students with the opportunity to explore topics in global health, public health, and medicine. You’ll get to participate in engaging lectures and hear directly from guest speakers who are world leaders in this field. The program emphasizes global health, training you in the study and research needed to improve health outcomes and promote health equity worldwide. During the program, you'll get to take part in the Student Speaker Series, where you can share your work and ideas on global health topics.
14. Stanford Medicine: Summer of Neurosciences
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,380
Dates: July 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Stanford’s Summer of Neurosciences is a three-week program that introduces high school students to research in neuroscience. The program consists of three core components: Insights, Investigation, and Illumination. Investigation is a weekly journal club where participants explore real research topics in depth. During these sessions, you’ll discuss scientific articles and recent advances in the field, culminating in teamwork presentations. Insights, or career insights, provide an opportunity to connect with professionals in the field and learn about their career paths, as well as how to prepare for your own. Illumination includes sessions called Neurology/Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, where you’ll attend special lectures on clinical research developments from faculty and guest speakers.
15. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Summer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 16 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 16-18)
UCLA’s Neuroscience High School Scholars Summer Program is offered in two formats: virtual and in-person. The virtual version will provide a taste of various neuroscience topics, including Alzheimer’s and related dementias, with a focus on health disparities and cultural sensitivities. As a participant, you'll join seminars on neuroscience and neurology grand rounds, learning more about research with guidance from mentors. You’ll also be involved in literature reviews and journal clubs, helping you get more research experience. Plus, you'll get to work on a relevant research project with support from your mentor.
16. AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 program fees + $40 application fee; financial assistance available
Cohort Size: Around 50 students
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; High school students over the age of 14
The AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp focuses on exploring the fundamentals of machine learning in healthcare settings. Throughout the program, you’ll explore the role of machine learning in healthcare, key concepts and principles, the challenges encountered in this field, and additional related topics. You’ll also explore how foundation models and generative AI can contribute to the healthcare field. You will engage in online learning modules, participate in group discussions, social activities, and additional events. You’ll also get to attend “Virtual Career Lunch and Learns” sessions and learn from industry professionals.
17. Summer@Brown Online – Biomedical Engineering: The Smart Design of Medical Implants and Devices
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,454; scholarships available
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; Must be between the ages of 14-18; Must have finished Algebra 1 and Trigonometry
Summer@Brown Online offers the course “Biomedical Engineering: The Smart Design of Medical Implants and Devices,” which provides an introduction to biomedical engineering. During the course, you will learn how engineers think and will get insight into the engineering design process. You will explore the fundamentals of tissue replacement materials derived from natural sources, along with their synthetic options. You will also examine how cells engage with these materials and their mechanical characteristics. Discussions with instructors and peers examine the ethical implications of various biomedical engineering designs. Towards the end of the course, you’ll get to work on a unique design challenge and design and build a tissue prototype.
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