If you’re looking for a way to explore the field of medicine outside of the classroom, consider a program in the field!
For high school students in Philadelphia interested in healthcare and medicine, local summer programs offer a valuable way to explore the field early on. Whether you’re looking to shadow professionals, conduct research, or learn clinical skills, these programs provide hands-on experience and insight into medical careers. In this blog, we’ve compiled 15 medical programs in Philadelphia that can help you build your knowledge, gain practical experience, and prepare for future studies in the health sciences.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Medicine Track
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on the program type. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students demonstrating a high level of academic achievement are eligible to apply.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research experience for high school students, offering extensive 1-on-1 mentorship across a wide range of subjects. You will work with Ph.D. mentors on an independent research project, culminating in a research paper at the end of the 12-week program. You can choose research topics from subjects such as biology, human body, medicine, psychology, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Veritas AI – AI+ Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $2,290. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
Veritas AI offers virtual programs for high school students passionate about exploring artificial intelligence. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, you’ll study how AI is transforming healthcare and enabling more accurate diagnoses. Over ten weeks, you’ll learn from faculty affiliated with Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Princeton through expert-led lectures, coding notebooks, and hands-on projects. You’ll build and apply AI and machine learning models to diagnose diseases, enhance medical imaging, and communicate results for clinical decision-making. The course also examines AI applications in genomics, hospital admissions, drug discovery, neuroscience, and beyond.
3. Drexel University – BIOMED Summer Academy
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: $1,500. Need-based scholarships are available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Dates: Session I: July 7 – 11 | Session II: July 14 – 18 | Session III: July 21 – 25 | Session IV: July 28 – August 1.
Application Deadline: May 31.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who have completed at least one year of biology are eligible to apply.
Drexel University’s BIOMED Summer Academy introduces high school students to the field of biomedical engineering through hands-on lab work and real-world applications. You will explore topics like brainwave monitoring, medical imaging, and nanoparticle creation while building practical lab skills. In addition to research, it includes faculty-led seminars, guest speakers, and site visits to local biomedical companies, giving you exposure to both academic and industry perspectives. The experience offers a comprehensive introduction to biomedical engineering and its impact on healthcare and innovation.
4. Monell Chemical Senses Center – Science Apprenticeship Program
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA.
Stipend: Paid.
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 10%; 18 to 24 students.
Dates: June 23 – August 15.
Application Deadline: January 15.
Eligibility: High school students from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, are eligible to apply.
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP) is a competitive eight-week summer internship that offers high school students an immersive introduction to biomedical research. The program provides a full-time research experience alongside scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. You will take on individual research projects in areas such as olfaction, air quality, and chemical ecology, learning lab techniques and experimental design through hands-on work. The program also includes lectures from researchers and culminates in a Capstone Symposium, where you will present your findings. MSAP offers a focused and mentored research environment for aspiring scientists.
5. The Wistar Institute – High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA.
Stipend: $1,000.
Cohort Size: 12 students.
Dates: July 7 – 31.
Application Deadline: March 31.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have completed one high school science course are eligible to apply.
The Wistar Institute’s High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research is a three-week summer program that allows students to explore careers in science through hands-on research. The program offers training in advanced laboratory techniques and direct involvement in projects focused on cancer, infectious disease, and vaccine development. In addition to lab work, you will learn to analyze scientific literature and attend sessions on career paths in biomedical research. The program concludes with a presentation of your research to a community of peers and mentors.
6. University of Pennsylvania – Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: Free!
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Dates: July 7 – August 1.
Application Deadline: February 21.
Eligibility: High school freshmen or sophomores in a Philadelphia high school are eligible to apply.
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program is a four-week experience designed to introduce high school students to professional fields through partnerships with Penn’s graduate and professional schools. You are matched with one of five schools, including the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, or the School of Dental Medicine, making it a strong fit for students exploring healthcare careers. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in interactive learning sessions, hands-on activities, and career exploration guided by Penn’s curriculum. The program offers a meaningful introduction to academic and professional pathways in medicine. It concludes with a college fair held on Penn’s campus.
7. Fox Chase Cancer Center – Teen Research Internship Program
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: Free!
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Dates: Session 1: July 7 – 11 | Session 2: July 21 – 25.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area high school students who will be at least 14 years old by July 7 are eligible to apply.
The Fox Chase Cancer Center offers a structured research internship for high school students interested in exploring medical and scientific research. The program is divided into three phases: during the Project Design phase, you are introduced to experimental design and foundational lab techniques while investigating factors that impact organismal health. In the Experimentation phase, you will conduct hands-on research, collect data, and build analytical and critical thinking skills. The final stage, Communication, focuses on scientific writing and presentation. You will share your findings with peers and mentors, and selected projects will be showcased on the center’s website.
8. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – CHOP Research Internship for Scholars and Emerging Scientists (CHOP-RISES)
Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: Free!
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Dates: June 31 – August 7.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Philadelphia high school students who are 16 years old by June 16 are eligible to apply.
The CHOP-RISES program is a two-year summer research internship designed for high school students interested in pediatric health. During the first summer, you will complete a six-week experience that combines hands-on research with professional development workshops, culminating in a final presentation. Students who successfully finish the first year may be invited back for CHOP-RISES II—an advanced, eight-week internship the following summer. In this second phase, you will lead an independent research project, mentor incoming interns, and present your work at a formal poster session.
9. University of Pennsylvania – Medicine Summer Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: $10,875. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 29 – July 25.
Application Deadline: November 25 – February 27.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who have completed entry-level biology courses are eligible to apply.
The Penn Medicine Summer Program offers high school students a four-week immersive experience to explore careers in healthcare. The program includes hands-on simulations, live demonstrations, and the chance to attend lectures with physicians on campus. You’ll gain exposure to medical topics such as CPR, surgical knot-tying, skin biopsies, and lab work in areas like anatomy, pathology, and microbiology. Some participants may even have the opportunity to observe a live surgery.
10. Shriners Hospitals for Children – Clinical Research Summer Immersion Program
Location: Shriners Children’s Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: Check here for updates.
Cohort Size: 20 students.
Dates: June 24 – 28.
Application Deadline: March 15.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply.
This five-day internship is designed for 20 high school students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of clinical research. Throughout the week, you’ll explore the fundamentals of the research process, learn about current trends in the medical field, and develop your own research question. The program concludes with a presentation of your chosen topic, which can serve as a strong foundation for future research and enhance your college applications.
11. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia – Girls One Diaspora Club
Location: The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Campus, Philadelphia, PA.
Stipend: Paid.
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Dates: September 9 onwards.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Students from a Philadelphia School District high school are eligible to apply. Applicants must be African or from the African Diaspora and be born outside the U.S. or be first-generation Americans.
The Girls One Diaspora Club is an after-school internship program offered by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia for African high school girls living in Philadelphia. The program provides academic enrichment, personal development, and exposure to STEM and healthcare careers. You will explore topics such as plant-based medicine, community building, and women’s health, and also have the chance to design and contribute to an exhibit by the end of the program.
12. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Neurology High School Scholars Program
Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
Stipend: $1,000.
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Dates: July 14 – August 15.
Application Deadline: February 10 – March 7.
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are at least 16 years old before the start of the program are eligible to apply.
The Neurology High School Scholars Program is a five-week research internship where selected students collaborate with neurologists and neuroscientists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. You will engage in hands-on neuroscience research, shadow physicians, and attend weekly educational sessions. The program concludes with a poster presentation, where you will showcase your research findings to peers and professionals at a formal conference.
13. Thomas Jefferson University – Rehabilitation Sciences REACH Program
Location: Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: Free!
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Dates: July 28 – August 5 (weekdays only).
Application Deadline: June 27.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply.
The REACH Program at Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences offers rising juniors and seniors an introduction to careers in physical therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, and related fields. You will learn about the academic pathways required for these professions, including guidance on choosing an undergraduate major, applying for financial aid, and writing a personal statement. The program helps you explore rehabilitation medical sciences and prepare for future college applications.
14. University of Pennsylvania – Neuroscience Research Summer Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: $9,949. Need-based scholarships are available for select Philadelphia students.
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective.
Dates: July 5 – 26.
Application Deadline: April 27.
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply. Applicants must have completed one year of high school biology and one year of high school chemistry before the program begins.
The Neuroscience Research Academy offers high school students an in-depth look at the brain’s structure and function, from individual neurons to complex behaviors. Led by faculty from the University of Pennsylvania, the program explores neuroscience through the lens of both research and clinical practice. You will engage in lectures, journal clubs, and neuroethics discussions, while also participating in hands-on learning and field trips to institutions like the Mütter Museum and the Franklin Institute.
15. University of Pennsylvania – Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: $9,949. Need-based scholarships are available for select Philadelphia students.
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective.
Program Dates: July 5 – 26.
Application Deadline: April 27.
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply. Applicants must have completed one year of high school biology before the program begins.
The Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Academy is an intensive summer program that immerses high school students in the science and public health response to infectious diseases. Through a mix of lectures, lab work, guest speaker sessions, and field visits, you’ll explore core topics such as microbiology, immunology, genetics, epidemiology, and pathogen life cycles. You’ll study diseases like HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, malaria, and influenza, examining how outbreaks emerge, spread, and are controlled. Learning extends beyond the classroom through case studies, group activities, and lab experiments, with guidance from experts. The program concludes with a capstone project where you’ll lead a peer discussion on a past epidemic and design a public service announcement aimed at improving future pandemic preparedness.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like medicine, data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Thomas Jefferson University