Getting hands-on experience through summer nursing programs is an effective way for high school students to build skills and dive deeper into this medical field. These summer programs offer you the chance to train in simulation labs and gain credentials like a CPR certification.
Here's a list of 12 nursing and healthcare-related summer programs that will run in Illinois in 2024-2025, designed for high school students who want to explore healthcare, medical research, and clinical environments.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:
- Winter: December 2, 2024 onwards
- Spring: March 3, 2025 onwards
Application Deadline: November 10, 2024 (winter), February 9, 2025 (spring)
Subject Areas: Data science, biology, chemistry, political theory, psychology
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade with a 3.67+ GPA. Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! If you’re interested in nursing, you can choose the course on Medical Sociology. Horizon is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research, you’ll be paired with a professor or PhD scholar from a top university who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
Subject Areas: STEM, humanities, and social sciences
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. For students who want to explore nursing, the program offers a Medicine track. Selected students undergo immersive sessions with their mentors, who help them produce a college-level research paper based on their projects. Support from writing coaches will also be provided. The program ends with a symposium and gives you a potential chance at publication.
Subject Areas: AI, coding, computer science, medicine, finance
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students passionate about AI; Basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars is required
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. The upcoming winter cohort deadline is October 20, 2024. You can apply here!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. December 16, 2024 onwards for the Winter cohort
Cost: $2,290. Financial aid available
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine program, you will learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You’ll 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.
Subject Areas: Nursing, healthcare careers
Location: Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school juniors in good academic standing with a GPA higher than 2.0/4.0 from Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Highland Park, North Chicago, Round Lake, and Waukegan High Schools
Application Deadline: January 22, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: 8 weeks between June – August
Cost: Free, stipend provided
The Nursing INSPIRE Program is an eight-week summer initiative that introduces high school students to nursing as a potential career. The program includes Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training and mentorship from Rosalind Franklin University faculty and healthcare professionals. You will gain exposure to nursing career paths, build essential skills like writing college essays, and participate in sessions on financial planning for college with your parents. By completing the program, you become eligible to take the CNA certification exam, laying the groundwork for a future in healthcare.
Subject Areas: Nursing, patient care, healthcare administration
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors who are Chicago residents and have an 80% attendance record and minimum 2.5 GPA
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Program Dates: June 24 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Stipend provided, amount unspecified
The MedSTEM Explorers program is a six-week, paid summer pre-internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. It’s geared toward rising high school sophomores and juniors who are interested in exploring healthcare and STEM careers. You will build academic and workplace skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking while investigating health issues impacting your community. The program also offers opportunities for networking with healthcare professionals and earning certifications like first aid or CPR.
Subject Areas: Healthcare professions (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and more)
Location: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who live and attend school in rural communities (25,000 or fewer population). Certain counties receive preference
Application Deadline: Rolling (early applications encouraged). Applications for 2025 will open on January 6, 2025
Program Dates: June 24 – 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: $100
The Rural Health Careers Camp is a three-day, overnight camp that introduces high school students to healthcare professions through 20 hands-on activities and labs. You will learn from healthcare providers, explore different medical fields, and experience life on a college campus. The camp includes workshops, team-building games, and a day spent at the UIC Health Sciences Campus, giving you a real-world look at rural healthcare careers.
Subject Areas: Cancer research, biomedicine
Location: University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors from underrepresented groups in biomedicine
Application Deadline: January 20, 2025
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8, 2025
Cost: Stipend of $3,000 provided
The Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars program is an eight-week, research-intensive summer initiative for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds. You will gain hands-on experience working on cancer research projects with mentorship from faculty. You can choose from a range of fields within cancer research, including molecular biology, computation, and biostatistics. Throughout the program, you’ll also attend workshops and lectures focused on academic skills and professional development. At the end of the program, you’ll have the opportunity to present your work at the Student Symposium.
Subject Areas: Nursing, healthcare
Location: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with priority given to juniors and seniors from surrounding counties
Application Deadline: No information available
Program Dates: June 11 – 14, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Free (participants receive a stipend)
The IMAGINE Summer Success Academy is a four-day camp for underrepresented high school students interested in pursuing a nursing career. Held at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the camp gives you hands-on nursing experience, including getting a CPR certification and simulation lab training. The camp gives you the chance to interact with current nursing students. You will stay on campus, and parents are also invited to visit campus centers like the financial aid and housing offices.
Subject Areas: Laboratory, nursing, radiology, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy
Location: Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH), various hospital locations in Southern Illinois
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
Application Deadline: April 22, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: June 10 – July 17, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Free (unpaid internship with cafeteria meal cards provided)
The SIH High School Summer Internship Program is a six-week program designed for students interested in exploring careers in healthcare. You will shadow professionals in fields like nursing, radiology, and physical therapy, gaining firsthand experience in medical settings. You’ll work 2-3 days a week and receive an in-depth look at various healthcare responsibilities, from administering medication to working with medical technologies.
Subject Areas: Biomedical sciences, bioengineering
Location: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by May 1, 2025
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Program Dates: TBA for 2025
Cost: No information available
The University of Illinois STEM Camp is a week-long research program designed to expose high school students to biomedical sciences. You’ll learn how medical research is conducted, how new cures for diseases are found, and the role that bioengineering plays in medical treatment. You will participate in hands-on activities and have access to the university’s lab equipment and technology.
Subject Areas: Biomedical sciences, medical research
Location: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by May 1, 2025 in the Rockford School District
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: June 10 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Free, stipend provided
The Summer Science Internship at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford gives high school students hands-on experience in biomedical research. You will work directly with leading scientists in research teams, contributing to projects in areas such as cancer research, vaccine development, and drug design. You will gain essential laboratory skills, learn to collaborate in a research environment, and receive mentorship, which often extends beyond the summer program. The program also offers training in writing resumes, interviewing, and leadership skills.
Subject Areas: Healthcare careers, medical school curriculum
Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school students from diverse backgrounds in the Chicago area
Application Deadline: TBA. You can sign up here to be notified when the 2025 program opens
Program Dates: 5 weeks
Cost: No information available
HPREP is a five-week educational program designed to introduce high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to healthcare careers and the medical school experience. The program provides firsthand exposure to a variety of healthcare professions, including medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and physician assistant roles. You will also receive academic guidance and have the chance to interact with current medical students.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.