If you’re a high school student in North Carolina thinking about a career in medicine, local summer programs can help you explore the field through hands-on learning and practical exposure. These opportunities offer a range of experiences, from academic enrichment and research to clinical skills training and physician shadowing.
Depending on the program, you might study topics like neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or public health, while practicing real-world skills such as suturing, patient interviewing, or using diagnostic tools. Many programs are hosted by universities, medical centers, or nonprofits across North Carolina, making them accessible without needing to travel far.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled 14 medical summer programs for high school students in North Carolina, each offering valuable insight and practical preparation for a future in healthcare.
1. Duke University’s STAR Program
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost/Stipend: Free; Students receive a stipend of $2,600
Program dates: June 23 – July 25
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply
The Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) program at Duke University offers a six-week research experience to high school students. As a participant, you and your team will work on an original, hypothesis-driven research project under the guidance of a Duke faculty mentor.
This includes the entire research process from formulating a research question to writing a research paper and formally presenting your findings. Previous students have also had the chance to see their papers published, covering topics like “In-hospital outcomes of premature infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia” and “Early-onset sepsis in term infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units”.
Aside from getting in-depth research experience, you will also attend lectures on neonatology, antimicrobial therapy, and pharmacoepidemiology.
2. Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,400; need-based scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Program dates: Session 1: July 6 – 11 | Session 2: July 20 – 25
Application deadline: Applications open on November 1 and are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: All current high school students
Wake Forest University’s Summer Immersion Program allows high school students to explore future careers by immersing them in rigorous academics and real-world experiences. The institute program includes visits to healthcare facilities and a tour of the School of Medicine.
You will learn about topics like cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, cancer care, and surgery. Through lab simulations, you will also have the chance to engage in hands-on activities like suturing, taking blood pressure, interviewing patients, and conducting ultrasounds.
3. UNC’s Internship in Science, Health Training, and Research (ISHTaR)
Location: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Stipend: Paid Internship
Program dates: Flexible start and end dates during summer
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors attending a North Carolina High School who are at least 16 years of age. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is recommended
The University of North Carolina School of Medicine’s paid internship offers high school students the chance to improve their research skills and explore a career in medicine. You will spend a significant part of the program working with a team of researchers on projects like creating informational documents and developing educational courses.
The other half of the program focuses on shadowing clinicians, such as EMS paramedics on an ambulance or a physician during inpatient and outpatient activities. This is a hybrid program that involves both remote and in-person sessions.
4. Wake Forest University’s Middle and High School Summer Research Exposure Program
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – July 18
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: North Carolina high school students between the ages of 16-18
Organized by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, this medical summer program offers a mentored research experience in the field of regenerative medicine. As a participant, you will get to shadow WFIRM faculty researchers and their teams, getting a firsthand experience of the scientific process.
You will spend 20-30 hours per week conducting research under the guidance of a mentor. Alongside this, you will attend the annual Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course and other seminars. There are only 8-10 positions available, which makes this a fairly selective program.
5. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Online
Cost: $5,950 (financial aid is available)
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Horizon Academic Research Program is a virtual research program that offers high school students the opportunity to develop an independent research project. This is a trimester-long program that will pair you with a professor/PhD scholar from a top university. Under their guidance, you will gain an advanced understanding of your chosen topic and complete a 20-page university-level research paper.
For students interested in medicine, there are several research areas available, such as Medical Sociology, which studies psychotherapy from a sociological lens, and Gene Editing and CRISPR, which dives into biological engineering. Other options include Neurodegenerative Diseases, Computational Neuroscience, and Psychology and Emotional Regulation. You can even choose between qualitative and quantitative research for this program.
6. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: 100% financial aid is available
Program dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility:
- You must be currently enrolled in high school
- Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
- No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research program that offers high school students a 1-on-1 mentorship opportunity. As a participant, you will be paired with a PhD mentor and work with them to develop an independent research project. In the process, you will gain research skills and study complex topics that go beyond high school curricula.
The program offers several research areas to choose from, including medicine. Previous students’ research papers have explored topics such as vaccines for breast cancer, the role of Humanin in Alzheimer’s disease, early signs of brain tumors, and how gene editing can be used to treat HIV, among others. You can apply for the program here.
7. Summer Science Program
Location: Multiple locations available, including New Mexico State University, Purdue University, Indiana University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and more
Cost: $9,800. However, the fee is scaled to what each family can afford, and 100% need-based financial aid is available. An additional stipend of $3,000 is provided to students who generally work over the summer
Program dates: Multiple five-week sessions are available to choose from. The sessions generally start sometime in June
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are between the ages of 15 and 19 and have completed the required courses
The Summer Science Program is a residential summer program that enables high school students to engage in hands-on STEM research at a research university. Over the course of five weeks, you will conduct experiments in a professional lab and learn from researchers and scientists. For students interested in medicine, the program has three available tracks.
In Cell Biology, you will use CRISPR gene editing to study cancer-relevant genes in yeast, while in Bacterial Genomics, you will monitor the evolution of stress resistance in a non-pathogenic bacterium. The third option is Biochemistry, where you will design enzyme inhibitors that can protect crops. Most of SSP’s tracks culminate in a research poster and presentation of your findings.
8. Outset—Pre-med Summer for High Schoolers
Location: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Cost: $2,950; financial aid is available
Program dates: June 8 – July 25
Application deadline: Admissions are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: All students in grades 9-12
Outset offers one-week medical summer programs for high school students, which take place at several universities. Students residing in North Carolina can attend the program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. This is a residential program during which you will learn hands-on medical skills from professional physicians and faculty members while experiencing life on campus.
You can choose from several tracks, including pediatric medicine, cardiology, family medicine, general surgery, neurosurgery, nursing, anesthesiology, and more. You can expect a mix of lectures, lab sessions, simulations, guest speakers, and activities for socializing and fun.
9. MAHEC Health Careers Academy
Location: University of North Carolina, Asheville, NC
Cost: Free
Program dates:
- Spring Semester Activities: Various events occur during the spring semester, including virtual sessions and in-person experiences.
- Summer Camp: July 13–16
Application deadline: May 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.2. Students must also reside or attend school in one of the following counties: Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, or Yancey
Organized by the Mountain Area Health Education Center, the Health Careers Academy is an enrichment program for high school students who are interested in medicine. The program begins in the spring semester, during which you will attend several events, including Simulation Center tours, one-on-one career advising, and networking opportunities.
This is followed by a summer camp that explores various pathways in healthcare, like family medicine, surgery, psychiatry, dentistry, and more. You can also expect hands-on activities and the chance to speak with physicians and residents.
10. NSLC High School Summer Medical Program
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: $4,295
Program dates: Multiple one-week sessions available in June and July
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students aged 14 – 18 who have completed at least one year of high school
NSLC’s Medicine and Health Care program allows high school students to get an inside look at the field through workshops, simulations, guest lectures, and projects. You will learn about treatment procedures, medical ethics, and patient care through multi-day simulations during which you and your clinical team actively diagnose, test, and treat patients.
Through this experience, you will develop a deeper understanding of anatomy and acquire essential hands-on skills, including suturing and surgical knot tying. These activities will be supplemented by tours to labs, medical institutes, and museums.
11. NC State University’s Summer Residential Camps
Location: NC State University, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $1,500; limited financial aid is available
Program dates: Multiple options available in June and July
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
NC State University’s Summer Residential Camps allow high school students to experience campus life while also learning about a subfield of engineering in depth. While the program focuses on engineering, there are several tracks that explore the intersection of engineering and medicine/healthcare. The biomedical engineering workshop is a good option, as it focuses on innovating medical solutions to improve human health.
You will touch upon engineering, biology, and medicine, and gain hands-on skills while building a proof-of-concept prototype. Another option is the electrical and computer engineering track, during which you will work with sensors, circuits, and programming to create a device that mitigates a health issue. Either way, this program is a solid option if you’re looking for a multi-disciplinary approach.
12. NWAHEC’s Camp Med
Location: Various locations in the Northwest AHEC Region
Cost: Free
Program dates: Varies with camp location. You can find the full list here
Application deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: All 9-12th graders in the Northwest AHEC Region
Wake Forest University’s Northwest Area Health Education Center organizes a series of medical summer camps for high school students in the various counties within the Northwest AHEC Region. Each camp includes over 20 hours of engaging activities through which you will be able to explore different medical pathways. You will meet healthcare professionals, observe medical procedures, and even see preserved human organs. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion
13. Wake Forest University’s Neuroscience Institute
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,400
Program dates: Session 1: July 6 – 11 | Session 2: July 13 – 18
Application deadline: Applications open on November 1 and are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Current 9-12th grade students
Wake Forest University’s Summer Immersion Programs offers this Neuroscience Institute through which you will explore the nervous system and the structure of the brain. The program covers topics such as neuroanatomy, neurobiology, neuropharmacology, behavioral neuroscience, and electrophysiology.
There will also be plenty of hands-on work, including electrophysiological experiments, the dissection of a sheep brain, and research that culminates in a poster project. Additionally, the program also involves field trips to neuroscience labs and research centres.
14. Wake Forest University’s Women’s Health Institute
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,400
Program dates: Session 1: July 6 – 11 | Session 2: July 13 – 18
Application deadline: Applications open on November 1 and are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Current 9-12th grade students
Wake Forest University’s Summer Immersion Program also offers a Women’s Health Institute, which looks into the many healthcare roles involved in women’s health, such as nurses, gynaecologists, obstetricians, midwives, sonographers, and more. You will visit healthcare facilities like labor and delivery wards, hear from guest speakers, and gain hands-on skills through simulations of ultrasounds, birthing, and surgical techniques. A few of the topics covered here are gynecology, obstetrics, cancer prevention, midwifery, fertility, neonatal care, and contraception.
Image source – Wake Forest University
