TL;DR
This list covers 15 medical, healthcare, biomedical research, and health science programs for high school students in Miami and South Florida. You’ll find biomedical research internships, clinical experiences, healthcare internships, medical immersion programs, and university-level courses. Some are free or paid, while others offer stipends, scholarships, or college credit. If you want to pursue an independent medical research project with 1:1 mentorship, explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
If you’re interested in medicine, Miami and the wider South Florida region offer several ways to explore the field before college. You can work in a research lab, learn clinical skills, explore healthcare careers, or study topics such as neuroscience, cancer biology, public health, and biomedical science. If you’re interested in research opportunities beyond South Florida, you can also explore summer research programs for high school students.
What kinds of medical experience can high school students get in Miami and South Florida?
Medical summer programs in Miami and South Florida cover several types of experience. Some focus on biomedical research and laboratory work, while others introduce you to clinical medicine, healthcare careers, neuroscience, or medical education.
Your choice will depend on what you actually want to do. If you want to conduct research, look for programs with faculty mentorship, laboratory work, data analysis, or a final research presentation. If you want to explore medicine as a career, clinical workshops, physician-led sessions, and hospital experiences may be more useful.
Which South Florida medical programs fit your goals?
| If you want to | Programs to explore |
| Conduct biomedical research | Horizon Academic Research Program, JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship, FIU Research Internship in Cardiovascular Health, Kenan Fellows Summer Internships |
| Explore clinical medicine | Junior Doctors of Tomorrow, Cleveland Clinic Florida Summer Scholar Program, AIM-High |
| Explore healthcare careers | Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Teen Academic Year Program, Baptist Health High School Student Opportunities, Broward College HCOP |
| Focus on neuroscience | Max Planck Florida Institute Neuroscience Internship, University of Miami Summer Scholars – Health and Medicine |
| Earn college credit while exploring medicine | University of Miami Summer Scholars – Health and Medicine |
| Want a short medical immersion | Junior Doctors of Tomorrow, AIM-High, AIM-Higher |
How should you choose a medical summer program in Miami?
Start with the type of experience you actually want. If you want biomedical research, focus on programs with laboratory work, faculty mentorship, data analysis, and a final research project. If you want clinical exposure, look for programs involving physicians, clinical rotations, simulation labs, or hospital settings.
Your grade level matters too. Some programs are limited to rising seniors, while others accept students from grades 9–12. Cost, transportation, time commitment, and local residency requirements can also narrow your options.
If you want more hands-on research opportunities beyond medicine, you can also explore research internship opportunities for high school students.
What if you want to do medical research online?
You do not need to be in a hospital or university laboratory to start exploring medical research. A remote research program can let you work with a mentor on topics such as neuroscience, biology, psychology, public health, or data science.
If you already have a research question or want help developing one, the Horizon Academic Research Program provides 1:1 mentorship while you work toward an independent research project and research paper.
15 medical summer programs for high school students
1. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Deadline: 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- or 11th-graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here.
The Horizon Academic Research Program gives you the opportunity to complete an independent research project with 1:1 guidance from a professor or Ph.D. scholar. You can explore areas including biology, neuroscience, psychology, chemistry, data science, and other fields connected to medicine and health. You develop a research question, conduct your research, and produce a university-level research paper with individual mentorship.
Who is it right for? High school students who want 1:1 mentorship while exploring medical research through an independent project in areas such as biology, neuroscience, psychology, chemistry, or data science.
2. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship – University of Miami
Location: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Cost: Free; paid internship
Program Dates: Eight weeks during summer
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Miami- and Broward-area high school juniors who will be rising seniors, with strong performance in biological and/or computational sciences and U.S. work eligibility.
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship gives you hands-on experience with biomedical research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. You work alongside scientists, faculty mentors, postdoctoral researchers, and research staff on projects involving genetics, genomics, computational biology, Alzheimer’s disease, and other areas of biomedical science.
Who is it right for? High school students entering grades 11 or 12 who want hands-on exposure to healthcare careers and clinical settings at the University of Miami.
3. Junior Doctors of Tomorrow Summer Program
Location: FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL
Cost: Free; transportation is your responsibility
Program Dates: June 21–25
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
JDOT is a week-long introduction to clinical medicine and healthcare careers. You participate in hands-on clinical workshops, interactive learning sessions, and mentorship from medical professionals. You get direct exposure to clinical medicine through a short, focused summer experience.
Who is it right for? High school students who want to explore medicine through clinical experiences, physician interactions, and exposure to different healthcare careers.
4. FIU Research Internship in Cardiovascular Health
Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: Eight weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: South Florida high school students who meet the program’s academic and enrollment requirements
This eight-week program combines cardiovascular research with journal clubs, case studies, workshops, and professional development. You spend at least 15 hours per week working in an FIU research lab with a faculty mentor while learning about experimental design and research methods. You build practical research skills and work toward presenting your findings at the end of the program.
Who is it right for? High school students in grades 11 or 12 who have committed to attending FIU and want hands-on research experience in cardiovascular health.
5. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Teen Academic Year Program
Location: Miami, FL
Cost: Academic credit; no program fee specified on the official website
Program Dates: August–May
Application Deadline: Applications are facilitated through your Miami-Dade County public school and internship coordinator
Eligibility: Miami-Dade County public school juniors and seniors enrolled in the M-DCPS Academic Internship Program
This full academic-year internship gives you experience in healthcare administration while earning academic credit. You commit 5–10 hours per week and may work in a virtual, hybrid, or in-person setting depending on the placement. You gain longer-term experience in a healthcare organization while working with a professional mentor.
Who is it right for? High school students in Miami-Dade County who want to explore healthcare careers while earning academic credit and working with healthcare professionals.
6. Kenan Fellows Summer Internships – UF Scripps
Location: Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL
Cost: Free; $4,480 stipend for the eight-week internship
Program Dates: June 5 to July 31
Application Deadline: Check the official website for the next cycle
Eligibility: Students at least 14 years old entering their junior year at a Palm Beach or Martin County high school, with a minimum 3.0 GPA
This eight-week, full-time internship lets you conduct biomedical research in a UF Scripps laboratory under the supervision of a scientist. You gain experience with research planning, experimental design, laboratory work, data analysis, and scientific communication. You finish with a scientific abstract, oral presentation, and poster based on your research.
Who is it right for? High school students in Palm Beach or Martin County who want a paid summer internship and hands-on exposure to biomedical research and healthcare careers.
7. Baptist Health High School Student Opportunities
Location: Baptist Health facilities in South Florida
Cost: Varies by opportunity
Program Dates: Varies by opportunity
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students; requirements vary by opportunity
Baptist Health South Florida offers several ways for high school students to explore healthcare careers. Options include clinical observation, volunteering, virtual career sessions, and a summer healthcare immersion program. You can explore both clinical and non-clinical healthcare careers while connecting with professionals working in the field.
Who is it right for? High school students who want to explore healthcare through physician observation, volunteering, career talks, and other opportunities across Baptist Health South Florida.
8. University of Miami Summer Scholars – Health and Medicine
Location: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Cost: Varies by residential, commuter, or remote option
Program Dates: Three weeks during summer
Application Deadline: December 1 (Early-Action)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Health and Medicine specialization lets you take two university-level courses during a three-week summer program. Options include microbiology, immunology and public health, neuroscience and public health, cancer biology, and music therapy and the brain. You can earn six college credits while studying university-level topics connected to medicine and health science.
Who is it right for? High school students entering grades 11 or 12 who want college credit while exploring microbiology, public health, neuroscience, or cancer biology at the University of Miami.
9. AIM-High Medical Summer Camp – Nova Southeastern University
Location: NSU Fort Lauderdale Campus, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Cost: $1,800 (plus a $50 nonrefundable application fee); need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: June 28–July 2 or July 12–16; an additional session runs June 21–25 in Clearwater
Application Deadline: Mid-April (rolling admission)
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.2 GPA
AIM-High is a five-day medical immersion program hosted by Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. You practice clinical skills such as suturing, CPR/AED, splinting, and vital signs assessment while exploring more than 15 health career fields. You also work with medical faculty and students and use simulation technology to explore different areas of healthcare.
Who is it right for? High school students who want a hands-on introduction to medicine through clinical skills, patient cases, simulation technology, and exposure to different healthcare careers.
10. Cleveland Clinic Florida Summer Scholar Program
Location: Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, Weston, FL
Cost: $100 onboarding and processing fee; no stipend
Program Dates: Two three-week high school sessions during summer
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; local applicants should have a 3.6+ GPA
The Summer Scholar Program introduces you to different areas of medicine through clinical rotations, lectures, and interaction with physicians. You can rotate through areas such as internal medicine, radiology, emergency medicine, and surgery. You gain exposure to hospital and outpatient medicine while learning how different medical specialties work.
Who is it right for? High school students entering their senior year who want to explore medical specialties through clinical experiences, physician interaction, lectures, and healthcare career discussions.
11. Broward College Health Careers Opportunity Program
Location: Broward College, Broward County, FL
Cost: Free; $15 per hour
Program Dates: Six weeks during summer
Application Deadline: January 8–March 5 for the summer cycle
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 with a 2.5+ GPA who meet the program’s residency/work-eligibility requirements
HCOP combines paid summer work with healthcare career preparation. You receive training in the Health Science Simulation Center and take part in academic support, workshops, mentoring, and career exploration. You earn while building practical knowledge about healthcare and preparing for college and health science careers.
Who is it right for? High school students in grades 10–12 who want a paid summer experience exploring healthcare careers through hands-on activities, professional development, and college preparation.
12. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Summer Youth Internship Program
Location: Miami-Dade County, FL
Cost: Check the current program information
Program Dates: Five weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Applications are facilitated through Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders ages 15–18 enrolled in a Miami-Dade County public school
This five-week work-based learning program connects Miami-Dade high school students with businesses and organizations, including healthcare-related placements. You work with both a school supervisor and a workplace supervisor while building professional skills. You can gain practical workplace experience and explore a potential healthcare career before college.
Who is it right for? High school students in grades 10–12 who want a five-week healthcare internship with hands-on workplace experience at a children’s hospital.
13. Max Planck Florida Institute Neuroscience Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Cost: Free; $14 per hour
Program Dates: Six weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering junior or senior year, 16+ by the start, who live and attend high school in Palm Beach or Martin County
This six-week summer research internship lets you work alongside scientists on projects related to brain structure, function, development, and neuroscience technologies. Depending on the project, you may gain experience in neuroscience techniques, scientific programming, mechanical engineering, or STEM outreach. You complete original research and finish with a scientific abstract and presentation.
Who is it right for? High school students entering grades 11 or 12 who want to explore neuroscience through hands-on research experience at a biomedical research institute.
14. Baptist Health Observer Program
Location: Baptist Health facilities in South Florida
Cost: Free for high school students with proof of enrollment
Program Dates: Year-round; one day to four weeks depending on the sponsoring clinician
Application Deadline: Applications accepted year-round
Eligibility: High school students over 16 who meet the program requirements
The Baptist Health Observer Program lets you shadow physicians and healthcare staff as they provide patient care. The experience can last from one day to four weeks, depending on the sponsoring clinician and department. You get direct observational exposure to clinical medicine and can learn how healthcare professionals work in different specialties.
Who is it right for? High school students over 16 who want to observe physicians and healthcare professionals in a real clinical environment and explore different medical specialties.
15. AIM-Higher Medical Summer Day Camp – Nova Southeastern University
Location: NSU Fort Lauderdale Campus, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Cost: $1,990 (a $300 nonrefundable deposit is required with the application)
Program Dates: July 12–16
Application Deadline: Invitation-based for eligible AIM-High graduates
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 9–12 and are eligible graduates of AIM-High
AIM-Higher is an invitation-only follow-up program for students who have completed AIM-High. The five-day experience builds on previous medical immersion through hands-on activities, simulated patients, and interaction with NSU faculty and medical students. You explore medicine, healthcare, research, and patient-centered care at a deeper level than the introductory AIM-High program.
Who is it right for? High school students who have completed AIM-High and want a more advanced medical experience focused on clinical skills, healthcare careers, and hands-on learning at Nova Southeastern University.
What students ask about medical programs in Miami
Not always. Some programs are designed as introductions to medicine or healthcare, while research-focused internships may expect strong science coursework or specific grade-level requirements.
Yes. Some programs are free, while others offer scholarships, stipends, or paid internships. Always check the current eligibility and funding details before applying.
Choose based on what you want to spend your time doing. Research programs focus on questions, evidence, experiments, and data, while clinical programs give you more exposure to physicians, healthcare settings, medical specialties, and patient care.
Yes. If you want to investigate a medical or health-related question through an independent project, the Horizon Academic Research Program gives you 1:1 mentorship while you develop your research project and paper.
Image source: University of Miami