If you’re a high school student in Arizona interested in medicine or healthcare, summer research programs can offer a valuable head start. These programs are designed to introduce you to key concepts in medical science, while giving you the chance to work on real research projects under professional guidance.
Arizona, with its many hospitals, universities, and health organizations, offers a wide range of such programs, making it an ideal location if you’re interested in medicine to find meaningful summer experiences close to home. Choosing a local program can also make participation more accessible and convenient, while still offering high-quality training and exposure.
In this blog, we have compiled a list of 15 medical summer research programs for high school students in Arizona to help you find the right fit for your interests and goals.
15 Medical Summer Research Programs for High School Students in Arizona
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4; Previous knowledge not required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program provides high school students with an in-depth, personalized research experience. Throughout this 12-week program, you’ll collaborate closely with a Ph.D.-level mentor to carry out an independent research project, culminating in a formal research paper. While the program covers a broad spectrum of fields, ranging from psychology and data science to engineering and international relations, there are opportunities to engage in medicine-related topics like health sciences and biomedical data analysis. This structure allows you to develop strong research skills and explore advanced subject matter under expert guidance. You can apply here.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies based on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students; Should be able to work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program aimed at motivated high school students seeking to gain practical, real-world experience. During the approximately eight-week internship, you work directly with high-growth start-ups in industries like tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You’ll collaborate with company managers and a Ladder Coach to contribute to meaningful projects and share your findings with the team. This hands-on experience provides insight into the practical side of medical research and development within emerging companies in the healthcare sector. Here is the application form.
3. Mayo Clinic CARES Program
Location: Mayo Clinic campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ; Virtual options available
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid (In-person only)
Program Dates: 4 weeks (In-person) or 1 week (Virtual) from June to July
Application Deadline: February 1 (In-person); May 31 (Virtual)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11; Must be from Arizona; Applications from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged
The Mayo Clinic CARES Program offers medical summer research programs for high school students in Arizona and introduces them to a broad range of healthcare careers through interactive presentations, hands-on activities, and virtual simulations led by Mayo Clinic professionals. It emphasizes exposure to fields like medicine, nursing, biomedical research, radiology, clinical genomics, and public health, among others. Alongside career exploration, you will engage in skill-building sessions focused on personal wellness, communication, resume writing, and professional development to help prepare you for future academic and career paths. After the summer program, a mentorship component will connect you with a physician or allied health professional in your area of interest, providing ongoing guidance throughout the academic year.
4. College of Medicine’s Summer Scrub Sessions: Explore Medicine Program
Location: College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: Residential: $500; Day: $300 (Need-based scholarships are available)
Program Dates: June 1 – 7 (Residential); June 9 – 13 (Day)
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
During the Explore Medicine Program, you’ll engage directly with practicing physicians across multiple specialties through lectures, discussions, and lab-based experiences that simulate real medical procedures and diagnostics. The program also includes field trips to healthcare facilities and interactive learning sessions designed to build your understanding of what working in medicine truly involves. This is not a research-intensive program but rather a structured opportunity to gain clarity on the physician pathway, medical environments, and the skill sets expected in healthcare. It’s a chance to see where your interests align within the field before committing to a pre-med track in college.
5. TGen’s Helios Scholars
Location: TGen headquarters in Phoenix, Translational Drug Development (TD2) on the Mayo Clinic campus in Scottsdale, Pathogen Genomics Division in Flagstaff
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend of $14.70 per hour
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: December 16 – February 5
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and a graduate of an Arizona high school by June 9; Be eligible to work in the U.S.
The Helios Scholars at TGen program offers a full-time, paid internship where you’ll spend eight weeks working alongside scientists on real-world research projects. Depending on your placement, you might study genetic links to diseases like cancer or Alzheimer’s at TGen’s Phoenix headquarters or investigate infectious diseases such as Valley Fever at TGen North in Flagstaff. The medical summer research program spans fields like lab-based bioscience, computational biology, bioinformatics, and research administration, giving you hands-on experience in translational research. You’ll also develop key professional skills through seminars, scientific writing practice, and presenting your work in a formal research symposium, including a poster presentation and possibly an oral talk.
6. ASU Summer Programs: Future Doctors Institute
Location: ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, AZ
Cost: $434
Program Dates: June 9 – 12
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Future Doctors Institute at Arizona State University offers focused instruction in biology, chemistry, healthcare innovation, and communication through hands-on activities that mirror real-world applications of medical science. The medical summer research program for high school students in Arizona focuses on scientific understanding as well as the development of persuasive speaking skills, which are vital for patient interaction and future interviews. You’ll also get opportunities to connect with experienced instructors and professionals who can offer insights into various medical careers.
7. ASU Summer Programs: Healthcare Discovery Camp
Location: ASU’s College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at the Polytechnic campus, Mesa, AZ
Cost: $250
Program Dates: June 16 – 19
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high schoolers in grades 8-9
The Healthcare Discovery Camp at ASU’s Polytechnic campus will introduce you to a range of health and wellness fields through practical lab work, faculty-led workshops, and interactive sessions. During the program, you will delve into areas like veterinary medicine, dentistry, psychology, nutrition, and pre-med pathways while developing communication and problem-solving skills in a college setting. Activities include lab-based experiments, small group projects, and panel discussions with healthcare professionals. A highlight of the camp is the Dreamscape Learn Lab, where you will immerse yourself in virtual reality experiences designed to make scientific concepts more tangible and memorable. Essentially, the program provides an early opportunity to navigate college-level topics that most interest you.
8. BIO5 Institute’s Keep Engaging Youth in Science (KEYS) Research Internship
Location: BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 2 – July 18
Application Deadline: December 13
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16+ by June 2 and U.S. citizens or legal residents with a minimum of one year of Arizona residency
For those looking to gain practical exposure in real biomedical research, the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship provides 7-week medical summer research programs for high school students in Arizona, where you’ll work alongside faculty on active research projects. Before the lab work begins, you’ll complete online assignments in science literacy, data science, and biotechnology to build foundational skills. During the first week, you will go through intensive training in bioscience techniques, preparing you to assist in labs focused on areas like genetics, cancer biology, microbiology, or environmental health. Throughout this program, you will be paired with mentors, like faculty and graduate students, who will guide your involvement in real experiments and data analysis. The experience concludes with a formal research showcase where you get to present your project findings to an academic audience.
9. Mayo Clinic’s High School Student Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Mayo Clinic campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer, starting from June
Application Deadline: January 17 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students over 15 years of age
The Mayo Clinic’s High School Student Summer Volunteer Program is not a research-based experience, but it still provides valuable, hands-on exposure to a clinical environment. As a volunteer on the Phoenix or Scottsdale campus, you will support hospital operations by assisting with patient preparation, helping visitors navigate the facility, and performing clerical tasks that contribute to smooth daily functioning. Although you won’t be involved in direct patient care or medical research, the role places you in close proximity to healthcare professionals and gives you a front-row seat to how a hospital operates. This kind of environment can be especially helpful if you’re considering a career in medicine and want firsthand insight into patient-centered care, communication, and teamwork in a hospital setting.
10. University of Arizona Health Sciences: Med-Start Health Careers Program
Location: University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ
Cost: Approximately $6,000 (scholarships and tuition waivers available)
Program Dates: 6 weeks from June to mid-July
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Arizona high school students in the 11th grade; Should be interested in pursuing a career in the health sciences
The University of Arizona Health Sciences’ Med-Start Health Careers Program spans six weeks of academic and experiential learning. The course includes practical lab experiences, guest lectures from health professionals, and field trips to clinical and research facilities. You’ll also participate in workshops focused on college readiness, such as writing personal statements, resume-building, and understanding financial aid. All participants are expected to fully take part in scheduled classes, events, and assignments, making this a comprehensive introduction to health professions and college life.
11. Summer@Brown Online – Medicine in Action: A View into the Life of a Medical Student
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,218 (Cost increases after the application deadline)
Program Dates: June 30 – July 11
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; Ages 14-18 by June 15; Must have a strong foundation in biology
If you’re seeking a virtual course option from a reputable institution, Brown University’s Medicine in Action: A View into the Life of a Medical Student course will introduce you to clinical reasoning and medical ethics through a focused, two-week curriculum. Taught by current students from Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School, the course centers around real-world scenarios such as diagnosing and treating chest pain, conducting medical interviews, and understanding the anatomy and pathophysiology of the human heart. You will also take part in ethical discussions around procedures like organ transplants and explore the range of career paths in medicine through structured peer and mentor interactions. While not a research program, this course offers an in-depth look at how future physicians are trained early on.
12. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors in the U.S. or Canada
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in hands-on neurological research under the guidance of experienced mentors during the summer. The program focuses on exposing highly motivated students to various aspects of brain science, from cellular neuroscience to cognitive studies, allowing you to participate in real lab projects and data analysis. Through this immersive experience, you will develop research skills, deepen your understanding of neuroscience concepts, and gain insight into potential career paths in neurological research and clinical science. This program emphasizes early exposure, mentorship, and educational support to help you build a foundation for future studies in STEM fields.
13. CDC Museum Public Health Academy Online Summer Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors; At least 16 years old
The CDC Museum Public Health Academy Online Summer Course gives students the chance to study a wide range of public health topics with a mix of live sessions and self-paced learning. This course covers areas like epidemiology, infectious diseases, health disparities, emergency preparedness, and public health law, helping you understand how the CDC works to protect communities and respond to health challenges globally. You’ll learn scientific concepts, such as data analysis, disease surveillance, and laboratory techniques, while also studying communication strategies important in public health. The course demands consistent participation and timely completion of assignments, reflecting the fast-paced nature of real-world public health work.
14. The Burton Family Foundation Summer Health Institute Summer Camp
Location: ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Camp 1: June 15 – 21; Camp 2: June 22 – 28
Application deadline: April 6
Eligibility: High school juniors
Although more of a camp than a research-first program, the Burton Family Foundation Summer Health Institute at ASU’s College of Health Solutions introduces you to various health careers such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Throughout the week, you will engage in clinical simulation activities, such as suturing, IV insertion, intubation, and injections at Creighton University School of Medicine, offering valuable hands-on experience with fundamental medical procedures. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with healthcare professionals and tour medical facilities in Arizona’s health corridor, so you can get a real-world perspective on the healthcare environment and team dynamics.
15. Johns Hopkins Global Health Leaders Conference
Location: Virtual
Cost: $99
Program Dates: July 13 – 25
Application Deadline: Typically in late March
Eligibility: High school students worldwide in grades 9-12
The Johns Hopkins Global Health Leaders Conference invites you to explore critical issues in global health, public health, and medicine through direct engagement with experts and peers from around the world. You will participate in lectures led by global health leaders and have the chance to present your own research or ideas during the Student Speaker Series, fostering both knowledge and communication skills. The program focuses on collaboration and networking, connecting you with like-minded students internationally who share your interest in improving health outcomes on a global scale. Established in 2019, this conference aims to develop future leaders by offering a platform to deepen your understanding of complex, often global health challenges.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like 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 – Johns Hopkins University