If you’re considering a career in medicine, attending a camp for high school students can provide an early exposure to different areas of the field. Medical camps offer a combination of learning and practical experiences that go beyond what a traditional classroom typically provides. Most medical camps last one to two weeks and are designed to fully involve you in healthcare-related topics alongside peers who have similar interests. The format is usually interactive and collaborative, helping you develop critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills, which are essential in medical settings.
Medicine camps for high school students often focus on specific themes or subfields, such as emergency medicine, anatomy, biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, or surgical skills. Through hands-on activities, lab modules, case-based learning, and high-fidelity simulations, you gain crucial foundational scientific and clinical skills, often working with tools like virtual labs, basic diagnostic equipment, and medical imaging platforms that are not typically accessible in standard high school curricula. You will be mentored by medical professionals in a peer-oriented environment where you can collaborate on practical tasks and gain a clear sense of the reality and demands of a career in medicine or other STEM/pre-med fields.
Below is a list of 15 medicine camps for high school students that can help you explore the healthcare field.
15 Medicine Camps for High School Students
1. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 23 – 27; July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old on the first day of camp
The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp, held at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, introduces high school students to public health through practical activities. In the program, you’ll study areas such as infectious and chronic diseases, environmental health, epidemiology, emergency response, and health communication. You’ll work in teams to examine data, review case studies, and apply problem-solving skills, gaining insight into how public health professionals address real-world issues. By the end, you will have gained a broader understanding of careers in public health via hands-on experience.
2. Stanford Medicine – Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Location: Stanford University / Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $6,580 (Summer On-campus), $4,580 (Summer Virtual) + $95 application fee | $2,480 (Fall) + $75 application fee; need-based financial aid is available / No stipend
Dates: Session 1 (On campus): July 13 – 24 | Session 2 (Virtual): July 27 – August 7 | Fall Intensive (Virtual): Typically, 10 weeks between Mid-September – Mid-November
Application Deadline: Summer: February 2 | Fall: June 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Stanford CSI is a two-week program for high school students, offered both on-campus and online, that introduces basic clinical skills. You’ll work alongside Stanford medical students, residents, and faculty to learn procedures such as suturing, giving injections, and measuring vital signs, and you’ll participate in trauma care exercises. The program also includes guided dissections of human organs, including the heart, brain, and kidney, as well as opportunities to practice patient interviews and simulated medical scenarios. For online participants, materials are sent in advance, and sessions are conducted live to allow hands-on practice from home.
3. Harvard Medical School’s MEDscienceClinical
Location: Harvard Medical School
Cost/Stipend: $2,800 (5-day program), $2,250 (4-day holiday week); limited scholarships are available for Boston area students
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions from June to July
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12 at the time of application
The MEDscience Clinical Program introduces high school students to emergency medicine through simulation-based learning. Using advanced mannequins in a clinical lab, you will participate in scenarios that reflect real medical situations. You will practice procedures such as suturing, intubation, IV insertion, and using laparoscopic tools while learning from healthcare professionals. Some sessions also cover trauma response and provide opportunities to earn Stop the Bleed and CPR/AED certifications through the American Red Cross. By the end, you’ll develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork in an environment similar to real clinical settings.
4. Health Sciences Summer Camps – Dell Medical School
Location: Austin, TX (UT Austin, Dell Medical School)
Cost/Stipend: $500 (general camp); No cost for residential GEAR UP Camp (housing and meals provided); scholarships and tuition waivers available for qualifying students
Dates: June 16 – 20 (general day camp) | July 7 – 11 (GEAR UP residential) (Tentative)
Application Deadline: Varies by district and camp; contact respective coordinators
Eligibility: High school students from nominated Central Texas districts (general camp open to Austin, Manor, Pflugerville, IDEA, KIPP, Wayside schools; GEAR UP for select TX districts)
Dell Med offers camps where high school students can take part in science experiments, work with healthcare professionals, and practice clinical skills in simulation labs. It offers hands-on clinical skill development in medical simulation labs, allowing you to practice crucial procedures such as CPR, IV placement, and airway management. Furthermore, you will explore advanced surgical technologies, including the use of the Da Vinci robot. The curriculum is supplemented with sessions on laboratory science, comprehensive training leading to First Aid and CPR/AED certification, and valuable discussion panels with experienced healthcare professionals. You’ll also gain a clearer understanding of the daily responsibilities and challenges faced by medical professionals.
5. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension – Veterinary Science Camps
Location: Multiple affiliated universities in TX
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on camp between $550 – $850; scholarships are available
Dates: Various three and four day camps available in summer
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
In this camp, you get hands-on experience focused on the daily realities of veterinary medicine and animal science. The curriculum provides a foundational base in topics such as animal nutrition, handling and restraining animals, infectious/non-infectious diseases, and assisting with examinations and treatments for both large and small animals. Activities are intensely practical, often involving cattle handling and chute safety, conducting physical exams on various species, and practicing lab procedures for clinical diagnostics. A unique feature is the opportunity for students to earn clinical hours towards the Texas A&M AgriLife Veterinary Science Certificate Program (VSCP), which can lead to taking the exam for Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA) status.
6. MD Camp, Ohio State College of Medicine
Location: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: $325; need-based full and partial scholarships are available
Dates: Typically runs for three weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically, in spring
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a CGPA of at least 3.0 and 3.3 or higher for math and science
MD Camp is a three-week summer program for high school students interested in medicine and healthcare. During the program, you’ll observe healthcare professionals, participate in research activities, and learn about the academic requirements of medical training. The camp combines classroom instruction with hands-on experiences to give you a better understanding of medical education and practice. You’ll also take part in sessions designed to support your academic growth and provide guidance on the steps involved in pursuing a career as a physician.
7. Health Sciences Summer Camp
Location: Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center, Temple, TX
Cost/Stipend: Tuition fees may apply but cost not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 15 – 19; July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade high school students enrolled in their school’s health sciences curriculum
The Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Health Sciences Summer Camp is a five-day program that provides high school students with an in-depth, “behind-the-scenes” look at pediatric healthcare. Throughout the camp, you will gain direct insight into pediatric healthcare by observing various hospital departments, including Neonatal Intensive Care, Radiology, Oncology, and Physical Therapy. You will shadow healthcare professionals to see how patient care is provided and experience different clinical settings. The program focuses on helping you understand the roles of multiple healthcare disciplines and how teams work together in practice.
8. Pharmacy Camp, Ohio Northern University
Location: Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH
Cost/Stipend: $495; financial hardship scholarships are available
Dates: June 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Typically, early June
Eligibility: High school students who will be entering their sophomore through senior year in the Fall of the attending year
The Pharmacy Camp at Ohio Northern University (ONU) is a specialized, four-day residential summer program designed for high school students, allowing them to learn about pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences through hands-on labs and observation. You will explore the scientific areas involved in creating medications and supporting patient care. The program includes opportunities to work with university faculty, watch compounding and dispensing processes, and discuss different careers in pharmacy. It offers a clear view of pharmacy education and the types of roles available in the field.
9. Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute
Location: Winston-Salem, NC (Wake Forest University campus)
Cost/Stipend: $3,500 + $60 application fee; need-based scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis
Dates: July 5 – 10; July 19 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling (early application recommended)
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade students in good academic standing and have no school suspensions
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute is a highly competitive, one-week residential program designed for current high school students to experience a deep dive into the world of medicine. In this program, you will participate in clinical skills workshops, attend interdisciplinary lectures, and visit hospital departments alongside healthcare professionals. You will practice techniques such as suturing and ultrasound, learn about different medical specialties, and engage in simulated patient-care scenarios. The program also provides opportunities to collaborate with medical students and faculty, focusing on teamwork and problem-solving in a clinical context.
10. Georgetown University’s Medical Immersion Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
Cost/Stipend: $9,540 (Residential); $7,610 (Commuter)
Dates: June 21 – July 10
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students who have a minimum 2.0 GPA
Georgetown’s Medical Immersion Academy gives you an introduction to subjects typically covered in the early years of medical school. You will study topics such as cell biology, immunology, cardiology, and endocrinology, learning how body systems function and how disease can affect them. The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in basic emergency care, including physical exams, wound care, suturing, CPR, and medication administration. You will also take part in lab activities, hear from guest speakers, visit relevant sites, and complete a research-based poster project.
11. Texas Tech Health Summer Med Camp
Location: El Paso, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Camp 1: June 16 – 27; Camp 2: June 30 – July 11 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: Typically, a few weeks before the camp starts, exact date not specified
Eligibility: Current or rising high school students
This two-week medical summer program in Texas gives you an introduction to healthcare through hands-on activities, site visits, and college planning support. You will tour locations such as the University Medical Center of El Paso, the TECHS simulation center, and medical research laboratories. The program includes interactive sessions with healthcare professionals, a mock crime scene investigation, and a life-skills simulation. You will also hear from guest speakers in various medical fields and receive guidance on college and career pathways in healthcare.
12. HRS Camp, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 1 – 3
Application Deadline: April 24
Eligibility: All high school students
The HRS Camp (Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Camp) is a specialized, three-day, non-residential summer camp designed to give high school students an immersive introduction to the many exciting career paths available in health care that are not strictly physician or nurse-focused. It offers hands-on activities, including anatomy labs, CODE BLUE response practice, and neuroscience demonstrations. You will work with professionals from various rehabilitation disciplines , such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nutrition , in fully equipped labs. The program provides insight into medical and allied health fields and includes information on college programs and career paths related to healthcare.
13. UNC Asheville & MAHEC Health Careers Summer Camp
Location: Asheville, NC (UNC Asheville campus and MAHEC facilities)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 13 – 16
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from rural Western North Carolina high schools | Minimum 3.0 weighted GPA
This is an intensive, residential summer camp designed specifically for rural high school students in Western North Carolina to explore diverse healthcare professions. You will reside in university housing while rotating through hands-on learning experiences across both the UNC Asheville and MAHEC campuses. The structured activities include practical clinical skills workshops and lab-based simulations, offering direct experience in medical environments. A unique aspect is the opportunity to directly interact with professionals, including physicians, residents, and students from various fields like dentistry, pharmacy, surgery, and psychiatry. The program also features a collaborative ropes course team-building session, blending academic exposure with crucial social and teamwork skills.
14. University of Florida’s Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost/Stipend: $20 application fee
Dates: June 8 – 14 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Florida high school students entering 12th grade
The Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp is a one-week residential program for high school students interested in pharmacy and healthcare. You will learn about the profession through presentations, skills labs, group discussions, and hands-on activities. The program introduces you to different pharmacy practice settings and the role pharmacists play in patient care and public health. Under the guidance of pre-pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy students, as well as licensed pharmacists, you will collaborate on a group project focused on a public health topic. The program also includes information on pharmacy school pathways, including the UF Pharmacy Early Assurance Program, helping you explore potential career options in pharmacy or medicine.
15. Methodist Fremont Health Career Exploration Camp
Location: Fremont, NE (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: $45
Dates: June 24 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; first-come, first-served until full
Eligibility: High school sophomores through seniors
This intensive, short-duration medical camp provides 30 select students with valuable exposure to various healthcare professions through highly structured, hands-on learning. You rotate through and explore fields like radiology, nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy, engaging in realistic simulations and educational facility tours. The camp also features an interactive roundtable discussion where allied health professionals answer queries regarding career training, scholarships, and potential volunteer avenues. This program is intentionally dynamic, designed to offer practical insight into hospital-based careers and help you effectively clarify your interest in specific medical specialties.
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!
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