If you’re a high school student looking to explore healthcare in an advanced setting without spending a ton on in-person programs, online medical summer programs offer you an opportunity to explore options from the comfort of your home. These programs range from pre-college courses to immersive simulations, one-on-one mentorships, research internships, and leadership discussions.
You will get early exposure to topics such as anatomy, public health, surgery, clinical practice, biomedical research, and more. The programs often include virtual lectures, interactive case studies, and mentorship from medical professionals, allowing you to deepen your understanding of medicine and health sciences. These programs can also help build a strong foundation for future studies, enhance college applications, and foster professional development.
Here are 25 online medical summer programs curated for you:
1. Horizon Academic – Medical Sociology Track
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Cost: Approximately $2,500
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
The Horizon Academic Research Program is a selective program for students interested in undergraduate-level research. The Medical Sociology Track is a structured research experience that delves into sociological aspects of medicine, exploring healthcare disparities, the social determinants of health, and public health policy.
Once you select your track, you will be paired with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking and academic writing skills, culminating in a 20-page research paper that you can submit to research journals for publication as a high school student.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Medicine Track
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Cost: $2,400–$4,800; financial aid available if required
Eligibility: High school students
An immersive 12-week mentorship program, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows students to work one-on-one with PhD researchers in fields such as medicine, biology, neuroscience, and public health. You will engage in in-depth research, learning methodologies and analytical techniques pertinent to your chosen topic of interest.
The program is designed to develop your research capabilities and culminates in a research paper that you will develop and can send to journals for publication as a high school student. You can find more details about the application here.
3. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Cost: $1,595
Location: Virtual and In-person at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
CNV-X is a virtual 10-day program hosted by Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for high school students interested in neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry. You’ll participate in faculty-led lectures and seminars, learning about brain imaging techniques, neuropsychiatric disorders, and current research in mental health.
The program is designed in small teams to create a capstone project that tackles practical issues in neuroscience. CNI-X is a fast-paced, intense, challenging, creative, and bonding experience. The course ends with your presentation and learning with your peers and mentors.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the Baltimore area
Known as JHIBS in short, this course offers high school students exposure to neuroscience research through virtual seminars and projects. You will learn about brain anatomy, neurological disorders, and research methodologies through the program.
The virtual research experience includes numerous science-related activities, including educational presentations, professional development training, and learning basic laboratory techniques and experiments. JHIBS emphasizes and focuses on developing scientific communication skills and provides insights into careers in neuroscience and related fields.
5. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Program Dates: Session 2: July 28–August 8
Application Deadline: June 2
Cost: $4,380
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This program provides students with a virtual experience simulating clinical practices. Through case-based learning and medical simulations, you can expect to explore various medical specialties and develop an understanding of patient care.
The program also includes sessions with current medical students, residents, and medical school admissions officers. You can learn through discussions on medical ethics and the healthcare system, offering a comprehensive overview of clinical medicine.
6. Eve & Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program (Virtual Sessions)
Program Dates: June–July
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students in Los Angeles County
This program is best described as a medical mentor program and curated for high school students, keeping virtual sessions with healthcare professionals, and providing insights into various medical careers. You will participate and engage in interactive discussions, learn about the daily responsibilities of medical practitioners, and explore different specialties within the medical field.
You will be able to interact with general paediatricians, specialists, including surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, infectious disease, ophthalmologists, radiologists, child life, and therapists (i.e., physical, speech, occupational, or cognitive). At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
7. UT Southwestern Medical Center – High School Student Virtual Internship (Mental Health)
Program Dates: June–July
Application Deadline: September
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students
This 14-day virtual internship introduces high school students to careers in mental health through sessions led by psychiatry, psychology, and social work professionals. This course teaches you about mental health assessment, treatment approaches, and the various roles within mental health care.
This includes psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, community psychiatry, and more. You will be expected to complete topical readings from prepared packets before the course begins, with sources ranging from mass media to scientific journal articles.
8. Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Program Dates: June 16th-27th
Application Deadline: Feb
Cost: $850
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in AI and healthcare
A competitive program, the Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp introduces high school students to machine learning applications in healthcare. Designed for high school learners of all technical levels, this virtual bootcamp offers a curated curriculum covering machine learning fundamentals in healthcare settings.
The day-to-day schedule for this virtual 2-week program will consist of coding exercises, data analysis, and discussions on ethical considerations in AI from a medical application point of view. The program provides a foundational understanding of how artificial intelligence is utilized in medical settings.
9. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: Typically in early spring
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from all backgrounds
PIPS is a highly selective 6-week virtual research experience designed for students interested in pediatrics and biomedical sciences. You are paired with Stanford faculty mentors and will engage in ongoing pediatric research projects.
The program emphasizes practical skill-building in experimental design, hypothesis testing, and data interpretation. You also attend professional development workshops and faculty-led seminars focused on pediatric healthcare, research ethics, and the role of translational science in medicine.
10. Parkview Health – High School Student Internships (Virtual)
Program Dates: May–July
Application Deadline: March
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
Parkview Health’s virtual internships provide high school students with hands-on experience in both clinical and non-clinical settings. They have four programs and opportunities for high school students: the FutureREADY program, job shadows and observations, internships, and clinicals.
You can be assigned to departments aligning with your interests, allowing you to gain practical skills and insights into various healthcare roles. If you are looking to for a bird’s eye view of clinical roles, this is a program you can explore.
11. Dartmouth Precollege Online – Regenerative Medicine: Healing with Science
Program Dates: Rolling, including Fall
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $1,795 per course
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
Dartmouth’s online pre-college program offers flexible, self-paced courses across finance, psychology, biology, and regenerative medicine. This particular course allows you to dive into the scientific foundations of regenerative medicine, encompassing tissue engineering, stem cell biology, and organ regeneration.
You will explore the application of technologies such as 3D bioprinting, biomaterials, and bioreactors in medical contexts. The curriculum includes analysis of case studies addressing challenges like organ shortages and tissue repair, culminating in a capstone project where you propose solutions to practical biomedical problems.
12. Ladder Internships – Healthcare and Medicine Track
Program Dates: June – July (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: May
Cost: Not specified; financial aid available
Location: Online (virtual)
Eligibility: High school students (selective admission process; interview required)
Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, Ladder Internships offers high school students the chance to work remotely with top startups across fields like AI, health tech, finance, and media. Ladder’s internship program offers you the chance to work with startup companies on projects aligned with your interests.
Over eight weeks, you complete practical projects, collaborate with company leaders, and gain work experience. It requires a weekly commitment of 5–10 hours and provides a flexible way to gain valuable experience.
13. University of Texas Southwestern – Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Program Dates: June 2025 (specific dates announced upon selection)
Application Deadline: Early February 2025
Cost: Free
Location: Online (virtual)
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students and rising college first-years; requires a personal essay and recommendation
This two-week online internship introduces students to diverse careers in mental health, from psychiatry and neuropsychology to social work and neuroscience. You attend interactive sessions, complete readings, and engage in career Q&As with clinician-scientists.
Mentorship often continues beyond the program. A variety of mental health clinician-scientists lead this program, which includes licensed clinical social workers, neuropsychologists, physician assistants and psychiatrists.
14. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Cost: $40 application fee; $850 participation fee (financial aid available)
Location: Online (virtual)
Eligibility: High school students (rising 9th–12th grade), 14+, U.S. citizens/permanent residents or valid visa holders; preference for students with strong math/coding/healthcare interests
This two-week virtual internship immerses students in the world of AI and healthcare and aims to spark interest and empower the next generation of AI pioneers in medicine. You attend technical lectures, collaborate on hands-on research projects, and engage with Stanford mentors and guest speakers from academia, industry, and government.
A Certificate of Completion is awarded at the end. An extended independent research internship opportunity may be available, and the program is also holding an AI in Medicine Bootcamp program for high school students this year.
15. Zon Lab – Camp Zon
Program Dates: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: Applications closed
Cost: Free (paid position)
Location: Online (virtual)
Eligibility: High school students or rising college freshmen (16+), Massachusetts residents; no research experience required
Camp Zon is a two-week virtual research experience where students explore anemia research using zebrafish as a model. You’ll help design experiments, analyse data, and present findings, while attending talks by leading scientists and learning basic coding skills.
Camp Zon is a paid high school virtual research experience, and you can learn about cancer biology and blood development, and gain critical thinking and presentation skills. The program also includes career mentoring and Q&A sessions with lab scientists.
16. Cornell Precollege Studies
Program Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: Dec 2025
Cost: Tuition is $1,840 per credit for fall 2024 through summer 2025
Location: Online (synchronous)
Eligibility: High school students with at least one semester of introductory biology
Cornell’s Precollege Online Program offers students interested in medical sciences the opportunity to enroll in rigorous undergraduate courses across various disciplines, including health and medicine. Courses such as Nutrition, Health, and Society, Body, Mind, and Health, Historical Perspectives for Future Health Professionals and more. You can explore topics like human nutrition, public health, and the historical context of healthcare practices.
These courses are taught by Cornell faculty and are available in both synchronous and asynchronous formats, providing flexibility for students worldwide. You can earn 3 to 12 college credits upon successful completion, which are recorded on an official Cornell transcript.
17. UC San Diego – Research Scholars Program
Program Dates: Starts in September (subject-specific)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: Varies by course
Location: Online
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; subject prerequisites may apply
UC San Diego’s Research Scholars Program lets high school students engage in domain-specific research experiences in fields like bioengineering, life sciences, marine science, and business. You gain direct exposure to university-level research practices – conducting lab-based experiments, analysing case studies, or participating in simulations.
Tracks like the Institute of Engineering in Medicine and Business Research are particularly geared toward building technical and analytical skills while strengthening your academic profile for future STEM or business pathways.
18. Shades for the Future
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Cost: Free
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school freshmen and sophomores enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, public charter schools, or the Noble Schools network
Shades for the Future is a 6-week virtual workforce development program that allows high school students to engage in sessions featuring healthcare professional speakers, mental health discussions, and workforce development workshops.
The program aims to provide you with exposure to various healthcare careers, enhance your understanding of mental health topics, and develop essential skills for future employment. Through interactive learning and mentorship, you gain insights into the healthcare industry and prepare for potential career paths in the field.
19. APA Remote Internship Program
Program Dates: Year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students under 18; must be enrolled in school and reside in a U.S. state where APA is registered as an employer; D.C. work permit required
This is an opportunity for students looking to contribute to ongoing work in research, policy, publishing, education, and communications at the American Psychological Association.
As an intern, you will engage in project-based assignments such as literature reviews, policy briefs, or communications planning tailored to specific APA departments. The experience is supported by virtual workshops covering graduate pathways, research methods, and psychology-related careers.
20. Wake Forest University – Pre-College Online Medical Programs
Program Dates: Multiple 2- and 4-week sessions available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Cost: $1,495 per course; need-based scholarships available
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and up
These programs provide courses across various medical fields, including general medicine, oncology, sports medicine, and women’s health. You can expect interactive content, simulations, and receive guidance from Wake Forest medical faculty and mentors.
Each course culminates in a capstone project, allowing you to demonstrate your understanding and insights gained. The flexible online format will allow you to learn at your own pace, accommodating different schedules and learning styles. Upon completion, you will earn a Certificate of Completion.
21. UCLA Summer Sessions – Online Medical Courses for High School Students
Program Dates: Multiple sessions available
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Cost: Tuition is calculated per unit; fees vary based on residency status and course units.
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 or older by the start of the program
UCLA Summer Sessions offers high school students courses such as Integrative East-West Medicine for Health and Wellness and Biomedical Ethics are designed to introduce high school students to medical concepts and ethical considerations in healthcare.
These courses are part of UCLA’s Summer Online program, allowing you to study remotely while engaging with UCLA faculty and peers. You will get to gain insights into medical practices, health systems, and the intersection of culture and medicine, while preparing for future studies in the health sciences.
22. Columbia University – Online Medical Research Courses (Pre-College Summer Program)
Program Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; applications remain open on a space-available basis
Cost: 2-week course: $3,965 and 1-week course: $2,815 (includes tuition and fees). Need-based financial aid available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program offers high school students the opportunity to engage in rigorous medical and health-related coursework. Courses such as Introduction to Human Physiology, Neuroscience, and Public Health and Epidemiology provide foundational knowledge in medical sciences.
You will be taught through interactive lectures, discussions, and projects led by Columbia faculty, gaining insights into current medical research and practices. On successfully completing the course, you will receive a Columbia University Certification of Participation and an evaluation letter that details your performance in the program.
23. UC Irvine School of Medicine – Summer Online Research Program
Program Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Cost: $2,290 per session
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18, with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 and must have interest in healthcare research.
This is a three-week Summer Online Research Program for high school students to share a structured introduction to research methodologies in healthcare. The curriculum emphasizes hypothesis development, experimental design, and critical evaluation of scientific literature, providing a comprehensive foundation in medical research.
Scholarships are available for eligible students from underserved areas in Southern California. The program also offers mentorship from UCI undergraduate, postgraduate and medical students under the guidance of a School of Medicine faculty mentor.
24. Boston University – High School Honors Online (Medical & Health Sciences Courses)
Program Dates: June 29 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Cost: Tuition varies by course; financial aid available
Location: Online
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Boston University offers the Academic Immersion: Introduction to Medicine, an intensive three-week premedical program for rising juniors and seniors. You can explore subjects like human physiology, neuroscience, and biology while earning up to 8 college credits through Boston University’s High undergraduate remote courses.
You will be able to explore the subjects through discussion boards, assignments and lectures. Courses are led by BU faculty and emphasize independent learning, critical thinking, and college-level academic writing.
25. Boston University – Academic Immersion: Introduction to Medicine (AIM)
Program Dates: July 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: Applications currently closed for Summer
Cost: Tuition varies; financial aid may be available
Location: Online
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
AIM’s premedical track will provide a broad introduction to the field of medicine, combining coursework in related sciences with experiential learning activities and explorations of the various career possibilities within the field. This three-week program allows you to understand foundational medical concepts through seminars in anatomy, physiology, and contemporary issues in healthcare.
If you’re interested in exploring a medical career, AIM is a program that blends synchronous instruction with project-based learning. You analyze case studies, conduct lab simulations virtually, and present a research project on systems physiology.
Image source – Boston University