If you’re a high school student in New York City considering a medical career, medical programs can be a good starting point. As a participant, you’ll develop essential skills like patient communication, and diagnostic reasoning, and develop a better understanding of medical ethics.
Through activities like clinical simulations, research projects, and public health discussions, you better engage with the medical field as a student.
Here’s a list of the 8 best medical programs for high school students in New York City to help you get started!
8 Best Medical Programs for High School Students in NYC
1. Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Students receive a stipend of $1,200 for the summer. Housing is not provided.
Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
Dates: June 30 – August 22, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 14 years old by June 2025, legally authorized to work in the US, have a 3.5 GPA in science subjects, and live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan
The Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) is a competitive summer program for high school students interested in biomedical sciences. You will be assigned an 8-week biomedical or computational lab-based internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Under the mentorship of a postdoctoral fellow, graduate student, or research technician, you will conduct independent research and present your findings in a poster session.
During this program, you will develop technical skills such as laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication. You’ll also conduct independent research on a project related to the Principal Investigator’s work, attend lab meetings, and participate in sessions that focus on cancer research and translational medicine.
2. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: The program has no tuition fees. On-campus housing costs $2,360.25, plus $500+ for meals. A stipend is provided.
Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
Dates: June 30 – August 8, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old and either U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Simons Summer Research Program gives high school juniors like you the chance to work on research projects in STEM fields such as medicine, biomedical engineering, and bioinformatics. You can choose three areas of interest or mentors, and if accepted, you’ll be paired with a mentor and join a research group. During the program, you’ll learn research methods and take part in workshops, faculty talks, tours, and special events.
You’ll also prepare a research abstract and create a poster to present at the final symposium. With an acceptance rate of 5%, the program is highly competitive. Throughout the program, you will learn about how certain proteins, like gC1qr and C1q, play a role in diseases like cancer and Lupus. You’ll also study how climate change affects health risks using statistics, or use data to predict health outcomes.
3. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate; students receive a stipend, though the amount is not specified
Application Deadline: October 2025 for the 2026 program.
Dates: The program runs from January to August (7 weeks), including weekend training sessions in the winter and spring, followed by a full-time internship during the summer.
Eligibility: NYC students in grades 10–11, at least 16 years old, and nominated by the program’s partner organizations and schools are eligible to apply. Preference is given to students from the South Bronx and upper Manhattan.
The Zuckerman Institute’s BRAINYAC program at Columbia University offers a seven-week research experience in neuroscience for high school students. The program begins with weekend training sessions in winter and spring and continues with a full-time summer internship. You’ll gain hands-on experience with lab techniques such as microscopy, electrophysiology, and data analysis while working with scientists on actual research projects.
You’ll be paired with a mentor from Columbia’s neuroscience department to explore how lab research drives discoveries and deepens understanding of neuroscience. For instance, you might study how neurons transmit sensory information. You can also apply for the Merit Fellowship to extend your lab work during the year or summer.
4. Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) at Columbia University
Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: Commuter Fee: $5,875; Residential Fee: $10,790; Need-based scholarships are available
Application Deadline: March 3, 2025
Dates: Session 1: July 7 – July 25, 2025; Session 2: July 28 – August 15, 2025
Eligibility: Current high school students (freshmen to seniors) are eligible to apply. The residential option is available to students who are 16 and older.
Columbia Engineering’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) is a pre-college program designed for students interested in STEM. You will choose one course, such as Biomedical Engineering: Where Biology, Medicine & Design Meet. The program also offers college prep help, electives, support from Columbia students, and workshops.
In the biomedical engineering course, you’ll participate in hands-on lab exercises in areas like biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, and medical imaging. You’ll also explore the engineering design process, and rapid prototyping techniques (e.g., 3D printing, laser engraving), and create your biomedical device.
5. Biorocket Research Internship Program at Genspace
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students earn a $2,000 stipend
Application Deadline: January 8, 2025
Dates:
- Orientation Day: February 21, 2025
- Spring session: February 27 – May 22, 2025
- Summer session: June 30 – August 15, 2025
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and attend an NYC public or charter school within 45 minutes of Genspace
The Biorocket Research Internship Program is a 6-month opportunity for high school students to learn about genetic engineering and laboratory techniques in biology. You’ll work with 12 other students on both group and individual research projects, guided by scientist mentors. The program covers topics like genetic modification, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatics, giving you a hands-on understanding of the scientific process. You’ll also use advanced lab equipment to improve your lab and analytical skills.
Mentors will provide career advice, and you’ll have chances to tour labs and biotech companies in the city. This internship will also help you develop science communication skills as you present your research. You can view previous projects here.
6. Columbia University’s Pre-College Summer Programs – Neuroscience
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: NYC Residential Summer is $12,750 (3 weeks). Commuter options start at $2,825 (1 week). Online sessions begin at $2,810. Scholarships are available for eligible NYC Commuter students. More details are available here.
Application Deadline: Early registration: February 2, 2025; General deadline: March 2, 2025 (residential) | April 2, 2025 (commuter and online)
Dates:
- Residential: June 30 – July 18, 2025 | July 22 – August 8, 2025
- Commuter: June 30 – July 18, 2025 | July 22 – August 8, 2025 | August 11 – August 15, 2025
- Online: July 7 – July 18, 2025 | July 21 – August 1, 2025 | August 11 – August 15, 2025
Eligibility: Domestic and international students entering grades 9–12 in the fall, as well as current 12th graders, can apply. For the NYC Residential Summer program, students must be at least 16 years old by the program’s start date.
Columbia University’s Pre-College Summer Programs offer high school students a chance to take college-level courses spanning various fields. If you’re interested in medicine, you can explore courses like “The Neuroscience of Psychiatric Disorders” and “The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.” Other options include “Introduction to Neuroscience” and “Brainwaves to Breakthroughs.”
These courses cover brain functions, psychiatric disorders, and neuroscience in biomedical careers. By the end, you’ll have a stronger understanding of neuroscience and be prepared to pursue further studies or careers in the field.
7. NYU High School Medical Ethics Internship
Location: The internships will be conducted remotely, with optional opportunities to visit the Division of Medical Ethics in person.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will receive a stipend for their 4-hour weekly commitment over the 8-week program upon its completion
Application Deadline: Application details will be available here in January 2025.
Dates: March 24 – May 16, 2025
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in New York City
NYU Langone’s Division of Medical Ethics offers internships for high school and college students, focusing on bioethics. The High School Bioethics Project introduces rising juniors and seniors to bioethics concepts, with an emphasis on supporting students from under-resourced schools or underrepresented groups.
In 2025, the program will offer two 8-week internships for high school juniors in the New York City area. Interns will work on faculty projects and participate in activities related to research ethics, sports ethics, transplant ethics, resource allocation, and clinical ethics. They will also interact with professionals in fields like public health, healthcare, biotech, law, and patient advocacy, potentially building mentor relationships beyond the internship.
8. YES in THE HEIGHTS Program
Location: Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate; participants will be paid for 8 weeks of full-time work (35 hours per week).
Application Deadline: December 13, 2024
Dates: June 30 – August 22, 2025
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 or older who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply. Applicants must belong to groups underrepresented in the biomedical workforce, as defined by NIH Guidelines.
The YES in THE HEIGHTS program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) is a summer internship for high school and undergraduate students. It focuses on increasing diversity in STEM by supporting underrepresented and under-resourced youth. Previously called CURE, the program focuses on reducing cancer health inequities through training and mentorship.
Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the program will allow you to gain hands-on cancer research experience over two years, working with leading researchers and physicians. The 8-week program includes orientation, scientific and professional training, creating an Individual Development Plan, submitting a scientific abstract, and, for second-year participants, giving an oral presentation.
Bonus:
If you’re looking for online opportunities medicine, here’s a bonus program!
Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290
Application Deadline: Its cohorts run all year. Applications for the summer cohort are due on April 14 every year. You can find out more about the program here!
Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Dates: June 9–August 11, 2024; TBA for 2025 (Sundays, 11 AM–1:30 PM EST)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience
Veritas AI offers programs for students interested in understanding artificial intelligence (AI) and its practical applications. One program, Deep Dive: AI + Medicine, focuses on the intersection of AI and healthcare, covering topics like medical data preparation, convolutional neural networks, and exploratory data analysis. The curriculum is designed and led by Harvard graduate students and alumni. During the program, you will collaborate with Ph.D. students from institutions like Oxford, explore AI’s role in medicine, participate in instructional sessions, and work on a group project using AI tools like machine learning programs. For more details, you can check out the program brochure and application form.
Veritas AI also offers other programs like AI Scholars and the AI Fellowship, which build on foundational AI knowledge. In these programs, students have previously worked on interdisciplinary projects incorporating AI in areas like medicine and mental health. Examples of these projects can be found here.
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 – Columbia University logo
