Health sciences encompass a wide range of healthcare topics, including biology, public health, epidemiology, and neuroscience. The term involves a broader understanding of human health and how healthcare is delivered, unlike the specialized nature of topics within medicine. Learning about health sciences at a young age helps you get an expansive understanding of the field and allows you to explore the many available career pathways.
Why should you do a program in health sciences?
Health sciences programs can help you explore potential career paths while building a solid academic foundation. Through these programs, you will have the chance to study advanced topics like biomedicine, radiology, and public health law. At the same time, you will also get exposure to laboratory work, research techniques, and clinical skills like suturing or taking a patient’s vitals. Whether you are interested in becoming a doctor, a medical researcher, or an epidemiologist, diving into health sciences is a solid first step to kick off your future career.
You can also find free medical programs and clinical research opportunities here.
Key Takeaways
- Health science programs for high school students cover a broad spectrum of fields including biomedical research, neuroscience, oncology, public health, epidemiology, pediatrics, mental health, and clinical medicine, reflecting the true scope of what health sciences encompasses
- Several programs are fully funded and paid, including NIH Summer Internship ($2,530-$2,840/month), Memorial Sloan Kettering ($1,200 stipend), MPFI ($14/hour), Houston Methodist (stipend provided), and Fred Hutch (stipend on completion)
- Programs range from hands-on clinical simulations like Tufts Mini Med School and Harvard MedscienceClinical, where you practice suturing and diagnostics, to rigorous research internships at Stanford, Rutgers, and Johns Hopkins where you contribute to active biomedical investigations
- Most programs conclude with a poster presentation or research symposium, giving you structured practice communicating findings to scientific and clinical audiences alongside the core technical experience
Here are 15 health sciences programs for high school students:
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee. There are no tuition fees. Limited need-based stipends are awarded to some students
Program dates: June 8 – July 30
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years of age. Students must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents and be living and attending school in the U.S.
The Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program is a competitive 8-week internship that gives high school students the opportunity to learn about the health sciences from Stanford faculty. As a participant, you will work on a medically-oriented project in one of Stanford University’s labs, under one-on-one guidance from a faculty mentor. There are 8 available areas of research, including neurobiology, bioinformatics, cardiovascular biology, genetics, cancer biology, immunology, bioengineering, and regenerative medicine. You will spend 40 hours per week engaged in lab work, getting hands-on research experience in the process, and do a poster presentation at the end of the program.
2. Mayo Clinic’s Career Immersion Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 21 – 25
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors at a Minnesota high school, Charter school, or home-based school. Students must be US citizens or permanent residents, residents of Minnesota, and have a minimum 2.5 GPA
The Career Immersion Program dives into the many areas that contribute to a patient’s care, such as sonography, phlebotomy, respiratory care, paramedic, radiography, and histology. You will learn about the various roles through interactive classroom and hands-on lab sessions. You will also connect with various Mayo Clinic faculty and staff members, who will offer guidance on college degrees, career routes, and other academic programs.
3. National Institutes of Health’s Summer Internship Program
Location: Any of the National Institutes of Health’s campuses
Stipend: $2,530/month before graduation, $2,840/month after graduation
Program dates: May 11 – August 31
Application deadline: February 18
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are at least 18 years of age. Those who are 17 need to reside within 40 miles of an NIH campus
The NIH’s Summer Internship Program offers high school and college students a full-time research opportunity within the field of biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences. As an intern, you will join a research group and follow the instructions of a Principal Investigator. The program may include basic, translational, and/or clinical research, diving into topics like biology, epidemiology, psychology, nursing, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, and more. At the end of the program, you will share your research through a poster session.
4. Johns Hopkins’ Student Internship Program
Location: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St Petersburg, FL
Cost: Free
Program dates: Internships can range from 3 to 6 months within a given year
Application deadline: March 13 for the summer 2026 session
Eligibility: Students who are enrolled in high school or a degree-seeking undergraduate program and can commit to a (minimum) 2-month internship
Hosted by Johns Hopkins’ All Children’s Hospital, this program gives high school and undergraduate students exposure to research in a professional lab. The program focuses on biomedical research, allowing you to engage with the design, execution, or analysis of ongoing studies. You will take part in lab activities, mentor meetings, research team discussions, seminars, and sessions on building research skills. If you make a significant contribution, you might also be eligible for co-authorship or acknowledgement in scientific publications.
5. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Program dates: June 29 – August 21
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are at least 14 years of age, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of the Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side in Manhattan
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre’s Summer Student Program is a paid, 8-week internship designed to give high school students hands-on research experience in the biomedical sciences. During the program, you will take part in a biomedical or computational lab-based internship and work on a self-directed project under the guidance of a mentor. Possible research areas include cancer biology, molecular biology, genomics, immunology, pharmacology, and structural biology. You will work for 40 hours per week, which also includes sessions on professional development. However, keep in mind that this is a highly competitive program with a 2% acceptance rate.
6. CDC Museum’s Disease Detective Camp
Location: David J. Sencer CDC Museum, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Program dates: Session 1 from June 22 – 26, Session 2 from July 20 – 24
Application deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors who will be 16 years old on the first day of the camp
The CDC Museum’s Diseases Detective Camp is a week-long, day camp for high school students that dives into the field of public health and epidemiology. The program explores topics like global health, infectious diseases, chronic disease, injury prevention, emergency preparedness, disease surveillance, and public health law. You will also learn about data collection, data analysis, and scientific communication. During the program, you will engage in activities like re-created outbreaks, mock press conferences, lab sessions, and lectures from CDC scientists.
7. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Interns are paid a stipend on completion
Program dates: June 22 – August 14
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year who are at least 16 years of age
Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Summer High School Internship Program is an 8-week internship that introduces high school students to scientific research and biomedical sciences. The program begins with a 2-week training in lab safety and research techniques like tissue culture, DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, and using a pipet. After this, you will be assigned a mentor and research group and will contribute to the group’s overall research. Activities could include making solutions/dilutions, creating culture plates, or conducting data analysis. The program ends with a final presentation that reflects on your learning.
8. UCLA Neuroscience High School Virtual Summer Program
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 15 – July 23
Application deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
The UCLA Neuroscience High School Virtual Summer Program offers high school students an introduction to neuroscience, Alzheimer’s disease, and related dementias. As a participant, you will explore the field through live seminars, conversations with guest speakers, literature reviews, and virtual lab activities to learn research tools and methods. You will also investigate a topic for a research project and attend the Neurology Grand Rounds, which are virtual seminars with clinicians and researchers on current topics in neurology.
9. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free. Students with demonstrated financial need are eligible for a $3,000 stipend
Program dates: June 8 – July 24
Application deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who live in the Bay Area, are at least 16 years of age, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA
The pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford is a 7-week internship for high school students that focuses on research in the field of pediatrics and maternal and child health. During the program, you will be paired with a mentor and research lab and tasked with completing a research project. You will work 30 hours per week learning and implementing research skills, culminating in a research poster. At the end of the program, you will get the chance to present your findings. Additionally, you will attend workshops on various topics in science and medicine, and speak to Stanford students and alumni through a mentorship program.
10. Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science Summer Research Program
Location: Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, New Brunswick, NJ Cost: Free
Program dates: The program runs from the third week of June until the second week of August
Application deadline: February 1, although applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year who are at least 16 years of age and have a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science Summer Research Program is a free research program that allows high school students to become a part of a research group and get hands-on experience in the field of biomedical science. You will participate in the entire research process from planning the experiments to performing them, conducting data analysis, and presenting the results. In the process, you will receive mentorship from Rutgers University faculty and professional scientists while also exploring various career pathways in the field.
11. Tufts Mini Med School
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA, or Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: $3,625 for Session 1, $5,425 – $6,950 for Session 2, $3,625 – $4,650 for Session 3. Limited scholarships are available
Program dates: Session 1 from June 22 – 26, Session 2 from July 5 – 17, Session 3 from July 19 – 24
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11 and 12 and recent graduates who are at least 16 years of age and have completed one year of high school biology
Tufts Mini Med School is a summer intensive that is meant to provide high school students with a firsthand understanding of what medical school is like. You will step into the shoes of undergraduate students and attend lectures on cutting-edge topics, analyze case studies, and get hands-on experiences in the Clinical Simulation Center and the advanced anatomy lab on campus. You will learn skills like suturing and taking vital signs, and work on a capstone project on a clinical skill or health topic. You will learn from medical students and faculty and, additionally, attend Q&A sessions with medical staff.
12. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $14/hour
Program dates: June 22 – July 31
Application deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Students residing in Palm Beach or Martin Counties, who are entering their junior or senior year, and are at least 16 years of age
Through this 6-week internship, the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) offers high school students the chance to get an immersive lab experience and learn from MPFI researchers. During the program, you will contribute to a research project while working alongside MPFI scientists. This includes writing a research abstract and a final presentation. The internship offers four tracks, of which neuroscience is the most suitable option for students interested in pursuing health sciences. This track explores neural circuits and includes wet lab experiences like genetic engineering, microbiology preparations, histological staining, and microscopy.
13. UT Southwestern’s Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
Program dates: The program takes place over 2 weeks in June
Application deadline: The deadline is generally in early February
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students and college first-years
UT Southwestern’s Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week, virtual internship that gives high school students a chance to explore the field of mental health. The program kicks off with assigned readings around the topic, including mass media sources and scientific journals. This is followed by interactive, online sessions with physicians, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and neuropsychologists, which will allow you to explore the various career pathways in the field. In the process, you will also learn about topics like neuroscience, psychotherapy, interventional psychiatry, and more.
14. Harvard MedscienceClinical Program – Summer
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800 for the 5-day program, $2,250 for the 4-day program. Limited scholarships are available
Program dates: Multiple sessions are available from June to August
Application deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
Harvard MedscienceClinical Program is a summer program that provides high school students with a hands-on experience in medicine and healthcare. This is an immersive program during which you will work in simulation labs, diagnosing and treating a lifelike “patient”. You will also learn clinical skills like interpreting vital signs, intubation, suturing wounds, inserting IV’s, and delivering a baby. The 5-day program also offers Stop the Bleed and American Red Cross CPR/AED* certifications. In addition to that, you will explore a wide range of career pathways by networking with healthcare professionals.
15. Houston Methodist’s High School Emerging Researcher Internship
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Stipend: A stipend is provided but the amount has not been specified
Program dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years of age and have a minimum 3.5 GPA
The High School Emerging Researcher Internship is a 10-week research program for high school students that focuses on translational research. As an intern, you will be assigned to a mentor and work on a research project within their field of expertise. You will attend lectures, get lab experience, collect and analyze data, gain hands-on research skills, and even attend sessions on career development and professional growth. Your work will conclude with a poster presentation at the program’s closing research symposium.
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!
FAQ
What are health science programs for high school students?
Health science programs for high school students are structured experiences that introduce you to the broad field of human health and healthcare delivery. Depending on the program, you might conduct biomedical lab research, shadow clinicians, study public health and epidemiology, explore mental health careers, or practice clinical skills like suturing and vital sign interpretation, all under the guidance of faculty, researchers, or healthcare professionals.
Do I need prior science experience to apply?
Most programs do not require prior research or clinical experience. Programs like CDC Disease Detective Camp, UCLA Neuroscience Virtual Program, and UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship are designed as introductions for students without prior background. Programs like Memorial Sloan Kettering, Stanford SIMR, and Houston Methodist Emerging Researcher Internship are more competitive and expect stronger academic preparation, typically including a minimum GPA of 3.5 and demonstrated interest in science.
Are there paid health science programs for high school students?
Yes. NIH Summer Internship pays $2,530 to $2,840 per month. Memorial Sloan Kettering provides a $1,200 stipend. MPFI pays $14 per hour. Fred Hutch pays a stipend on completion. Houston Methodist provides a stipend. Stanford PIPS offers a $3,000 stipend for students demonstrating financial need. Several other programs are free with no associated cost.
Are there health science programs focused on clinical skills rather than research?
Yes. Tufts Mini Med School is built around clinical simulation, with hands-on sessions in suturing, intubation, IV insertion, and vital sign interpretation. Harvard MedscienceClinical offers similar clinical skill-building in simulation labs, including Stop the Bleed and CPR certifications. Mayo Clinic Career Immersion covers sonography, phlebotomy, radiography, and respiratory care through interactive classroom and lab sessions.
What fields within health sciences can I explore through these programs?
The programs on this list collectively cover cancer biology, neuroscience and dementia, public health and epidemiology, pediatrics and maternal health, mental health and psychiatry, translational medicine, genomics, immunology, bioengineering, bioinformatics, pharmacology, and clinical medicine. This breadth reflects the true range of careers available within health sciences beyond traditional medical school pathways.
When should I apply to health science programs for high school students?
Several programs have January and February deadlines. Houston Methodist closes January 30, Memorial Sloan Kettering closes February 6, NIH closes February 18, and UCLA Neuroscience closes February 9. Stanford SIMR and PIPS close in late February, and CDC Disease Detective Camp closes March 7. Free programs with more accessible applications like UT Southwestern and Fred Hutch have slightly later timelines. Reviewing eligibility requirements in the fall and preparing application materials early in the new year is strongly recommended.
Image Source: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science