Medical camps for high school students are a great way to explore the world of healthcare without committing to a long, intensive program. Instead of juggling months of coursework, you get one to three weeks of focused, hands-on experiences that let you step into the roles of doctors, researchers, or public health professionals. Whether you’re drawn to anatomy, biomedical research, emergency medicine, or clinical simulations, these camps give you a chance to experiment, ask questions, and see how medical concepts come alive outside the classroom.
Why choose a camp over a full pre-college program?
If you’re curious about medicine but not ready for something as demanding as a multi-week pre-college program, a camp can be the perfect fit. Camps are shorter, more affordable, and often more specialized. They give you the space to try lab techniques, work with real medical tools, or explore case-based problem solving, all while keeping your schedule flexible. You get a clearer sense of whether a medical path excites you, and you gain experiences you can talk about in future interviews, applications, or classes.
To help you explore the best options, we’ve compiled 13 medical camps for high school students. If you want to explore medical research opportunities, you can check out some options here.
13 Medical Camps for High School Students
1. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: Atlanta, GA (in-person at CDC headquarters)
Cost: None
Dates: June 23 – 27; July 21 – 25 (two sessions)
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by the first day of camp
This five-day camp immerses students in the work of CDC scientists through lectures, simulations, and case-based investigations. You will study epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak response, and public health law while participating in team-based problem solving. Each session is competitive, with fewer than 30 students admitted from hundreds of applicants. Camp activities mirror real CDC workflows such as analyzing data, developing interventions, and presenting findings, providing direct insight into careers in epidemiology and public health.
2. UNC Asheville & MAHEC Health Careers Summer Camp
Location: Asheville, NC (UNC Asheville campus and MAHEC facilities)
Cost: 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 residential camp introduces rural high school students from Western North Carolina to healthcare careers through structured, hands-on learning. You will stay in university housing and rotate through activities on both the UNC Asheville and MAHEC campuses, including lab-based simulations and clinical skills workshops. You will meet physicians, residents, and students in pharmacy, dentistry, family medicine, psychiatry, and surgery. A ropes course team-building session adds a collaborative element to the academic focus.
3. STEM Camp – University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford
Location: Rockford, IL (in-person)
Cost: None
Dates: One week in between June and August
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by May 1 and must attend specified local high schools mainly around Rockford and surrounding areas
The University of Illinois College of Medicine hosts a week-long camp introducing students to biomedical sciences and engineering in healthcare. You will participate in faculty-led lectures, lab demonstrations, and hands-on activities that connect medical research with engineering innovation. The curriculum emphasizes how biomedical discoveries translate into disease treatments and how engineering solutions drive healthcare advancements.
4. Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) Medical Summer Camps
Location: International (varies by program site)
Cost: $2,099 – $6,299
Dates: 1–3 week sessions (Spring Break and Summer sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots fill
Eligibility: All high school students with an interest in medicine, public health, or community service
GLA’s medical summer camps place you in developing communities abroad, where you’ll study healthcare delivery challenges and assist with projects that support public health. Instead of clinical practice, the focus is on understanding health infrastructure and contributing through service, such as building eco-compost toilets, distributing clean water filters, or supporting local NGOs. Camps include lectures, cultural immersion, and guided fieldwork with doctors and public health professionals.
5. Methodist Fremont Health Career Exploration Camp
Location: Fremont, NE (in-person)
Cost: $45
Dates: June 24 – 25 (two-day camp)
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served until full
Eligibility: High school sophomores through seniors (grades 10–12)
This short medical camp provides exposure to a wide range of healthcare professions through structured, hands-on activities to 30 students. You will explore radiology, pharmacy, nursing, and physical therapy while engaging in simulations, facility tours, and group-based learning. A roundtable discussion with allied health professionals allows you to ask questions about training pathways, scholarships, and volunteer opportunities. The program is highly interactive and designed to help students clarify interests in different medical specialties while gaining practical insight into hospital-based careers.
6. Ryzer Biomedical Engineering Summer Camp
Location: San Antonio, TX (UTSA campus; commuter and residential options)
Cost: $550 (day camp); $750 (overnight camp); reduced rates with tuition assistance ($250 and $450 respectively for both camps); financial assistance is available
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The Ryzer Biomedical Engineering Summer Camp is a high school program held in San Antonio, TX, designed for students in grades 9 through 12. It exposes students to the fundamentals of medical technology design and problem-solving. You will learn laboratory and prototyping techniques while collaborating in a make-a-thon to create solutions for real healthcare challenges. The curriculum includes demonstrations of medical device innovation and direct interactions with faculty and industry professionals. The program emphasizes both technical training and creative teamwork, simulating how biomedical engineers work in academic and commercial research environments.
7. Mercer University School of Medicine Virtual Medical Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: All high school students from rural Georgia
This week-long virtual camp introduces 100 high school students from rural Georgia to healthcare topics through structured lessons led by Mercer faculty and medical students. Each day pairs a lecture module with an applied activity, such as guided experiments or interactive health games, using kits mailed to participants. The program emphasizes active learning and exposure to medical careers in an accessible online format. It is particularly focused on expanding opportunities for rural students to engage with healthcare education in a structured, low-cost environment.
8. Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) Pharmacy Summer Camp
Location: Baltimore, MD (commuter and residential options)
Cost: Approximately $450
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade high school students
NDMU’s Pharmacy Summer Camp introduces high school students to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences through applied lab work and faculty-led instruction. You will compound medications, study precision medicine, and explore how pharmacists contribute to both research and patient care. The camp also highlights medication therapy management and includes sessions on preparing for pharmacy school applications. The program combines technical skill development in laboratory science with career exploration in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical research. By the end, you will understand the role of pharmacists and the healthcare team, and learn about drug development, medication safety, and pharmacy ethics.
9. Project PROMISE Workshops
Location: Rural Western North Carolina high schools
Cost: None
Dates: Offered during the school year and in summer
Application Deadline: Varies by school and workshop
Eligibility: High school students in rural Western North Carolina counties with an interest in healthcare careers
Project PROMISE conducts healthcare-focused workshops that introduce rural high school students from Western North Carolina to practical medical skills. Led by healthcare professionals and medical students, activities include suturing on simulated skin models, measuring vital signs, performing blood typing, and practicing chief complaint and history of patient present illness. Sessions may also cover ultrasound demonstrations and anatomy through fetal pig dissections. The workshops emphasize early exposure to clinical reasoning and hands-on techniques while making healthcare education accessible in underserved regions.
10. Digital Health Pioneers Summer Camp
Location: Frisco, TX (University of North Texas – Frisco Landing)
Cost: None
Dates: June 2 – 6
Application Deadline: May 22
Eligibility: High school students interested in the intersection of healthcare and technology
This camp introduces students to digital health innovation, combining healthcare concepts with emerging technologies. You will explore telemedicine, wearable health devices, and digital health data analytics through hands-on workshops and faculty-led seminars. The program emphasizes applied learning with direct exposure to digital tools shaping modern healthcare delivery. You will gain insight into the skills required for future careers in digital medicine and health informatics.
11. Health Sciences Summer Camps
Location: Austin, TX (UT Austin campus)
Cost: June Camp: $500; GEAR UP Residential Camp: None (includes housing and meals); scholarships and tuition waivers available for qualifying students
Dates: June Camp: June 16 – 20; GEAR UP Residential Camp: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th grade students in Central Texas; eligibility via district nomination or open application
Dell Medical School’s summer camps at UT Austin introduce students to clinical and laboratory medicine through structured simulations and faculty-led workshops. You will practice CPR, IV placement, and airway management in medical simulation labs, as well as explore surgical technologies such as the Da Vinci robot. Additional sessions include laboratory science, First Aid, and CPR/AED certification, and discussions with healthcare professionals. The program combines clinical skill development with exposure to medical technology and offers a pathway to continued engagement through a yearlong academy.
12. Rural Health Careers Camp
Location: DeKalb, IL (in-person, residential)
Cost: $100
Dates: June 23 – 25
Application Deadline: Typically late April to mid-May
Eligibility: Rising freshmen through juniors who live and attend school in rural communities (population ≤ 25,000) | Preference for designated Illinois counties; seniors and out-of-county students considered if space permits
NIU’s Rural Health Careers Camp introduces up to 50 students from rural communities to healthcare professions through structured, hands-on activities. Across three days, you will participate in more than 15 labs and workshops in fields such as medicine, nursing, and allied health, while engaging directly with healthcare professionals. Counselors who are current health profession students provide mentorship, and residential housing allows for immersion in college life. The camp emphasizes rural health needs, professional pathways, and early exposure to college-level preparation for healthcare careers.
13. COHS Summer Camp – Sam Houston State University (SHSU)
Location: Huntsville, TX (residential)
Cost: Fee-based (covers housing, meals, and activities); amount not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are filled
Eligibility: Junior or senior high school students | Minimum 3.0 GPA
The College of Health Sciences summer camp at SHSU introduces high school students to multiple health professions through structured workshops and faculty-led sessions. You will explore nursing, kinesiology, public health, and human sciences while participating in campus tours and residential life. Activities include visits to the SHSU Woodlands Center, where the School of Nursing is based, and recreational events that build peer connections. The program also includes campus tours, team-building exercises, and opportunities to develop communication and leadership skills relevant to health careers, all designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to healthcare professions in a collaborative environment.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like public health, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, pharmacology, epidemiology, and more, 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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