Exploring medical programs as a high school students is one of the most practical ways to strengthen your academic foundation and test your interest in healthcare. These programs enable you to move beyond high school biology and chemistry by engaging with subjects such as molecular genetics, anatomy, public health, and bioinformatics. If you’re based in Georgia, you’re in luck!
Georgia offers a range of opportunities through its universities, hospitals, and research centers, making participation in a local program a financially smart option for in-state students. Whether you want exposure to clinical environments, medical research, or advanced science coursework, you can find structured pathways.
Below is a list of 13 medical programs for high school students in Georgia, including pre-college immersions, research mentorships, and internships.
1. PCOM Georgia Opportunities Academy Summer STEM Program
Location: PCOM Georgia, Suwanee, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Program Dates: June
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: High school students in Gwinnett County
This program introduces you to healthcare careers through structured clinical and laboratory activities. You’ll practice CPR, participate in anatomy labs on the heart and brain, and work with simulation mannequins in the PCOM Simulation Center. Sessions include guidance on college applications and direct interaction with physicians, PAs, pharmacists, and medical students. The program focuses on developing technical skills and providing professional mentorship, offering a valuable early exposure opportunity for local students.
2. SGMC Health Volunteen Summer Program
Location: SGMC Health, Valdosta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid volunteer placement
Program Dates: June 9 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders with a GPA of B or higher
This program places you in a hospital department to observe and assist staff in both clinical and administrative environments. Each week, you’ll have two half-day shifts, giving you hands-on experience with patient care workflows and health system operations. The orientation covers hospital protocols, infection control, and professional conduct standards. This experience focuses on patient-centered care and lets you log volunteer hours while building communication and workplace readiness skills.
3. Mercer Virtual Med Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; activity supplies included
Program Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Middle and high school students from rural Georgia
This week-long virtual camp introduces you to health topics through instruction by Mercer’s medical faculty and students. Each session combines a teaching module with a hands-on activity, ranging from interactive experiments to structured health games. Materials, including experiment kits and a camp t-shirt, are mailed to participants free of charge. The camp emphasizes active learning in medicine and is designed to engage rural students in accessible, structured experiences that expose them to various medical careers.
4. SGMC Health Student Shadowing Program
Location: SGMC Health, Valdosta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Program Dates: Ongoing; application window reopens September 3
Application Deadline: Rolling once open
Eligibility: High school and college students interested in healthcare careers
This program gives you the chance to observe healthcare professionals in real-world settings across clinical and non-clinical departments. Shadowing experiences provide insight into the workflows of physicians, nurses, technicians, and administrative staff, highlighting both direct patient care and hospital operations. The focus is on professional exposure rather than active participation, helping you gain a better understanding of medical career pathways and workplace dynamics.
5. Summer Springboard – Emergency Medicine @ Georgia Tech
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $5,698 residential; $3,198 commuter
Program Dates: June 15–June 27
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students interested in healthcare and emergency medicine
This two-week program provides structured training in emergency medicine through simulation labs and field-based exercises. You’ll practice suturing, splinting, CPR, and vital sign assessment under the guidance of physicians and PAs. The curriculum includes wilderness medicine sessions, team-based diagnosis of simulated patients, and a capstone mass casualty simulation. Technical emphasis is placed on procedural accuracy and real-time problem-solving, giving you practical exposure to acute medical care scenarios.
6. Human Genetic Diseases
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $5,137 residential; $3,662 commuter; $70 application fee; $350 enrollment deposit; lab fees up to $75; financial aid available
Program Dates: July 13 – July 26 (Session C)
Application Deadline: May 1 for financial aid; rolling until filled
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who have completed biology; international students not eligible for aid
This two-week noncredit course introduces you to the molecular basis of human genetic disease. Topics include how DNA is transcribed and translated, mechanisms of mutation, and the inheritance patterns of specific disorders. You’ll analyze case studies of genetic disorders to connect clinical presentation with underlying genomic variation. Coursework combines lectures, problem sets, and lab components that emphasize critical evaluation of genetic data. The course is structured to provide both conceptual understanding and applied practice in medical genetics.
7. Medical Anthropology
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $5,137 residential; $3,662 commuter; $70 application fee; $350 enrollment deposit; lab fees up to $75; financial aid available
Program Dates: May 17 – June 26 (Session 1)
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students who have completed sophomore or junior year
This for-credit undergraduate course explores the cultural dimensions of health and medicine. You’ll study comparative disease ecology, ethnomedicine, and the social factors influencing global health challenges. Coursework combines synchronous lectures with asynchronous assignments, totaling around six hours per week. The program offers participants a dual perspective on healthcare, integrating both cultural and scientific viewpoints. This is achieved through a focus on critically analyzing anthropological literature and examining case studies related to biomedicine and other medical systems.
8. Neurology and Brain Disease: Think Like a Neurologist
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $5,137 residential; $3,662 commuter; $25 lab fee; $70 application fee; $350 enrollment deposit
Program Dates: June 15 – June 28 (Session A)
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled; financial aid deadline May 1
Eligibility: High school students (noncredit, pre-college program)
This two-week course trains you to approach neurological disorders through the lens of clinical practice. Instruction includes case-based analysis of conditions such as aphasia, epilepsy, and memory disorders, alongside hands-on neurological exam techniques. Lectures and group activities cover anatomy of the nervous system and mechanisms of brain disease. You’ll develop a structured framework for clinical reasoning in neurology, focusing on the integration of patient symptoms with their underlying neural pathology.
9. Neuroscience School
Location: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $350 – $550, depending on course; fee assistance available
Program Dates: June 2 – July 24 (various one-week sessions)
Application Deadline: Registration open until filled; courses may be canceled if minimum enrollment is not met
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9–12; minimum age 16 for in-person lab courses
This summer program offers short courses in neuroscience led by GSU faculty. Options include online boot camps, in-person lab experiences modeling Alzheimer’s or stress in Drosophila, and advanced topics on neurological disorders. You’ll gain exposure to experimental design, neuroanatomy, and case-based analysis of brain function. Techniques include microscopy, behavioral assays, and human brain imaging methods. Courses combine lectures, labs, and group discussions, emphasizing technical skills alongside conceptual frameworks in neuroscience.
10. Emory Pipeline Collaborative (EPiC)
Location: Emory University & partner sites, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free; includes summer SAT prep and college advising
Program Dates: 3-year pipeline beginning spring of 10th grade; Summer Institutes before junior and senior years; 12 after-school sessions each spring
Application Deadline: Students apply in the fall of sophomore year; acceptance notifications before Thanksgiving
Eligibility: Current sophomores at Carver STEAM, Douglass, Jackson, South Atlanta, or Washington High School; eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch; GPA ≥ 3.0 (or strong potential) with at least one honors/AP/IB course; interest in health careers; full participation commitment
EPiC pairs you with an undergraduate mentor and builds a multi-year pathway into health professions. The program offers clinical skills simulations, college readiness workshops (covering financial aid and admissions), and visits to local colleges and healthcare facilities. It focuses on academic strategies, portfolio development, and social-emotional preparedness for college. The experience concludes with Summer Institutes, which provide further exposure to healthcare careers and practical clinical skills.
11. Pulse of Innovation: Cardiovascular Anatomy, Disease & Engineering Treatments
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $5,137 residential; $3,662 commuter; $70 application fee; $350 enrollment deposit
Program Dates: June 29 – July 12 (Session B)
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled; financial aid deadline May 1
Eligibility: High school students with prior biology and chemistry coursework
This two-week course combines cardiovascular biology with biomedical engineering approaches to treatment. You’ll study heart anatomy and common cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, while also exploring advanced therapies including gene editing, bioprinting, and stem cell regeneration. Instruction includes interactive lectures, field trips to labs, and hands-on projects. Emphasis is placed on linking disease mechanisms with novel engineering solutions, offering both biological and translational perspectives on cardiovascular health.
12. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free; Virtual interns are provided a $500 stipend
Program Dates: 5 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
This program offers a selective introduction to neuroscience research, delivered virtually with instruction and mentorship. Participants will learn foundational brain science concepts and be exposed to basic laboratory techniques through guided activities. The curriculum features scientific presentations, mentorship from researchers, and professional development workshops. A strong emphasis is placed on critical reading, data interpretation, and exploring career paths in neuroscience. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate.
13. Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $2,400 stipend
Program Dates: June 9 – July 18
Application Deadline: Typically announced in the fall
Eligibility: Rising or graduating high school seniors; minimum age 16; U.S. citizens or permanent residents only
This six-week program immerses you in cancer research under the mentorship of Winship investigators. You’ll conduct independent research in a lab or clinical setting, attend oncology lectures, and take field trips to institutions such as the CDC. The program focuses on developing skills in data collection, experimental design, and critical interpretation of research findings. Participants will present their projects at a concluding symposium to faculty and peers. Stipends are provided, with preference given to students from Title I schools or those from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.
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!
Image source – Emory University