Exploring medical programs for high school students is a strong way to build advanced skills in healthcare and biomedical science before college. These programs give you structured access to labs, simulations, and mentorship, where you can work on skills like diagnostic reasoning, lab techniques, and scientific writing. By gaining industry exposure, you’ll get a close look at clinical workflows and research practices that reflect how medicine operates in practice. If you’re based in Houston, you’re in luck!
Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, as well as top universities and hospitals. Each year, they open opportunities for high school students to participate in pre-college immersions, hospital internships, and mentored research. For Houston-based students, choosing a local program is financially practical and accessible since it reduces travel costs while still providing access to advanced medical environments.
In this post, we’ve narrowed down 15 medical programs for high school students in Houston that include research internships, hospital-based immersion experiences, and mentorship opportunities.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
2. DocPrep – Baylor College of Medicine
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: One week in summer (June–July)
Application Deadline: Applications open in March through affiliated schools
Eligibility: Rising seniors from affiliated South Texas high schools, including DeBakey High School in Houston
DocPrep is a one-week academic enrichment program hosted at Baylor College of Medicine that introduces high school students to careers in medicine and biomedical science. You’ll attend medical lectures, participate in simulation lab sessions, and receive guidance on college and medical school admissions. The program also includes a communications course taught by Rice University graduate students, which emphasizes writing and presentation skills in medical contexts. Baylor medical students act as near-peer mentors throughout the program, providing both academic support and career advice.
3. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: $6,800 stipend (10 weeks) | $6,120 stipend (9 weeks if starting late due to graduation)
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors, 18+ by start date; must be entering college in the fall; preference for students pursuing allied health careers
This 10-week program at MD Anderson places you in a biomedical research lab under the mentorship of a faculty scientist. You’ll conduct hands-on experiments, contribute to data collection, and learn core techniques in biomedical research while working full-time in the lab. The program also includes faculty seminars on diverse research areas, along with structured enrichment such as abstract writing, poster sessions, and elevator speech competitions. You will present your projects at the program’s closing symposium, gaining experience in both research execution and scientific communication.
4. Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Cost: Varies
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program
or have prior Python experience.
Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Dates: Jun 9 – Aug 11 (Sundays, 11 AM – 1:30 PM EST)
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine program, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You will get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
5. Houston Methodist High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: December 1 – January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16+; minimum 3.5 GPA; transcript, essays, resume, and two recommendations required
This eight-week internship places you in Houston Methodist’s translational research labs, working alongside undergraduates and medical researchers. You’ll receive training in laboratory techniques, work on a mentor-guided research project, and present your findings at a summer research symposium. The program integrates professional development with events such as seminars, lectures, and networking sessions, offering both scientific and career preparation opportunities. With its full-time schedule in the Texas Medical Center, the experience emphasizes hands-on research, critical thinking, and scientific communication in a professional medical setting.
6. Digital Health Young Scholars Program
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: June 9 – June 26
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Current 10th–11th grade students from designated Houston-area schools; no prior programming experience required
This three-week program introduces high school students to the intersection of engineering, computer science, and healthcare technology. You’ll work with digital tools such as accelerometers, pulse oximeters, GPS modules, and sensors to design prototype devices inspired by real-world medical technologies. The curriculum emphasizes programming, digital circuitry, and applied physics, supported by mentorship from Rice faculty, graduate students, and local educators. Alongside technical skills, you will practice scientific communication and network with peers while exploring pathways into medical technology careers. The program highlights how engineering innovations can support healthcare in under-resourced populations.
7. MohanLab High School Summer Research Internship
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 26
Eligibility: Rising seniors (completed 11th grade) with strong academics; submit résumé (with GPA and class rank), 1-page statement of research interests, and two teacher recommendation letters
This internship begins with 1–2 weeks of training in basic laboratory techniques, followed by mentor-guided bench research for the remainder of the 8 weeks. The areas of research you can choose from include biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, big data analytics (including AI and image analyses), and neuroscience. You’ll assist with experimental setup, data collection, and analysis, then present findings at a lab-wide meeting. Depending on the project, work may support manuscript drafting and data analysis beyond the summer, offering exposure to scientific writing and collaboration. Logistics notes: out-of-Houston students handle boarding; shuttle options exist for Sugar Land residents, and Houston Metro offers free summer student cards.
8. Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship (RGVSSI)
Location: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: $750 stipend upon program completion
Program Dates: June 12 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from Rio Grande Valley school districts; interest in science required
The RGVSSI connects high school students to university-level research projects in public health and biomedical sciences. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor at UTHealth or UTRGV and complete 120 hours of hands-on, science-related work over six weeks. You will contribute to a defined research project, practising core skills in data collection, analysis, and scientific communication. The program concludes with a formal research presentation to peers, faculty, and the community. Alongside research exposure, the internship emphasizes professional development through mentorship and writing exercises, including a required essay and teacher recommendation as part of the application.
9. DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid for high school and undergraduate students, $6,800 stipend for medical students
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 20
Eligibility: High school students, 18+, undergraduates, and medical students (MS1s). All participants must provide proof of enrollment and commit to the full program.
The DACCPM Summer Research Program at MD Anderson immerses students in biomedical and clinical research within the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine. You’ll begin with a Cancer Biology boot camp, then work on a faculty-mentored project in areas like opioids, perioperative immune function, chemotherapy-induced pain, or cancer recurrence. Training includes lab safety, data collection, literature review, and research communication. You will also attend professional development sessions on graduate school and career tracks. The program culminates in a poster symposium and inclusion in the annual CATALYST Summer Program abstract book, giving you experience in both experimental science and scholarly presentation.
10. Global Teen Medical Summit – The Health Museum
Location: The Health Museum & Texas Medical Center sites, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Cost TBD, Need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: July
Application Deadline: Registration and scholarship deadlines vary; a waitlist is available once full
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 (grades 9–12); scholarship applicants must show financial need and submit a 500-word essay, report card, and recommendation letter
Hosted by The Health Museum, this week-long summit immerses high school students in the medical, ethical, and leadership challenges of the healthcare field. You’ll visit facilities like the Texas Medical Center Innovation Lab and Ben Taub Trauma Center, engage in case studies and group-based design challenges, and explore real-world medical simulations. The program integrates professional networking with physicians, scientists, and medical students while also including team-building activities and evening social events. With its residential format, the summit emphasizes collaboration, research presentations, and exposure to advancedhealthcare environments.
11. Healing Arts Fall Internship
Location: The Health Museum, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; students may receive academic credit or service hours if offered through their school
Program Dates: Fall
Application Deadline: September 30
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors (16+) through graduate students
This work-study style internship integrates the arts, health, and community engagement through The Health Museum’s Healing Arts Program. As an intern, you’ll assist in exhibition preparation and installation, coordinate with artists, and support programming tied to the upcoming Age in Our Times exhibition. Tasks may include both physical setup and digital content development, as well as planning workshops and public events. You will gain first-hand experience in museum operations, program design, and the application of art as a tool for health and wellness outreach.
12. Pathway Programs – UTHealth Houston
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; no stipend
Program Dates: Full-day EHP sessions and HCC mentorship sessions held during the academic year (dates vary)
Application Deadline: Varies by session; contact the program for the current schedule
Eligibility: High school students (Houston-area focus); schools participate via UTHealth outreach
These UTHealth Houston pathway offerings provide structured exposure to health professions. Emerging Health Professions (EHP) is a full-day on-campus experience featuring admissions briefings, Q&A with admissions representatives, hands-on activities, and a medical-student panel—helpful in understanding prerequisites, selection criteria, and clinical training pathways. Health Careers Collaborative (HCC) adds a mentorship layer, pairing students with near-peer and professional mentors and a practical health curriculum designed to provide clarity on the career options and reinforce academic planning. Taken together, the programs emphasize professional communication, question-asking in clinical contexts, and awareness of evidence-based decision-making while helping students map their coursework and extracurricular activities to competitive healthcare career applications. For dates and participation details, email [email protected].
13. Houston Premedical Academy
Location: Baylor College of Medicine & University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; conditional acceptance pathway to Baylor College of Medicine
Program Dates: Begins after high school graduation; conditional admission continues through undergraduate years
Application Deadline: January 30 (senior year at DeBakey HS)
Eligibility: Seniors at Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions; must also be admitted to the University of Houston and the UH Honors College
The Houston Premedical Academy is a highly selective pathway that provides up to six DeBakey HS seniors each year with conditional acceptance into Baylor College of Medicine. Applicants must first gain admission to the University of Houston and the Honors College, then apply through HPA with transcripts, three recommendation letters (two from DeBakey faculty), and complete an interview at Baylor. Once admitted, students pursue their undergraduate degree at UH with tailored advising, enrichment in health sciences, and mentorship. If they maintain program requirements, they are guaranteed a seat at Baylor College of Medicine for medical school, making this one of the most direct and structured pre-medical pipelines in Houston.
14. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Interns are paid an hourly wage and receive transportation funds
Program Dates: July–August
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations in the U.S.
The virtual JHIBS program is a highly selective program providing 8 high school students structured exposure to neuroscience through mentored research projects, professional development workshops, and technical training in lab methods and data analysis. You’ll participate in seminars on neurological science, collaborative group discussions, and guided research activities. The program concludes with a formal presentation, allowing you to practice scientific communication and poster-style reporting. Designed to expand access, this program emphasizes inclusion while preparing students with foundational neuroscience and healthcare research skills.
15. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote internships available
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (waivers available); unpaid internship
Program Dates: June 18 – August 9
Application Deadline: Early February
Eligibility: Students at least 15 years old by June 18; 16+ for wet lab or hybrid roles
ASSIP connects high school students with faculty researchers for mentored projects in areas such as proteomics, neuroscience, molecular medicine, epidemiology, and tissue regeneration. Remote participants use research software and digital tools to carry out data-driven investigations while developing scientific writing, literature review, and presentation skills. The program emphasizes independent research within a collaborative environment and culminates in formal project deliverables that mirror university-level research output.
Image source – George Mason University