TL;DR
Missouri has summer medical programs for high school students interested in clinical medicine, biomedical research, healthcare careers, neuroscience, microbiology, surgery, and health sciences. The options range from free research internships with stipends to short medical camps and paid programs focused on specific areas like cardiothoracic surgery or bacteriophage research. Some are limited to Missouri or St. Louis-area students, while others are virtual and open to students anywhere. If you want a more independent research experience, you can also explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
If you’re interested in medicine, a summer program can help you figure out which parts of the field you actually want to explore before college. You might spend the summer in a biomedical research lab, learn clinical skills, explore healthcare careers, or focus closely on an area like microbiology, neuroscience, or surgery. Some programs are designed for students just beginning to explore medicine, while others involve full-time research with a mentor. This list includes 15 medical programs for high school students in Missouri, with options ranging from one-day experiences to eight-week research internships. If you’re especially interested in the computational side of medicine, you can also explore 15 computational biology summer programs for high school students.
How big is the stipend range across these Missouri medical programs?
The programs on this list vary significantly in what they cost and whether they pay students. At the high end, the Young Scientist Program provides a $4,800 stipend for its eight-week Summer Focus research program. STAR 2.0 provides a $2,600 stipend, while BESt Healthcare Institute offers up to $500 depending on the program and student performance. Other programs are free but do not list a stipend, while several charge tuition or program fees.
Stipend ranges across these programs
| Stipend tier | Programs in this range | Typical commitment |
| $2,000 and above | Young Scientist Program ($4,800), STAR 2.0 ($2,600) | 6–8 weeks |
| Under $1,000 | BESt Healthcare Institute (up to $500) | 4 weeks |
| Free, no stipend | Medical Explorations | 1 day–2 weeks |
| Paid tuition, no stipend | Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills ($4,500), ASSIP ($1,299), Johns Hopkins JHIBS | 2–8 weeks |
The dollar amount is only one way to compare these programs. A paid research internship can involve a much larger time commitment than a short medical camp, while a free program may offer clinical exposure or mentorship without putting tuition on your family.
Do you need a high GPA to qualify for these programs?
Not necessarily. The published requirements range from no GPA minimum stated to a 3.0 minimum, with the School of Medicine Summer Scholars Program at Saint Louis University accepting students with a 2.5 GPA. Several programs use a 3.0 GPA threshold, while others don’t publish a minimum.
Academic eligibility by GPA requirement
| GPA requirement | Programs |
| 3.0 and above | Mini-Medical School, Saturday Scholars, BESt Healthcare Institute |
| 2.5–2.9 | School of Medicine Summer Scholars – Saint Louis University |
| No GPA minimum stated | ECHO, Phage Summer Research Camp, Johns Hopkins JHIBS |
A GPA requirement also isn’t the same thing as how competitive a program is. Some programs with a stated minimum may receive far more applications than they have places for.
Which programs let you specialize early, in areas like cardiothoracic surgery or microbiology?
A few programs let you go much narrower than a typical medical summer camp. The Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship focuses specifically on cardiac and thoracic anatomy, physiology, imaging, surgical diseases, and surgical techniques. Students also practice skills such as suturing, knot tying, and instrument handling.
The Phage Summer Research Camp takes a similarly focused approach to microbiology. Students work with bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, and learn how to collect, purify, characterize, and visualize them through laboratory research.
If you already have a narrow area of interest, choosing a focused program can make more sense than spending a summer sampling unrelated healthcare careers. You can also explore how to choose a research topic as a high school student.
Which of these programs are open to students outside Missouri?
Several programs don’t require students to live in Missouri. These include the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Veritas AI, Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP), Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship, and Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS). STAR 2.0 is another option for students outside Missouri because it accepts students who live in Kansas. The other programs have more specific geographic requirements.
15 Missouri medical programs to consider
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — students can participate from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid is available
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. Click here for the latest updates.
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. Click here for the latest updates.
Eligibility: High school students; the source material lists a 3.3 average GPA among accepted students rather than a formal minimum
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives high school students the chance to work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent research project. You can explore fields including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. The program typically culminates in an independent research paper.
Who is it right for? High school students who want to pursue an independent research project with one-on-one mentorship rather than a traditional medical summer camp.
2. Veritas AI – Deep Dive: AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Program Dates: Multiple 10-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: May 25 (summer session I); June 22 (session II)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12; Completion of the AI Scholars program or prior experience in Python
The Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Medicine program focuses on how machine learning is being used across medicine. You’ll study applications in areas such as genomics, diagnostics, and drug discovery while learning technical concepts including medical data preparation, exploratory data analysis, convolutional neural networks, and image segmentation.
Who is it right for? High school students in grades 9–12 with prior AI or Python experience who want to explore the intersection of machine learning and medicine.
3. Mini-Medical School
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Cost: $650 per session; scholarships are available
Program dates: June 6–10 or June 13–17
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Current Missouri high school juniors who are rising seniors, with a 3.0 GPA; students must have a permanent Missouri address or attend high school in Missouri
Mini-Medical School gives Missouri high school juniors a preview of medical school through patient-based learning, anatomy, microbiology, and clinical-skills activities. You will interact with medical students, faculty, and staff and attend sessions with clinical and research specialists. The residential program also includes seminars on college and medical school applications.
Who is it right for? Missouri students entering senior year who want a focused introduction to medical school, clinical skills, and life on a medical campus.
4. Medical Explorations
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Cost: $75; financial assistance is available for the workshop fee
Program dates: Not specified. Click here for the latest updates.
Application deadline: Not specified. Click here for the latest updates.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors
Medical Explorations combines online health-care career exploration with an in-person experience. You will work on individual and group projects, participate in skills labs and discussions, and explore different health professions before finishing with a day of simulations, case studies, hands-on activities, and presentations.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 10 or 11 who want to explore several healthcare careers before deciding whether medicine is the right direction.
5. Saturday Scholars Program
Location: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Not specified
Program dates: February 13, February 20, February 27, March 6, and March 13
Application deadline: Not specified. Click here for the updates
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; freshmen may be considered if space is available
Saturday Scholars uses five Saturday sessions to introduce students to human anatomy, clinical skills, and medical education. You learn from medical students, take part in anatomy lab activities, and complete a research project that they present during the final session.
Who is it right for? Students with a 3.0+ GPA who want recurring hands-on exposure to anatomy, medicine, and research without committing to a full-time summer program.
6. BESt Healthcare Institute Summer Program
Location: Washington University’s Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free; stipends of up to $400 for BESt I/II or up to $500 for BESt III
Program dates: Not specified. Click here for updates.
Application deadline: Not specified. Click here for updates.
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors attending a St. Louis regional high school; 3.0 GPA or higher
The BESt Healthcare Institute Summer Program gives you four weeks of academic, healthcare, and professional development experience on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. You’ll take part in hands-on lab and clinical experiences with local healthcare providers, collaborative projects and team-building activities, while also working on math, science, ACT/SAT preparation, college readiness, leadership, and professional development.
Who is it right for? St. Louis-area students in grades 9–11 who want healthcare exposure alongside STEM, college-readiness, and professional-development support.
7. Young Scientist Program (YSP): Summer Focus
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free; participants receive a $4,800 stipend
Program dates: Not specified. Click here for more updates.
Application deadline: Not specified. Click here for updates.
Eligibility: High school juniors entering senior year who live in the Greater St. Louis area of Missouri or Illinois
Summer Focus is an eight-week, full-time biomedical research program where you work in a Washington University laboratory with a research mentor. You’ll conduct an individual research project while receiving academic support from a tutor who helps you understand scientific literature and your research topic. The program also includes a Writing Course focused on scientific communication and a NextUp Course covering college preparation and career exploration.
Who is it right for? Rising seniors in the St. Louis area who want intensive, hands-on biomedical research experience with structured support in scientific writing and college preparation.
8. Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Camp – Missouri State University
Location: Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Cost: $500 residential; $400 commuter
Program dates: Not specified. More updates here
Application deadline: Not specified. More updates here
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Camp gives you hands-on experience with health care skills while introducing you to careers across sports medicine and health sciences. You can explore fields such as athletic training, dietetics, physician assistantship, physical therapy, radiography, exercise science, health education and promotion, public health, and health services.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 9–12 who want broad exposure to health professions rather than a research-heavy medical experience.
9. School of Medicine Summer Scholars Program – Saint Louis University
Location: Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $500; need-based financial aid is available
Program dates: Not specified. More details here
Application deadline: Not specified. More details here
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 with a minimum 2.5 GPA who are interested in a health-related career
The four-week Summer Scholars Program combines clinical exposure, research, medical education, and community service. You will meet specialists in areas such as surgery and pediatrics, take part in simulation activities and research, tour the medical campus, and complete Stop the Bleed certification.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 10–12 who want hands-on exposure to medical careers, research, clinical skills, and life at a medical school.
10. STAR 2.0 Program – Children’s Mercy Research Institute
Location: Children’s Mercy Research Institute, Kansas City, MO
Cost: Free; participants receive a $2,600 stipend
Program dates: Not specified. More details here
Application deadline: Not specified. More details here
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who live in Missouri or Kansas and attend a public or charter school
STAR 2.0 is a six-week summer research program where you work with Children’s Mercy faculty on an original medical research project. You’ll learn about clinical and translational research methods, scientific writing, statistics, medical ethics, and career pathways while gaining hands-on research experience. The program also includes faculty, staff, and peer mentorship, research and medical networking, lab and hospital tours, and an opportunity to present your work as an oral abstract.
Who is it right for? Missouri or Kansas students who want intensive medical research experience earlier in high school than many junior- and senior-only programs allow.
11. Exploring Careers in Healthcare Opportunities (ECHO)
Location: Western Missouri Medical Center, Warrensburg, MO
Cost: $40
Program dates: Not specified. Click here for updates
Application deadline: Not specified. Click here for updates
Eligibility: Current high school students and May graduates
ECHO at Western Missouri Medical Center is a week-long program for high school students interested in healthcare careers. You will observe professionals in departments like the Emergency Room, Obstetrics, Imaging, and Labs. Interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities make learning engaging and practical.
Who is it right for? High school students who want a short, low-cost introduction to healthcare careers and hospital environments.
12. Phage Summer Research Camp
Location: Webster University, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $400
Program dates: Not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 14–18, from rising ninth graders through high school graduates
The Phage Summer Research Camp is one of the most specialized programs on this list. You will study bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, through field and laboratory research. You will collect samples, purify and characterize phages, and use transmission electron microscopy to visualize them. College professors guide you through an ongoing scientific research project.
Who is it right for? Students ages 14–18 who are interested in microbiology, virology, and laboratory research and want to work with bacteriophages through an authentic research project.
13. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,299 for three college credits plus a $25 application fee; fees may be waived for qualifying financial need
Program dates: Not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students; minimum age varies by internship type
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program gives students the chance to work one-on-one with faculty researchers on original STEM research. Projects cover fields including bioengineering, neuroscience, biology, data science, cybersecurity, and nanotechnology. Depending on the project, you may present their work at a scientific conference or pursue publication.
Who is it right for? Students who want a full-time research experience with a faculty mentor and are ready to take on an original STEM project.
14. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,500 plus a $95 nonrefundable application fee
Program dates: June 21–July 2 or July 12–23
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old on the first day of the program; high school juniors under 16 may be considered
This program focuses specifically on cardiothoracic surgery rather than general medical exposure. You will study cardiac and thoracic anatomy and physiology, surgical diseases, ECGs, echocardiography, cardiac imaging, and surgical techniques. You will also practice skills such as suturing, knot tying, and instrument handling using specialized supplies and simulators at home.
Who is it right for? Students who are already seriously interested in surgery and want to explore cardiothoracic medicine in depth.
15. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins Medicine; format varies by program cycle
Cost: Free
Program dates: Not specified. Click here for the latest updates.
Application deadline: Not specified. Click here for the latest updates.
Eligibility: High school students interested in science, healthcare, or neuroscience; check the official website for current requirements
JHIBS introduces high school students to neuroscience and healthcare through lectures, hands-on activities, and mentorship. Depending on the program cycle, you can explore brain anatomy, neuroscience, bioengineering, clinical skills, and careers in medicine and research.
Who is it right for? Students interested in neuroscience, medicine, or healthcare who want structured exposure to the field without paying tuition.
One more option: the Horizon Academic Research Program
If you want to move beyond a structured medical camp and actually develop your own research question, the Horizon Academic Research Program offers a different model. You can explore areas such as neuroscience, biology, chemistry, psychology, data science, and other academic fields while working with a mentor toward an independent research project and paper.
Questions families ask about Missouri medical summer programs
Yes. BESt Healthcare Institute accepts freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, while STAR 2.0 also accepts students in those grades. Saturday Scholars accepts sophomores through seniors and may consider freshmen if space is available. Many of the more research-intensive options, however, are aimed at juniors or rising seniors.
Yes, a few do. The largest stipend on this list is currently $4,800 from the Young Scientist Program, followed by $2,600 from STAR 2.0. BESt Healthcare Institute offers up to $500 depending on the program. These are also among the programs requiring a substantial time commitment, so compare the stipend with the length and intensity of the experience rather than looking only at the dollar amount.
Yes. STAR 2.0 is built around medical research at Children’s Mercy and can give students exposure to pediatric and clinical research. Webster University’s Phage Summer Research Camp goes even narrower, focusing specifically on bacteriophages and microbiology. Stanford’s Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship is similarly specialized, but in cardiothoracic surgery.
Some do, but most of the programs on this list are structured around a set curriculum, cohort experience, clinical exposure, or an assigned research project. If you want to develop your own research question and work toward an independent research paper with a mentor, explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
Image source: Lumiere Education