Updated October 2026
TL;DR
This guide covers 15 medical programs for high school students in Philadelphia, including research internships, hospital programs, university summer academies, and online research opportunities. You’ll find details on cost or stipend, dates, deadlines, cohort size, and eligibility, verified against official program pages in October 2026. Jump to research internships in Philadelphia labs, hospital and health career programs, university summer academies, or online medical research programs. At least 7 programs are free or offer a stipend. Most deadlines fall between February and June, while some applications open in the fall, so start planning early. You can also explore the Horizon Academic Research Program if you want to research your own medical question with a professor or PhD mentor.
If you live in or near Philadelphia and you’re thinking about a career in medicine, you have more options close to home than you might expect. Several of the city’s hospitals and research centers pay high schoolers to work in their labs, and others offer free one- or two-week programs in nursing, physical therapy, and clinical research. With so many choices, we looked at cost, stipends, eligibility, time commitment, and how hands-on each program is, and picked 15 you can weigh side by side. If you’re open to research beyond medicine, see our list of research programs for high school students in Philadelphia.
Which Philadelphia medical program fits what you want?
| If you want | Look at |
|---|---|
| A paid summer in a research lab | Monell, Wistar, CHOP Neurology |
| A free, short program to test your interest | Fox Chase TRIP Explore, Jefferson Nursing STEP-UP, Jefferson REACH |
| A look at several health professions | Penn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program |
| Clinical research inside a children’s hospital | Shriners Children’s Philadelphia |
| Biomedical engineering | Drexel BIOMED Summer Academy |
| A med school-style summer on campus | Penn Medicine Summer Program |
| A deep dive into the brain or infectious disease | Penn Neuroscience Research Academy, Penn Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Academy |
| Medical research or medical AI from home | Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Veritas AI + Medicine |
When should you apply for summer 2027?
Some programs are already open:
- The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program opened its summer 2027 application in October.
- The Penn Medicine Summer Program opens in late November and closes in late February.
- The online programs have fall deadlines: the Lumiere Research Scholar Program Winter Cohort closes November 15, and Veritas AI has a Winter deadline of November 29.
Most other Philadelphia programs haven’t posted 2027 dates yet.
Research Internships in Philadelphia Labs
1. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP)
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Eight weeks in summer 2027, dates TBA
Application Deadline: TBA. Applications for summer opened in October
Eligibility: High school or undergraduate students from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, who can prove they’re eligible to work in the U.S.
Monell is a research institute that studies taste and smell, and its apprenticeship is now called the Dr. Charis Eng Monell Science Apprenticeship Program. You spend eight weeks doing paid, full-time research with a Monell scientist. Weekly sessions cover public speaking, science writing, and research ethics. At the end, you present your project at a public conference.
Who is it right for? Greater Philadelphia high schoolers who want a paid summer of full-time lab research.
2. Wistar Institute High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, University City, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: No fee listed. A $1,500 stipend is awarded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: July 6 to 30)
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: At least 16 by the program start date, with at least one high school science course completed
Wistar runs a four-week, in-person biomedical research internship for 15 high schoolers. You work in a research lab, learn to read scientific papers, and present your work on the last day. You also hear from scientists about different careers in biomedical research.
Who is it right for? Philadelphia-area 16- and 17-year-olds who want their first real lab experience.
3. CHOP Research Internship for Scholars and Emerging Scientists (CHOP-RISES)
Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: No fee listed. Stipends, travel awards, and daily lunch are provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Two consecutive summers, Monday to Thursday. CHOP-RISES I runs six weeks for rising juniors, and CHOP-RISES II runs eight weeks for rising seniors
Application Deadline: You can’t apply directly. CHOP’s partner schools and community agencies nominate applicants.
Eligibility: Nominated high schoolers, with a focus on those typically underrepresented in research. You must complete CHOP-RISES I to be considered for CHOP-RISES II.
CHOP-RISES runs over two summers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In the first summer, you learn basic lab techniques in a CHOP lab and take college prep sessions. In the second, you complete your own research project, shadow clinicians, and mentor first-year interns. You finish by presenting a poster to the CHOP community.
Who is it right for? Rising juniors at CHOP partner schools who want two summers of pediatric research.
4. CHOP Neurology High School Scholars Program
Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Paid internship with a $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Five weeks in July
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are 16 by the start date. You don’t need to live in Philadelphia, but you must be able to travel to CHOP up to five days a week.
You work with a CHOP neurologist or neuroscientist on a basic science or clinical research project. You also shadow physicians and attend a weekly education session. The internship ends with a poster presentation of your results. Selected interns need immunizations, FBI fingerprinting, and child abuse clearances before they start.
Who is it right for? Sophomores and juniors interested in the brain who can commute to CHOP in summer 2027.
5. Fox Chase Cancer Center TRIP Explore
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: One week in summer 2027, dates TBA
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: April 20)
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area high school students who are at least 16 by the start of their session
TRIP Explore is the one-week summer option of Fox Chase’s Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP). You spend the week doing hands-on, lab-based biomedical research at a cancer center. You also learn about careers in science, research, and health care. To apply, you fill out an online form and send your transcript.
Who is it right for? Philadelphia-area 16-year-olds who want a short, free first look at cancer research.
Hospital and Health Career Programs
6. Penn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: No fee listed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: July 6 to 31)
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: 9th or 10th graders at a Philadelphia public, Catholic, private, or charter high school, with a minimum 3.0 GPA
You spend four weeks at one of five Penn professional schools: Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Engineering, or Law. If you pick Medicine, Nursing, or Dental Medicine, you get hands-on sessions built around those careers. The program typically ends with a college fair on Penn’s campus. To apply, you send a transcript and a 250-word essay.
Who is it right for? Philadelphia freshmen and sophomores who want an early look at medicine, nursing, or dentistry at Penn.
7. Shriners Children’s Philadelphia Medical Research Summer Immersion Program
Location: Shriners Children’s Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: No fee listed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 high school and college participants
Program Dates: One week in June
Application Deadline: TBA. Past deadlines were March 3 and March 6
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors, plus college students
This is a weeklong, all-day program at a children’s hospital. You learn how clinical research works, attend lectures, do hands-on labs, and shadow medical staff. In 2025, the group also visited the operating room. On the last day, you present a research idea of your own.
Who is it right for? Juniors and seniors who want a short, intense introduction to clinical research.
8. Jefferson Nursing STEP-UP
Location: Jefferson Center City Campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: June 15 to 26)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: June 1)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Nursing STEP-UP (Summer Training and Enrichment Program) is a free two-week introduction to nursing. You practice nursing skills in simulation sessions designed to feel like real patient care. You also get mentoring, study skills training, and field trips.
Who is it right for? Rising juniors and seniors curious about nursing who want a free, hands-on start.
9. Jefferson Rehabilitation Sciences REACH Program
Location: Jefferson East Falls Campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: July 13 to 17)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: June 12)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors at a School District of Philadelphia high school, with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a clear interest in the rehabilitation sciences
REACH is a free five-day program on careers in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, exercise science, and speech-language pathology. You learn what each job involves and the college path to get there. Jefferson also coaches you on personal statements and interviews.
Who is it right for? Philadelphia juniors and seniors interested in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or related fields.
University Summer Academies in Philadelphia
10. Drexel BIOMED Summer Academy
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $1,500 if you apply by May 29 and $2,000 after
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: three one-week sessions in July, including July 6 to 10 and July 13 to 17)
Application Deadline: TBA. Drexel reviews applications on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from the Philadelphia area and surrounding regions who have completed one year of biology
BIOMED is a one-week introduction to biomedical engineering at Drexel. You learn core lab techniques used in biomedical research through hands-on activities. You also visit biomedical companies and hear from people who work in the industry.
Who is it right for? Students who like biology and building things and want a short, affordable engineering program.
11. Penn Medicine Summer Program
Location: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (residential)
Cost: $11,255
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Four weeks in summer 2027, dates TBA
Application Deadline: The application opens in late November and closes in late February. In 2026, late applications were reviewed on a rolling basis starting in April, based on space.
Eligibility: Ages 15 to 18, entering 11th or 12th grade, with a high school biology class completed before the start date. International applicants don’t need the TOEFL.
This four-week program is modeled after first-year classes at Penn’s medical school. You live on campus and attend sessions led by Penn Medicine doctors. BOLD Summers runs admissions and emails decisions by early April.
Who is it right for? Rising juniors and seniors set on medicine who can cover the cost of a residential program.
12. Penn Neuroscience Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (residential only)
Cost: TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (Penn’s three-week academies ran July 11 to August 1)
Application Deadline: TBA. Applications for the 2026 programs opened December 1
Eligibility: Current 9th to 11th graders with a minimum 3.5 GPA and one year each of high school biology and chemistry. International students are welcome.
The academy covers the brain from single neurons up to memory, emotion, and morality. Members of Penn’s undergraduate neuroscience program teach twice-daily lectures, and you analyze real research papers in a journal club. You also debate ethics questions in a neuroethics club and try lab techniques. Past trips have included the Mütter Museum and the Franklin Institute. Our list of university-led neuroscience programs has more options like this one.
Who is it right for? Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who want three weeks of college-level neuroscience.
13. Penn Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (residential)
Cost: TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA. Applications for the 2026 programs opened December 1.
Eligibility: Current 9th to 11th graders with a minimum 3.5 GPA and one year of high school biology
This academy covers how infectious diseases work and how public health responds to them, using pathogens like malaria, HIV, COVID-19, and influenza. You hear from virologists, epidemiologists, and frontline workers, and you run microbiology experiments in the lab. For your final project, you review a past epidemic and create a public service announcement about preparing for the next one.
Who is it right for? Students fascinated by how outbreaks start, spread, and get stopped.
Online Medical Research Programs
If you can’t commute to a Philadelphia lab, these two programs run online. Our list of online medical summer programs for high school students has more remote options.
14. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program. Need-based financial aid is available, and the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers the program at no cost to talented low-income students.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Cohorts run year-round
Application Deadline: Winter Cohort: November 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12 anywhere in the world. No research experience is needed.
You work one-on-one with a PhD fellow or postdoc for 12 weeks on a medical research question you choose. The program includes nine sessions with your mentor and two with a writing coach, and you finish with a college-level paper. Completing a program also makes you eligible for 3 post-baccalaureate credits through UC San Diego Extended Studies.
Who is it right for? Students who want to write a medical research paper from home at any time of year.
15. Veritas AI: AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program. Need-based financial aid of up to 100% is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published. Classes run at a 5:1 ratio
Program Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 9 to 12, with Python basics or a completed AI Scholars course
This online course teaches you how AI is used in medicine. You learn to prepare medical data and train neural networks to classify medical images. The course also covers how clinical AI tools are evaluated and the ethics of using them. You build a group project with your class, and completing it makes you eligible for UC San Diego Extended Studies credit.
Who is it right for? Students who code and want to see how AI reads scans and supports diagnosis.
Which Philadelphia medical program fits your budget?
| If you want | Look at | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| To get paid for research | Monell, Wistar, CHOP Neurology, CHOP-RISES | Wistar paid $1,500 in 2026, and CHOP Neurology pays $1,000. CHOP Neurology returns in 2027, and CHOP-RISES is by nomination only. |
| A free program | Fox Chase TRIP Explore, Jefferson Nursing STEP-UP, Jefferson REACH | Short programs, one to two weeks long |
| A program with no fee listed | Penn SMP, Shriners Children’s | Confirm costs with the program when you apply |
| A low-cost paid program | Drexel BIOMED | $1,500 to $2,000 in 2026, depending on when you apply |
| A full scholarship at Penn | Penn Neuroscience Academy, Penn Microbiology Academy | Free for eligible School District of Philadelphia students |
| A residential program you can pay for | Penn Medicine Summer Program, Penn academies | Penn Medicine costs $11,255 in 2026. Penn Academy tuition for 2027 isn’t posted yet. |
| An online program with financial aid | Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Veritas AI + Medicine | Need-based aid, up to 100% at Veritas AI |
If cost matters most, start with Monell, Wistar, and the two Jefferson programs. If you’re at a School District of Philadelphia high school, ask about Penn’s Summer Scholarship for the Penn academies. For more no-cost options, see our list of free summer research programs for high school students.
5 Tips to Stand Out in Your Philadelphia Medical Program Applications
1. Check which schools and neighborhoods each program serves
Several programs limit who can apply by school or location:
- Penn’s SMP takes students from Philadelphia high schools.
- Jefferson REACH is for School District of Philadelphia students.
- Monell accepts applicants from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden.
Confirm you qualify before you start writing essays.
2. Ask your school about nominations.
CHOP-RISES doesn’t take direct applications, so your only way in is through a partner school or community agency. Ask your counselor or science teacher whether your school partners with CHOP, and say you’re interested early in the school year.
3. Start your clearances and paperwork early.
Hospital programs often need more than an application. The CHOP Neurology program requires immunizations, FBI fingerprinting, and child abuse clearances. Monell asks you to prove you’re eligible to work in the U.S. Getting these done early keeps a missing form from costing you your spot.
4. Write about a specific health question you care about
Programs ask why you want to be there, and a specific answer stands out. Shriners Children’s asks about your reasons for applying and your career goals, and the CHOP Neurology program has asked for two short essays. “Why do some kids recover from concussions faster than others?” says more about you than “I want to be a doctor.” If you’d like to start shaping a question now, our guide to writing a research paper in 90 days shows how to narrow a big interest.
5. Line up your recommenders before winter break
Many of these programs need letters:
- The CHOP Neurology program has asked for two.
- Shriners needs one reference.
- Drexel gives preference to applicants with positive teacher recommendations.
Ask a science teacher who knows your work, and give them at least a month.
If you’re also open to programs outside medicine, our list of programs for high school students in Philadelphia covers options in business, math, the arts, and career readiness across the city.
The Philadelphia programs above give you time in a lab, a hospital, or a classroom. To pursue a medical question of your own in depth, the Horizon Academic Research Program is a selective online program that pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar.
What students often ask about these Philadelphia medical programs
For several of them, yes. A few programs ask for at least one year of high school biology, and one neuroscience academy also requires a year of chemistry. The career-exploration programs mostly look for a minimum GPA and a clear interest in the field.
Mostly in labs and classrooms. A couple of programs include physician shadowing or clinical simulations, and one children’s hospital program gives you a behind-the-scenes look at hospital operations. Direct patient care isn’t part of any program on this list.
Yes. One university program is built for current 9th and 10th graders, and the summer academies take current 9th to 11th graders. A neurology internship also accepts sophomores who are 16 by the start date. For more programs open to younger students, see our list of research programs for high school students in Philadelphia.
For most of them, yes. Several programs limit applicants to Philadelphia schools or the greater Philadelphia area, and most expect you to commute daily. If you’re farther away, the Horizon Academic Research Program is fully online and pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar to write a 20-page research paper.
Image source – Thomas Jefferson University