If you’re thinking about a career in medicine, summer programs designed for high school students can give you an early look into different paths within the field. Medical camps, in particular, stand out because they blend learning with immersive, hands-on experiences. Unlike traditional classroom programs that focus mostly on lectures or theory, camps often place you in realistic settings—whether through clinical simulations, lab activities, or team-based problem-solving exercises.
These short-term, intensive experiences (usually one to two weeks) create an environment where you’re fully engaged with healthcare topics and peers who share your interests. Camps also tend to be more interactive and collaborative, encouraging you to think critically, practice communication, and work as part of a team—skills that are just as important as medical knowledge.
While some camps are more academically structured and others emphasize hands-on practice, all provide an opportunity to connect with medical professionals, develop practical skills, and gain a clearer picture of what studying and working in medicine really involves.
Here are 15 summer medical camps for high school students that can help you take those first steps into the world of healthcare.
1. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Unspecified. More info here
Program Dates: Unspecified. More info here
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old on the first day of camp
Held at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp offers high school students an introduction to public health through hands-on learning. During the program, you’ll explore topics like infectious and chronic diseases, environmental health, epidemiology, emergency response, and health communication. You’ll work in teams to analyze data, investigate case studies, and apply problem-solving skills to better understand how public health professionals approach real-world challenges.
2. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Location: Stanford University / Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $6,380 (on campus), $4,380 (virtual)
Application Deadline: February 24
Program Dates: Session 1 (On campus): July 14–25 | Session 2 (Virtual): July 28 — August 8 | Fall Intensive (Virtual): September 11 — November 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Stanford CSI is a two-week medical program offered both on-campus and online, designed to introduce high school students to basic clinical practices. You’ll work with Stanford medical students, residents, and faculty as you learn skills like suturing, giving injections, and measuring vital signs, along with participating in trauma care exercises. The program also includes guided dissections of human organs such as the heart, brain, and kidney, and opportunities to collaborate on simulated medical scenarios and patient interviews. For virtual participants, materials are provided in advance, and sessions are taught live to support hands-on learning from home.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program — Biology Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: The deadline for the summer cohort is typically in May. There are spring, fall, and winter cohorts as well
Program Dates: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a virtual research opportunity tailored for high school students. You’ll start by developing your research question, reviewing relevant literature, learning appropriate methodologies, and ultimately composing an independent research paper. In their Biology Track, you can cover specific research questions on broad topics like diseases, biotechnology, and the human body. You’ll also receive structured guidance through regular mentor meetings and support throughout the process. The program runs remotely, making it accessible from anywhere, and offers potential pathways to submitting your work for academic journals or presenting it at conferences. Find more details about the application here!
4. Horizon Academic Research Program — Medicine Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts. More information here
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September). More information here
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) are eligible.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in a range of subjects, including data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and mathematics. Horizon’s Neurodegenerative Diseases program gives high school students interested in medicine a unique chance to explore advanced topics like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and gene therapies through college-level research and expert mentorship. After selecting your subject area and research focus, you’ll be matched with a professor or Ph.D. researcher from a university. Your mentor will guide you through the research process, offering feedback and academic support. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a recommendation letter and a detailed evaluation of your project.
5. Harvard Medical School’s MEDscienceClinical
Location: Harvard Medical School
Cost: $2,800 (5-day program), $2,250 (4-day holiday week)
Application Deadline: March 25
Program Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August
Eligibility: High school students
The MEDscience Clinical Program introduces high school students to the field of emergency medicine through simulation-based learning. Using advanced mannequins in a clinical lab setting, you’ll take part in medical scenarios that reflect real-life situations. Throughout the program, you’ll practice procedures such as suturing, intubation, inserting IVs, and using laparoscopic tools, while learning from healthcare professionals. Some sessions also include training in trauma response and offer certifications in Stop the Bleed and CPR/AED through the American Red Cross.
6. Georgetown University’s Medical Immersion Academy
Location: Georgetown University main campus
Cost: $8,410 (residential); $6,355 (commuter)
Application Deadline: Currently closed. Accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: June 8–27
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing who are at least 15 years old by the start of the program
Georgetown’s Medical Immersion Academy introduces high school students to foundational topics covered in the early stages of medical school. You’ll study areas such as cell biology, immunology, cardiology, and endocrinology, focusing on how different body systems function and how they are affected by disease. The program combines classroom learning with practical training in basic emergency care, including physical exams, wound management, suturing, CPR, and medication delivery. You’ll also engage in lab activities, hear from guest speakers, participate in field visits, and work on a research-based poster project.
7. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free. No stipend
Application Deadline: March 17 (tentative, based on previous years)
Program Dates: Jun 23 – Jul 25 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors in Northern California.
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program is a five-week summer experience for low-income, first-generation high school juniors from Northern California. Held on Stanford’s campus, the program combines hospital-based internships, academic sessions, and collaborative research projects centered on health disparities and public health issues. As a participant, you’ll attend lectures on topics such as anatomy and research methods, take part in group work, and receive support with college preparation. The program is tuition-free and designed to provide early exposure to the fields of medicine and public health.
8. Health Sciences Summer Camps — Dell Medical School
Location: Austin, TX (UT Austin, Dell Medical School)
Cost/Stipend: $500 (general camp); $0 for residential GEAR UP Camp (housing and meals provided)
Application Deadline: Varies by district and camp; contact respective coordinators
Program Dates: June 16–20 (general day camp) | July 7–11 (GEAR UP residential). These dates are tentative and based on previous year’s schedule
Eligibility: High school students from nominated Central Texas districts (general camp open to Austin, Manor, Pflugerville, IDEA, KIPP, Wayside schools; GEAR UP for select TX districts)
Dell Med’s camps provide hands-on science experiments, interactions with health professionals, and clinical skills training in real simulation labs. As a participant, you’ll earn certifications and engage in recreation across campus, with ongoing opportunities for participation. The curriculum encourages leadership, teamwork, and exposure to technology vital to the health care field.
9. Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute
Location: Winston-Salem, NC (Wake Forest University campus)
Cost/Stipend: $3,400
Application Deadline: Rolling (early application recommended)
Program Dates: Summer 2026 dates TBA in November
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade students
The Immersion Medicine Institute at Wake Forest engages you in clinical skills workshops, interdisciplinary lectures, and hospital site visits with professionals. You will practice essentials like suturing and ultrasound, explore medical specialties, and simulate patient-care scenarios–all while connecting with medical students and faculty in a rigorous camp setting. The program promotes teamwork and leadership development through collaborative projects and group problem-solving exercises!
10. Tufts University School of Medicine’s Mini Med School
Location: Session 1: Boston Health Sciences campus | Session 2: Tufts Medford Campus | Session 3: Tufts Medford Campus
Cost/Stipend: Session 1 (commuter only): $3,525 | Session 2: $6,750 (residential), $5,225 (commuter) | Session 3: $4,550 (residential), $3,525 (commuter)
Application Deadline: May 1 (tentative and based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: Session 1 (Commuter): June 23–27 | Session 2: July 6–18 | Session 3: July 20–27. These dates are tentative and based on previous year’s schedule
Eligibility: Students entering the 11th or 12th grade who have completed one year of high school biology; 16 or older by the start of the program
Tufts University’s Mini Med School is a summer program for high school students interested in exploring medicine and health sciences. Each session covers similar material but varies slightly in structure and focus, so it’s important to review the details before applying. During the program, you’ll study medical topics such as antimicrobial resistance, asymptomatic infections, and new treatment approaches, while learning clinical skills like taking vital signs, suturing, and basic diagnostic techniques. Small group work with medical student teaching assistants allows you to analyze clinical case studies, and the program concludes with a Capstone Project on a topic of your choice, which you’ll present to peers and instructors. You’ll also visit Tufts’ Clinical Skills and Simulation Center and anatomy labs to observe medical environments and human anatomy directly.
11. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Minimum stipend of $500, with students receiving at least $1,500. Meals and housing are not provided
Application Deadline: February 22 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students graduating in 2025 or 2026, aged 16+, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Research (SIMR) program provides 50 high school students with an eight-week chance to participate in medical research alongside Stanford faculty and researchers. You’ll work in areas such as bioengineering, genetics, neurobiology, and cancer biology, while learning laboratory safety and research techniques. The program concludes with a poster presentation where you share your results and discuss your experience.
12. UChicago Medicine’s ResearcHStart Program
Location: Offered at Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois, and Rush University. All in Chicago, IL
Cost: No cost. A stipend of $3,000 (taxable) will be provided.
Application Deadline: Unspecified. More info here
Program Dates: 2025’s program will run from the second full week of June through the first week of August
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors, at least 16 years old at the start of the program
The University of Chicago Medicine’s ResearcHStarT Program allows high school students to engage in cancer research during the summer. You’ll collaborate with scientists in laboratory settings, exploring topics like cancer biology, immunotherapy, and genetics. Your work will include designing experiments, analyzing data, and gaining practical lab skills. Alongside research, the program offers lectures, career development workshops, and opportunities to connect with professionals in the medical field.
13. UT Health BEAT (Biomedical Excellence and Academic Training) Academy
Location: UTHSA Lozano Long Campus
Cost: $1,000. $50 non-refundable application fee
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: July 14–18 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; at least 16 years old
This summer program for high school students interested in health and biomedical sciences offers a mix of academic and practical experiences. You’ll visit a human anatomy lab, take part in simulated clinical scenarios, and learn about current biomolecular technologies. The curriculum covers subjects such as anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, ageing, neurodegenerative diseases, and general medical science. In addition to lab work and lectures led by faculty, the program includes sessions focused on leadership skills and preparing for the college application process.
14. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided (amount not specified).
Application deadline: January 31 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program dates: June 30–August 8 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school juniors (or rising seniors) or recent high school graduates can apply.
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital introduces high school students to the fields of neuroscience and neurology through research and mentorship. The program begins with a preparatory boot camp focused on lab and clinical skills. After that, you’ll join a research team that includes a faculty mentor and an undergraduate student, working on a project throughout the program. Weekly seminars with neurologists and neuroscientists offer further insight into the field, while lab tours and group activities provide additional context and interaction. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research to an audience that includes faculty, peers, and family members.
15. Houston Methodist’s Summer Internship Program
Location: Houston Methodist, Houston, TX
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: January 31 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: May 27 - August 1 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Eligibility: Current juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old can apply.
The Houston Methodist Summer Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to take part in research alongside medical professionals at a major hospital. You’ll assist with projects in fields such as regenerative medicine, cancer treatment, and cardiovascular science. The program includes lab-based work, educational lectures, and mentorship from researchers and clinicians, providing exposure to current topics in medical science and healthcare!
The following two programs aren’t summer camps, but are research programs you can explore during the summer if you’re interested in doing research in medicine:
Image source – Houston Methodist