If you’re a high school student interested in medicine, a summer program can be a strong first step toward exploring the field. These programs give you a closer look at healthcare through hands-on experiences that go beyond classroom learning.
If you’re based in Michigan, you have tons of options to choose from! Medical summer programs in Michigan stand out because they connect students directly with hospitals, universities, and research institutions across the state. Instead of traveling far or investing in long, expensive programs, you can access high-quality opportunities close to home. Local programs also give you the chance to meet healthcare professionals in your community, making it easier to build connections and gain insights into medical careers.
To help you find the right opportunity, we’ve put together a list of 14 medical summer programs for high school students in Michigan!
14 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
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.
The Horizon Academic Research Program is a trimester-long virtual experience where you’ll work one-on-one with a professor or Ph.D. researcher from a top university to complete a 20-page research paper. You can choose from fields like biology, chemistry, medicine, neuroscience, psychology, and more, including specialized tracks such as Medical Sociology, Gene Editing and CRISPR, and Neurodegenerative Diseases. You’ll learn how to develop a research question, select either quantitative or qualitative methods, and receive expert feedback throughout the process. You’ll also receive a recommendation letter and personalized guidance to support future academic goals.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote – you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research program designed for high school students. You’ll work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from universities like Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, or MIT. The main goal is to help you complete an independent research paper on a subject of your choice.
You can pick from topics in data science, computer science, international relations, engineering, chemistry, physics, and more. You meet with your mentor every week to plan and build your project. By the end of the program, you’ll finish a publication-level research paper that can be submitted to high school journals or used in college applications. Students can earn 3 post-baccalaureate credits from UCSD Extended Studies.
3. BioMed Focus
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: No cost, $4,000 stipend provided
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in October, as per previous years’ information
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
BioMed Focus, offered by the University of Michigan, is an intensive 8-week summer research program for high school students in Michigan. You’ll work full-time in active university labs, conducting your own independent, hypothesis-driven project under the guidance of PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. The program builds core biomedical research skills in molecular biology, cell culture, experimental design, and data interpretation, while also strengthening your scientific writing and oral communication.
4. Biomedical Career Advancement Program – Wayne State University
Location: Wayne State University
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 7
Dates: June 23 to August 15
Eligibility: High school students who are currently in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade are eligible to apply. Priority is given to Wayne County Residents and Detroit Public Schools Community District Students
Biomedical Career Advancement Program (BCAP), offered through a collaboration between Michigan Area Health Education Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine, is a 6-week summer research initiative for high school students interested in biomedical and health science careers. You’ll work closely with senior research and clinical faculty to design and carry out your own independent research project. Along the way, you’ll gain hands-on experience with lab techniques like gel electrophoresis, microscopy, pipetting, CPR, phlebotomy, and vital signs monitoring. Each week includes full-day training sessions, and the program culminates in a formal research symposium.
5. Medical Mentors Pathway Program – MI-AHEC Southeast Regional Center – Wayne State University
Location: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 14
Dates: June 30 – August 7
Eligibility: Rising High School Seniors, College Freshman, College Sophomores & College Juniors in the Fall
Medical Mentors Pathway Program (M2P2) is a 6-week summer program that gives you hands-on exposure to clinical medicine. Offered by Wayne State University School of Medicine, SERC, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute, the program places you in three different hospital departments, like neurology, cardiology, surgery, emergency medicine, or OB/GYN. You’ll shadow doctors, observe procedures, and learn how medical decisions are made. You’ll also attend weekly lectures, complete short assignments, and earn BLS certification (CPR & AED). The program starts with a two-day orientation and ends once you’ve completed all coursework.
6. Discovery to Cure Program
Location: Wayne State University
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: Mid-April
Dates: June – August
Eligibility: The program is open to rising seniors at least 16 years of age
Discovery to Cure, offered by the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development at Wayne State University School of Medicine, is an 8-week summer research program. It focuses on reproductive biology, immunology, oncology, toxicology, prenatal, and precision medicine. You’ll work full-time in a faculty lab, conducting independent research under the guidance of a principal investigator, postdoc, or research assistant. Through this hands-on experience, you’ll learn core lab techniques, collect and analyze data, and explore how to frame and test scientific questions.
7. Health Science Scholar Institute, Michigan State University
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 7
Dates: Jul 7 – Aug 1
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th and 11th graders
Health Sciences Scholar Institute (HSSI) is a 4-week virtual summer program offered by Michigan State University for rising 10th and 11th-graders interested in medical careers. You’ll take part in daily sessions covering anatomy, physiology, and public health, while building academic and professional skills for the healthcare field. Through interactive lectures, case discussions, and assignments, you’ll learn to analyze medical information, communicate in scientific settings, and explore ethical and systemic issues in healthcare.
8. Explore Summer Medical Programs for High School Students, NSCL Leaders
Location: University of Michigan
Cost: $4,095 Residential
Application Deadline: Open until sessions fill
Dates: Multiple options – Jun 16 – Jun 24; Jun 29 – Jul 7; Jul 12 – Jul 20; Jul 25 – Aug 2
Eligibility: High schoolers are eligible to apply
National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) on Medicine & Health Care, hosted in Michigan, is a 9-day residential summer program that gives you hands-on experience in clinical medicine and healthcare systems. You’ll learn surgical techniques, clinical diagnostics, and emergency response procedures through immersive simulations, while also studying human anatomy and public health. You’ll work with peers and healthcare professionals, engage in group discussions and debates, and explore real-world medical scenarios that build both technical and analytical skills.
9. Summer Youth Program – Jackson Hospital
Location: Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, Michigan
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: April 30
Dates: June 9 – August 8
Eligibility: The program is open to current high school students who have completed at least their freshman year
The Summer Youth Program at Jackson Hospital, hosted by Henry Ford Health in Jackson, Michigan, is an 8-week structured volunteer experience for high school students who’ve completed at least one year. The program places you in a hospital setting where you’ll observe daily clinical workflows, interact with staff and patients, and contribute to hospital services. You’ll build skills in communication, leadership, and professionalism while gaining firsthand exposure to healthcare roles. The program includes an interview-based selection process, mandatory orientation and training, and a minimum commitment of one four-hour shift per week. At the end, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and a letter confirming your hours.
10. Health Science Summer Camps – School of Health Sciences – Oakland University
Location: Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
Cost: $480
Application Deadline: Open until sessions are full.
Dates: June 16-20 (Section 1); June 23-27 (Section 2)
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th–12th graders interested in health careers
Explorations in Health Careers, offered by the School of Health Sciences at Oakland University in Michigan, is a weeklong summer camp for high school students entering grades 10–12 who are interested in healthcare careers. You’ll explore four major areas: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Human Movement Science, and Public and Environmental Wellness, through hands-on workshops, simulations, and faculty-led sessions. You’ll meet health professionals, ask questions about different career paths, and reflect on how your interests connect to real-world health challenges.
11. Michigan Health Sciences Pre-College Exposure Academy (SPEA)
Location: University of Michigan and hybrid options
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in early spring
Dates: Two-week program, usually held in June or July
Eligibility: The program is open to high school students in the 10th or 11th grade.
Michigan Health Sciences Pre-College Exposure Academy (SPEA) is a free hybrid summer program offered by Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan for rising 10th and 11th-graders. It’s designed for students who care deeply about health equity and want to improve care in underserved communities. You’ll explore healthcare careers through direct engagement with University of Michigan faculty and professionals, learning about medical practice, health disparities, and pathways into the health sciences. The program blends virtual and in-person sessions to help you build skills in critical thinking, health communication, and ethical reasoning.
12. Corewell Health Student Opportunities
Location: Various locations in Hospitals in Michigan
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: Rolling applications open all year in various locations
Dates: Varies by the program type. Most paid internships occur in the summer and are posted between October and March.
Eligibility: Volunteers are expected to pass a background check, and they must be at least 15 or, in some cases, 18 years old, and must have passed or must be currently in high school
Young Adult Program at Corewell Health, Michigan’s largest healthcare system, offers a structured volunteer experience for high school students across hospital locations, including Dearborn, Royal Oak, and Troy. You’ll support hospital operations through roles in patient hospitality, administrative tasks, and community outreach, while building professional skills in communication, teamwork, and workplace etiquette. The program requires a minimum commitment of 100 hours and emphasizes long-term engagement. As you gain experience, you may transition into specialized areas like hospice, pediatric support, or spiritual care.
13. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual options
Cost: Virtual interns receive a $500 stipend
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors are eligible to apply
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) is a competitive research opportunity designed for those with a strong interest in neuroscience and medical investigation. Over the course of the program, you contribute to ongoing brain science projects in areas such as neurodegenerative disorders, neural imaging, and brain development. You will build skills in analyzing scientific literature, applying laboratory techniques like PCR, gel electrophoresis, and microscopy, and working with neurological datasets using statistical tools. Alongside the technical work, you explore the clinical dimensions of brain-related conditions.
14. Stanford AIMI – AI in Medicine Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 program fee; $40 application fee (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Dates: June 16 – 27
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (grades 912); Age 14+
Over two weeks, this virtual bootcamp offers an in-depth introduction to how machine learning is transforming healthcare. You will learn to work with key concepts such as evaluation metrics, methods for applying AI to medical problems, and emerging developments, including generative AI. The curriculum blends interactive lessons with collaborative projects, allowing you to tackle real-world challenges in teams. Guest speakers from academia, government, and industry provide insight into current applications and future directions of AI in medicine, giving you both technical foundations and a broader understanding of the field.
Image source – Johns Hopkins University