TL;DR
If you’re looking for a medical summer program in San Antonio, the options range from four-day STEM camps and hospital volunteering to multi-week biomedical research programs. Several programs are free, while others offer stipends, financial aid, or charge a participation fee, and eligibility can range from rising sophomores to high school seniors. You’ll also find a few virtual options, including programs focused on medical research and AI in healthcare. If you want to explore a longer, mentor-led research experience from anywhere, you can also look at the Horizon Academic Research Program.
For high school students in San Antonio who are curious about medicine or healthcare, summer programs can be a good way to try out the field before committing to it. But they don’t all offer the same experience. Some involve hands-on research, while others focus on hospital volunteering, healthcare careers, or projects that combine medicine and AI. If you’re looking beyond San Antonio, you can also explore Horizon’s medicine summer programs for high school students.
Which San Antonio medical summer programs are free?
Cost can narrow your options quickly. Several programs on this list are free, including the Valero Young Scientist Program, GEMS, the Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy, the Greehey CCRI Summer Research Program, and the University Health Junior Volunteer Program. Some programs also provide stipends, while others have participation or application fees.
If cost is your main concern, check out this guide to free medical programs for high school students!
Which programs are research-based rather than focused on medical exposure?
The biggest difference between programs on this list is what you actually produce or experience. Research-heavy options such as the Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy, Greehey CCRI Summer Research Program, Valero Young Scientist Program, and Horizon Academic Research Program involve research projects, laboratory work, presentations, or substantial research writing.
Others are designed more around exposure. The Teen Medical Academy, for example, introduces you to different healthcare careers through demonstrations, site visits, and professional feedback, while the University Health Junior Volunteer Program gives you experience in a hospital environment through volunteering and special projects.
Do you need a school nomination or prior experience to apply?
Not every program requires previous research or coding experience, but some have additional requirements. The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy requires students to be nominated by a committee at their high school before they can access the application, while Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive requires completion of AI Scholars or a background in coding.
Other programs are more introductory and are designed to teach you the relevant skills during the summer. Check the eligibility section carefully, especially if you’re applying to a research-intensive or specialized program.
San Antonio medical summer programs at a glance
| Program | Format | Cost | Grade eligibility | Application timing | Length |
| HARP | Virtual | Varies; financial aid available | High school students | Multiple cohorts | 10–15 weeks |
| Valero Young Scientist Program | In person | Free | Entering junior or senior year | Not published | 4 weeks |
| Veritas AI + Medicine | Virtual | Varies; financial aid available | Grades 8–12 | Varies by cohort | 10 weeks |
| GEMS | In person | Free; stipend information varies by cycle | Grades 6–12 | Not published | 4 days |
| Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy | In person | Free; stipends provided | Rising sophomores | Jan – March | 7 weeks |
| BEAT Academy | In person | $1,000 | High school students | Not published | 5 days |
| Greehey CCRI Summer Research Program | In person | Free | High school students, age 16+ | Not published | 10 weeks |
| Teen Medical Academy | In person | Not specified | San Antonio high school students | March | 5 days |
| University Health Junior Volunteer Program | In person | Free | Ages 15–17 | Reopens in January | Summer service program |
| UT San Antonio Biomedical Engineering Camp | In person | $600 day / $800 overnight | Grades 9–12 | Not published | 5 days |
What can you actually do in a San Antonio medical summer program?
The programs vary widely in what you actually do. Some let you work in research labs, learn biomedical techniques, and present a research project, while others focus on clinical skills, healthcare career exploration, hospital volunteering, or biomedical engineering. You can also find programs centered on specific areas such as childhood cancer research, AI in medicine, infectious disease, genetics, anatomy, and medical technology.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Program Dates: Spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks; summer cohort runs 10 weeks
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic standing; some subject tracks have additional prerequisites
The Horizon Academic Research Program gives you the opportunity to explore medicine and related subjects through mentored academic research. Depending on your chosen track, you can study areas such as neuroscience, medical sociology, gene editing, protein biophysics, psychology, and other interdisciplinary subjects. You work with a professor or Ph.D./postdoctoral mentor and develop a substantial research project, including a research paper.
Who is it right for? It’s a good fit if you want a structured research experience and are comfortable completing the program remotely.
2. Valero Young Scientist Program
Location: Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 22–July 17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering their junior or senior year in fall from the greater San Antonio area
The Valero Young Scientist Program is a four-week summer experience focused on biomedical research and science careers. You can take part in hands-on laboratory activities modeled on infectious disease research, explore areas such as environmental science and genetics, and develop skills in scientific data interpretation, communication, networking, and presentation. The program also includes interaction with Texas Biomed scientists and a final student research presentation.
Who is it right for? It’s suited to rising juniors and seniors who want an introduction to biomedical research without paying a program fee.
3. Veritas AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, you learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. Students 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.
Who is it right for? It’s a better match if you’re interested in the intersection of medicine, coding, and artificial intelligence.
4. Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)
Location: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free; students receive a $125 educational stipend after completing the program
Program Dates: June 15–18, June 22–25, or July 6–9
Application Deadline: April 2026
Eligibility: U.S. citizens entering grades 6–12 in fall
GEMS introduces middle and high school students to medical science and STEM through laboratory-based activities. Activities vary by course and can cover areas of medical science, life sciences, engineering, coding, and other STEM subjects. The San Antonio program offers courses for rising students in grades 6–12 and is hosted by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.
Who is it right for? It’s one of the more accessible options if you’re younger than the typical junior or senior applicant.
5. Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy Scholars
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free; scholars receive stipends during the summers of the program
Program Dates: Seven-week summer program
Application Deadline: School nominations due January 29; student applications close March 5
Eligibility: Students must be freshmen in the 2026–27 school year, be at least 15 years old by June 15, meet the academic requirements, and be nominated by their school.
The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy Scholars Program is a three-year program where you can gain hands-on experience in biomedical research at UT Health San Antonio. During your first summer, you will take part in a seven-week research program and work with biomedical scientists, while the following summers involve faculty-mentored research.
Who is it right for? It’s designed for younger San Antonio students who are ready to make a multi-year commitment to biomedical research.
6. Biomedical Excellence and Academic Training Academy
Location: UT Health San Antonio, Lozano Long Campus, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: July 13–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing; preference is given to juniors and seniors.
The BEAT Academy is a one-week program introducing high school students to medical and biomedical research. You can explore anatomy, physiology, medicine, molecular biology, aging, and neurodegeneration through seminars and hands-on activities, including visits to the human anatomy lab and exposure to simulated patients. The program also includes college-preparation and career-planning sessions. The 2026 cohort was filled by February 2026.
Who is it right for? It’s useful if you want a short, structured introduction to biomedical science and healthcare careers.
7. Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute Summer Research Program
Location: Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free; high school students do not receive a stipend. Meals, housing, and transportation are not provided.
Program Dates: June 1–August 7
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old on June 1, 2026; applicants must commit to the full 10-week program.
The Greehey CCRI Summer Research Program allows you to conduct hypothesis-driven research focused on childhood cancer. You can gain experience with methods including genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, structural biology, classical genetics, and molecular imaging while working with a research mentor. The program concludes with a research symposium where participants present their findings.
Who is it right for? It’s best suited to students who want substantial cancer research experience and can commit to a full summer research program.
8. Teen Medical Academy
Location: CAST MED High School, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Not specified on the official website
Application Deadline: Applications for Summer open in March
Program Dates: Summer; exact dates not yet specified
Eligibility: San Antonio high school students
The Teen Medical Academy is a five-day summer program exploring traditional and non-traditional medical careers. You can take part in hands-on demonstrations, skill-building activities, site visits around San Antonio, and conversations with healthcare professionals about different career pathways. Lunch and transportation to site visits are provided.
Who is it right for? It’s a good starting point if you’re interested in healthcare but haven’t decided which career you want to pursue.
9. University Health Junior Volunteer Program
Location: University Hospital, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 8–12, July 6–10, or August 3–7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–17 at the time of application
The University Health Junior Volunteer Program gives you exposure to a working hospital environment while supporting patients, families, and staff. You receive orientation and training, practice job skills in administrative settings, participate in special projects, and learn more about healthcare careers. The current program includes summer service options and requires a 32.5-hour service commitment.
Who is it right for? It’s a fit if you want to experience how a hospital operates and explore healthcare through service rather than laboratory research.
10. University of Texas Biomedical Engineering Camp
Location: UT San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: June 8–12
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The UT San Antonio Biomedical Engineering Camp introduces you to the engineering side of healthcare. You can learn technical skills used by biomedical engineers, meet practicing engineers from industry and academia, visit research labs, and take part in a team make-a-thon focused on solving real-world problems. The 2026 program offered both day and overnight formats.
Who is it right for? It’s a good choice if you’re interested in medicine but also want to explore engineering, technology, and medical devices.
How do these San Antonio medical summer programs differ?
The programs fall into a few clear groups. Research-focused options such as Voelcker, Greehey CCRI, Valero, and HARP give you more time with research methods, mentors, projects, or research writing. Career-exploration programs such as Teen Medical Academy and BEAT give you a shorter introduction to healthcare fields, while University Health adds a volunteering component.
What should you consider before applying?
Start with the kind of experience you actually want. If you want to spend the summer conducting research, prioritize programs with laboratory work, faculty mentorship, research projects, or a final presentation. If you’re still exploring medicine, a shorter healthcare or career-exploration program may give you a better introduction.
Then check the practical requirements. Grade level, age, San Antonio residency, school nomination, prior coding experience, application deadlines, transportation, housing, and cost can all determine whether a program is realistic for you. For more research-focused options beyond San Antonio, you can also explore Horizon’s medical research programs for high school students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several programs on this list are free, including Valero Young Scientist, GEMS, Voelcker, Greehey CCRI, and University Health’s Junior Volunteer Program. Other programs charge a fee or vary by program type, so check the current official details before applying. You can find more options in Horizon’s free medical programs for high school students.
The earliest published deadline can come well before summer, particularly for programs that require school nominations. For the 2027 Voelcker cycle, school nominations are due January 29 and student applications close March 5, so it is worth checking requirements before the new year begins.
Yes. GEMS accepts students entering grades 6–12, while the Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy specifically recruits rising sophomores who meet its academic and age requirements. Other programs on the list are aimed more toward older high school students. For additional options by grade level, see Horizon’s medical programs for high school students.
Yes. HARP and Veritas AI + Medicine are virtual, so you can participate without traveling to San Antonio. The other programs are primarily tied to local institutions, hospitals, or campuses in the San Antonio area.
Several programs involve substantial research, particularly Voelcker, Greehey CCRI, Valero, and HARP. The research experiences differ in format, with some centered on laboratory work and others involving mentored academic research and research writing. Horizon’s summer medical research programs for high school students include additional options beyond San Antonio.
Yes. Voelcker requires students to be nominated by their school before they can complete the application, while Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive requires completion of AI Scholars or a background in coding. Other programs have different eligibility requirements, so read each program’s current application instructions carefully.
Start with the kind of medical experience you actually want
You don’t need to choose between “doctor” and “researcher” before you explore medicine. A four-day STEM camp, a hospital volunteering program, a biomedical research placement, or a virtual research project can each show you a different side of the field.
If you already know that research is what interests you most, the Horizon Academic Research Program can take that interest beyond a summer introduction and into a structured, mentor-led research project.
Image source: The University of Texas at San Antonio