If you’re a high school student in California interested in healthcare but can’t commit to a program during the school year, joining a local pre-med summer program is a great way to explore the field and build valuable skills. These programs cover topics like anatomy, neuroscience, public health, and medical research, often through hands-on labs, simulations, or mentored projects.
California is home to top universities, research centres, hospitals, and training institutes that offer a wide range of summer programs for high school students. Taking part in a local program can help you understand what a career in medicine involves, while strengthening your college applications and expanding your academic network.
To help you find the right one, we’ve compiled a list of 15 pre-med summer programs for high school students in California!
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Medical Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students with GPA ≥ 3.3; no prior research experience required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in your chosen subject area. You can choose a topic in biomedical science, neuroscience, or epidemiology and work through every stage of the research process, from literature review to final writing. The program runs 12 to 20 weeks, depending on your pace and track. You’ll receive regular feedback and resources to strengthen your analytical and writing skills. Final projects may be submitted for competitions or publication.
2. Veritas AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
This program explores how machine learning is applied in diagnostics, imaging, and clinical decision-making. You will work with real medical datasets, build predictive models, and present a final project to AI researchers and mentors. Topics covered include neural networks, data bias in healthcare, and evaluation metrics for model performance. Projects are team-based and focused on solving actual healthcare problems. Mentorship is provided by instructors with backgrounds in AI and medicine.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $40 application fee; stipend: $500–$1,500
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors or seniors; must be 16+
Based on your interests and background, SIMR assigns each student to one of eight biomedical tracks, such as immunology, bioinformatics, or regenerative medicine. You will work full-time in a university lab, contribute to experiments, and develop a research poster with guidance from a PhD or postdoctoral mentor. The program features daily seminars, lab meetings, and scientific writing workshops. Final presentations are showcased to Stanford faculty and peers during the program’s research symposium.
4. Scripps Research Translational Institute Internship
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost: Stipend provided (amount varies)
Dates: June 2 – August 8 | June 16 – August 22
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students, age 16+
This 10-week internship emphasizes translational science, which involves transitioning research from the lab to clinical applications. You’ll assist with studies in genomics, digital health, and clinical trial design, supported by a Scripps research mentor. Interns receive training in data cleaning, protocol development, and the use of analytical tools in human subject research. Weekly sessions cover research ethics, scientific communication, and career paths in medicine. You’ll end the program by presenting your work to a panel of scientists and peers.
5. Stanford STaRS Internship Program
Location: Stanford University’s School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free; transportation costs may be covered
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically in November
Eligibility: High school students, age 16+
STaRS introduces students to regenerative medicine and reconstructive surgery through hands-on lab work and clinical innovation projects. You’ll learn about tissue engineering, surgical device prototyping, and 3D modelling for patient care, guided by Stanford clinicians and researchers. The program includes skill-building sessions in microscopy, cell culture, and scientific documentation. Each student contributes to a team project and presents their findings in a final symposium. Priority is given to applicants from underrepresented or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
6. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA or Virtual
Cost: Virtual: $1,595; In-person: $2,895; financial aid available
Dates: Virtual: June 16 – 27 | In-person: July 7 – 18; July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
CNI-X blends neuroscience and psychiatry through lectures, case discussions, and small-group research. You’ll explore topics like brain imaging, psychiatric epidemiology, and neuroethics while working on a team capstone project. Hosted by Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry, the program includes sessions led by faculty on clinical diagnostics and mental health research. You will get the opportunity to present your final proposals at the end of the session. Both formats offer structured academic content, peer feedback, and guided faculty mentorship.
7. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Current juniors from Northern California; low-income, and first-generation college-bound
SMYSP combines public health research with academic preparation and clinical exposure. You will get the opportunity to participate in anatomy workshops, epidemiology lectures, and shadowing rotations while working on a research project with Stanford mentors. The program also includes sessions on college admissions, financial aid, and goal setting. Each student delivers a research presentation focused on a local or regional health issue. Emphasis is placed on leadership, collaboration, and community impact.
8. UCLA BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Rising juniors; preference given to students continuing research during the school year
This 8-week internship is centered on sports neurology and brain injury research. You will assist lab teams with projects involving concussion assessment, brain imaging, and cognitive recovery. Interns help with data entry, literature reviews, and statistical analysis, all under the mentorship of UCLA researchers. Weekly seminars cover topics like neuroanatomy, study design, and clinical ethics. The program also includes opportunities for long-term involvement during the academic year.
9. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee; financial aid available
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. high school students, age 14+
This two-week program focuses on the role of AI in patient care, diagnostics, and medical decision-making. You will participate in coding labs, build simple models, and analyse healthcare data with support from Stanford AI researchers. Students work in teams to identify clinical problems and propose algorithm-based solutions. The curriculum includes guest lectures, mentor meetings, and career Q&As. Some students may be invited to pursue extended research through AIMI after the session ends.
10. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Stipend: $4,500
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school students (16+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This 10-week program offers direct lab exposure in areas like molecular biology, immunology, and cancer research. You will work under the guidance of a City of Hope scientist, assisting with experiments, data collection, and lab protocols. Interns also attend seminars on research ethics, medical innovation, and health equity. Each participant writes a formal research paper and presents their findings to the faculty. The academy encourages long-term mentorship beyond the summer session.
11. Stanford Genomics Research Internship Program for High School Students (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 16 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students (16+) from select Bay Area counties with prior exposure to biology, chemistry, or programming
GRIPS places students in genomics labs where they assist with experimental work and data analysis. You will gain experience with next-generation sequencing, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics workflows, all supported by mentorship from Stanford researchers. The program features career panels and small-group cohort sessions. At the end, students present their findings to peers and faculty. Admission is limited to students from five counties with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
12. UC San Diego OPTIMUS Outreach Program
Location: UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, CA
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Grade 10–11 students attending eligible San Diego high schools
OPTIMUS ( Outreach Program To Inspire Minority and Underrepresented Students) is an educational 8-week cancer research internship for high school students in San Diego. OPTIMUS introduces students from underrepresented backgrounds to cancer research and clinical medicine. You will split time between lab-based projects and hands-on clinical simulations, including sessions led by surgical residents. The program also includes college advising, peer mentorship, and guest talks from oncology researchers. Students present a summary of their learning at the end of the program. Admission is restricted to select partner schools.
13. UCSF SEP High School Intern Program
Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Cost: Free; stipend: $3,200 – $4,500 depending on schedule
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school juniors in SFUSD, SF charter schools, or College Track SF
SEP provides research placements in UCSF labs specifically for juniors from historically excluded backgrounds. Participants will assist with lab experiments, receive personalized mentorship, and participate in skill sessions covering data interpretation and research communication. The program also offers comprehensive college guidance, including support with essays and financial aid applications. Interns will have the opportunity to join lab tours and will deliver a final presentation on their research project.
14. Summer Medical Academy (SMA) – Rady Children’s Hospital
Location: Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA
Cost: Cost applies; limited scholarships available
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – June 27; Session 2: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Students aged 15–19 who have completed at least 9th grade
SMA blends clinical exposure with foundational medical learning. You’ll participate in interactive sessions on emergency response, paediatrics, surgery, and hospital operations, guided by healthcare professionals. The program includes lectures, medical skill labs, and case discussions. Students complete a group project and present it to peers and hospital staff. Preference may be given to students affiliated with RCHSD or Title I schools in San Diego County.
15. MISA Summer Program
Location: MISA Office, Oakland, CA
Cost: $1,800 + $75 application fee
Dates: Multiple cohorts from June 2 to August 1
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school students
MISA is a one-week healthcare training program that focuses on clinical procedures, emergency skills, and team-based practice. You will perform simulations aligned with hospital workflows, acquire skills such as phlebotomy, and obtain five certifications that remain valid for a minimum of two years. Sessions cover communication, basic life support, and collaborative care in clinical environments. The program also includes peer interaction, group challenges, and reflection activities that mirror real healthcare teamwork. Each cohort is capped to maintain hands-on learning and safety.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – University of California, San Francisco