If you are a high school student in Arizona interested in exploring medicine beyond the classroom, consider joining a summer medical program or a pre-med summer program! 

A summer medical program can help deepen your understanding of the medical field and human health, develop problem-solving skills, and improve the well-being of your community. A healthcare career requires substantial knowledge and people skills, which can only be developed through experience. A pre-med summer program is a great way to get such experience. Participating in summer medical programs can enhance your college applications by showcasing your commitment to the medical field.

With that, here are 10 great summer medical programs and pre-med summer programs for high school students in Arizona. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.

Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.

Cost: Full financial aid is available!

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as medicine, life science, psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about application form here!

2. The University of Arizona’s Med-Start Summer Program

Cost: $5,000, scholarships and tuition waivers are available.

Application Deadline: The deadline for the summer program is February 1

Program Dates: 6 weeks, mid-June to July

Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizens and one-year Arizona residents who have completed junior year in high school and have a GPA higher than 3.0.

This six-week academic medical enrichment program is meant to improve high school students' access to healthcare careers. In addition to tours of healthcare facilities and labs and lectures on health careers, you will be expected to take intro-level college courses in English, Math, and Chemistry that yield transferable credits. You will reside in Arizona University’s Residential Hall for the entirety of the program.

3. Veritas AI's AI + Medicine Deep Dive

Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine program, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You will 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.

Cost: $1790

Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program

or have prior Python experience.

Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session

Dates: Jun 9 - Aug 11

4. The Burton Family Foundation’s Summer Health Institute

Cost: Free. However, participants will be expected to cover their travel costs.

Application Deadline: The deadline for the summer program is April 1.

Program Dates: Two camps, typically a week each in June.

Eligibility: Rising seniors in high school expecting to graduate the following year are eligible.

This program, held at Arizona State University's downtown Phoenix campus, is a one-week camp introducing healthcare careers to high school students. You can expect to learn about being a physical therapist, optometrist, dentist, physician, occupational therapist, and health care provider. You will be taught medical skills like suturing and working with IVs, injections, and intubations. You will communicate with the healthcare team and tour the various facilities within Arizona’s health corridor. 

5. Mayo Clinic CARES (Career Advancement, Research, and Education Summer) Program

Cost: No cost, stipend provided

Application Deadline: TBD, likely in February. 

Program Dates: In-Person Program: four weeks in June | Virtual Program: July 8–12

Eligibility: Arizona high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply!

The mission of the Mayo Clinic Career Advancement, Research, and Education Summer (CARES) Program is to expose students to the full spectrum of healthcare careers and provide longitudinal mentorship. Over the summer, you will explore diverse healthcare careers, gain hospital experience, and connect with professionals. The program aims to inspire future healthcare leaders by helping students discover their strengths. Additionally, selected Mayo Clinic mentors will offer long-term mentorship beyond the program. View the program flier here.

6. Mayo Clinic’s High School Student Summer Volunteer Program

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: The deadline for the volunteer program is January 17

Program Dates: 8 weeks, from June to July. 

Eligibility: Students must be between 15 and 18 years old. 

The Student Volunteer Program at Mayo Clinic’s Phoenix campus introduces high school students to the healthcare environment through non-patient and patient interaction service assignments. You will be assigned to a four-hour weekly shift to take on these assignments and help with the clinic’s day-to-day operations. While the number of hours you can contribute is flexible, you need at least four and not more than twelve hours each week. 

7. The University of Arizona’s KEYS Internship

Cost: Free. Participants receive academic credit for their participation.

Application Deadline: TBD. 

Program Dates: 7 weeks, typically from early June

Eligibility: Students must be at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens or legal residents with at least one year of Arizona residency.

The KEYS internship at the University of Arizona is a competitive opportunity for students to explore medical and data science research guided by mentors. The first week will teach you science literacy and general bioscience and data science techniques. From the second week, you will work in labs alongside researchers and mentors for 35–40 hours each week. You can expect weekly science seminars to help with your research poster presentation. With 430 applications received for the previous cohort, the program selects 56 students, reflecting an acceptance rate of approximately 13.02%. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

8. Midwestern University’s Health Careers Institute for High School Students

Cost: Free. Students must arrange transport to and from the event location at Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus in Arizona. 

Application Deadline: TBD. Typically, the beginning of April. More information here. 

Program Dates: 8 days, typically at the end of June. 

Eligibility: Open to all Arizona high school students.

Midwestern University hosts a free 8-day Health Careers Institute at their Glendale campus. This event offers an in-depth exploration of various healthcare professions. You will be able to engage with faculty and students while learning about fields such as Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, Podiatric Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Psychology, Optometry, Veterinary Medicine, and Public Health. The workshop aims to provide valuable insights and practical experience for Arizona high school students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare.

9. The University of Arizona’s Summer Scrubs Residential Camp

Cost: $500. Full and partial need-based financial aid is available.

Application Deadline: Typically in March.

Program Dates: 6 days, tentatively in the first week of June.

Eligibility: Open to current 11th-grade high school students.

The Summer Scrubs Residential Program is a six-day camp at the University of Arizona College of Medicine’s Phoenix campus. It allows rising seniors to explore their future as potential healthcare physicians. This enrichment program includes activities, field trips, lab experiences like simulations, and interactive lectures from healthcare providers and medical students. There is also a Summer Scrubs Day Camp open to rising seniors and the Healthcare Team for current high school freshmen and sophomores.

10. Colorado Plateau Center for Health Professions (CPCHP)’s Future Health Leaders

Cost: Free to attend virtual camp

Application Deadline: TBD. Get more information here. 

Program Dates: 1 week in June

Eligibility: Open to Arizona high school students

CPCHP collaborates with other AHECs in Arizona for the Future Health Leaders Camp, a week-long virtual summer camp for high school students across Arizona. The camp, offered at no cost, provides opportunities to interact with professionals from various health careers. Past activities have included college preparation, local college tours, First Aid and CPR training, TGEN tour, nurse training simulations, community health volunteer work, and recreational activities. This program is beneficial for high school students interested in medicine.

Trisha Malhotra, an Ashoka University alumna, has 5 years of experience being a freelance writer and currently writes for Lumiere Education. She is passionate about music, reading, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as a devoted cat parent.

Image Source: University of Arizona logo