13 Medical Programs for High School Students in Des Moines, IA
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re interested in medicine or healthcare, participating in a structured program can help you explore the field beyond what you learn in science classes. These opportunities introduce you to areas such as clinical care, biomedical research, public health, neuroscience, veterinary medicine, and healthcare technology while helping you develop analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills. They also provide insight into the many educational pathways and careers available within the health sciences.
In Des Moines and the surrounding region, medical programs are offered through universities, hospitals, healthcare organizations, and research initiatives. These opportunities range from internships and volunteer experiences to summer academies, college-level courses, research programs, and career exploration workshops, giving students a variety of ways to learn about medicine and healthcare.
Why should I do a medical program in high school?
Medical programs allow you to explore how healthcare professionals, researchers, and scientists approach questions related to health, disease, and patient care. Depending on the program, you might observe clinical environments, participate in laboratory activities, conduct research, analyze medical case studies, or interact with physicians, researchers, and other healthcare professionals. Whether you are considering a future in medicine, nursing, public health, or another health-related field, these experiences can help you build foundational knowledge and better understand the opportunities available within healthcare.
To help with your search, below is a list of 13 medical programs for high school students in Des Moines, IA.
If you’re looking for summer programs in Des Moines, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
Several programs are free and highly competitive, including the DMU Young Scientist Internship, Iowa State's AgDiscovery, and Columbia BrainSTORM, while others offer stipends (Iowa Specialty Hospitals, American Cancer Society).
Remote programs like Veritas AI's AI + Medicine, Columbia BrainSTORM, UCLA Neuroscience Scholars, and Stanford AIMI expand access for students who can't attend in person.
Programs range from single-week experiences (BullD.O.G.S. at Drake, DMU Mini Medical School) to year-long mentorship tracks (Columbia BrainSTORM, Lumiere Research Scholar Program).
Most programs have deadlines between January and April, so students should begin researching and preparing applications in the fall semester.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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. 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 psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Location: Des Moines University, West Des Moines, IA
Cost: None
Dates: July–August
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school students ages+; 16+ for the optional wet-lab experience
Des Moines University – Young Scientist Internship allows you to work directly in a research environment alongside faculty mentors, where you contribute to ongoing projects while learning how research is conducted step by step. You’ll collect, analyze, and interpret data within a specific focus area, while also attending sessions that guide you through research methods and scientific communication. The program includes structured outputs such as a research poster, a written summary, and a timed presentation, which reflect how findings are presented in professional settings. There are also options to engage more deeply through advanced components like expanded datasets or lab-based work. You’ll build research skills, scientific reasoning, and experience presenting your work.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
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.
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, 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.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics locations, including in Des Moines
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Students 16 years or older entering junior year of high school or above
This paid medical program for high school students in Des Moines, IA, focuses on understanding how hospitals operate day to day. You rotate across departments, observing workflows and interacting with professionals in different roles. The experience covers professional habits, including communication, time management, and workplace expectations. Weekly training sessions introduce broader topics in healthcare delivery and career pathways. You will complete a structured project that requires you to synthesize your observations into a formal presentation. Exposure extends beyond clinical spaces to include administrative and operational functions within the hospital. This broader perspective highlights how different roles contribute to patient care.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by course prerequisites and number of openings
Location: Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines, IA
Cost: None
Dates: 4- to 12-week courses
Application Deadline: Typically rolling
Eligibility: High school students
DMACC Career Advantage lets you earn college credit while still in high school, as you begin to explore healthcare fields through structured coursework. You can select from pathways such as nursing, paramedicine, or medical laboratory science, depending on your interests. Classes are taught at a college level, introducing both foundational theory and applied concepts. Some courses include hands-on components that simulate real clinical or technical environments. The flexibility to take classes at your high school, on campus, or online makes participation accessible. Exposure to specialized fields helps clarify potential career directions early on. Academic expectations mirror those of entry-level college courses, building readiness for future study.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Drake University, Des Moines, IA
Cost: $200 (financial assistance available)
Dates: July 9–11
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th grade students and recent high school graduates
In this medical program, a short residential experience introduces you to multiple healthcare professions through a mix of lab work, discussions, and campus-based activities. As a participant, you’ll engage in hands-on sessions that simulate aspects of nursing, pharmacy, and occupational therapy training. Faculty-led workshops explore both scientific concepts and ethical considerations in patient care. Breakout sessions allow you to focus on specific fields while interacting directly with students and professionals in those areas. The program also includes exposure to college planning and admissions processes related to health sciences. A site visit to a local healthcare organization adds practical context to classroom learning.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited seats
Location: Des Moines University, West Des Moines, IA
Cost: None
Dates: Tuesdays in February
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school and college students curious about careers in health care
Structured as a multi-session experience, this program introduces clinical reasoning through guided case analysis and interactive discussions. You examine patient symptoms and work through diagnostic processes alongside faculty and student mentors. Sessions incorporate elements of physiology, pharmacology, and genetics to explain underlying conditions. Participants actively engage in problem-solving exercises that mirror how clinicians approach real cases. Lab tours and demonstrations provide exposure to diagnostic tools and techniques used in practice. In advanced sessions, you may explore areas such as rehabilitation, surgical concepts, or imaging technologies. The program concludes with a presentation of findings, reinforcing communication skills.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open application, subject to interview
Location: Des Moines, IA
Cost: None
Dates: Summer (June–August) and school year opportunities
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 16+
Serving in a hospital environment over an extended period, this program emphasizes consistency and responsibility in a clinical setting. You assist with patient transport, front-desk coordination, and general support tasks across departments. The experience provides exposure to hospital workflows and patient interaction protocols. You will develop a practical understanding of how care teams operate and communicate under real conditions. Training includes guidelines on confidentiality, professionalism, and safety procedures. Regular shifts help build familiarity with routines and expectations in healthcare settings. You also gain experience interacting with diverse patient populations.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 16–20 students
Location: Ames, IA (45 minutes from Des Moines)
Cost: None
Dates: July 13–26 (tentative, based on last year’s cohort)
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: Students ages 15–17
Focusing on animal health and its connection to broader medical fields, this program combines lab work, field experiences, and classroom instruction. You engage in activities such as diagnostic testing, microbiology experiments, and clinical skill demonstrations. Visits to farms, research facilities, and conservation areas provide context for how veterinary medicine operates across settings. Hands-on labs, including dissections and disease analysis, offer direct exposure to technical aspects of the field. The curriculum also explores topics like wildlife health, food safety, and laboratory science, while collaboration with peers and professionals adds depth to the experience.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 25 students for the mentorship program
Location: Online
Cost: None
Dates: Seminar Series: November – June (Monthly) | Mentorship Program: June – May (one-year duration)
Application Deadline: January 1
Eligibility: High school students
Centered on neuroscience, this program combines a seminar series with an optional research mentorship track. Monthly sessions introduce topics such as brain disorders, cognitive science, and neuroimaging through expert-led lectures. Discussions encourage active engagement with both clinical and research perspectives. Students selected for mentorship design and complete an independent neuroscience research project over an extended period. The program emphasizes connecting theoretical concepts with real-world applications in medicine. Interaction with professionals across subfields provides a broader view of neuroscience careers. Research projects culminate in a formal presentation at a symposium.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: None
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 16–18)
Spanning several weeks, this online medical program explores the structure and function of the nervous system through a combination of lectures and applied activities. You participate in journal clubs where scientific papers are analyzed and discussed in detail. Virtual lab sessions introduce research tools and experimental design concepts. Observing neurology grand rounds offers insight into how clinicians evaluate and present complex cases. Topics often focus on neurodegenerative diseases and current research developments. Interaction with guest speakers adds perspectives from different areas of medicine and research. You complete a final project that synthesizes what you have learned.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~50 students per year
Location: Online
Cost: $2,400 + $45 application fee (financial aid is available)
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+) with solid math or computer programming skills, or those who have worked on a healthcare project
This program focuses on how artificial intelligence is applied to medical imaging and clinical decision-making. You attend lectures covering machine learning concepts and their healthcare applications. Small group projects allow you to work with datasets and explore research questions collaboratively. Mentorship from researchers and student leads supports both technical understanding and project development. Sessions also include discussions with professionals across academia and industry. You learn how to frame problems, interpret results, and communicate findings effectively. The experience highlights both opportunities and limitations of AI in medicine. The collaborative research component provides a practical introduction to this emerging field.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Stipend: $500
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer, starting in July
Application Deadline: Varies by institute
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program starts
This program explores oncology through research and case-based learning, introducing key concepts in cancer biology and treatment. You work on guided projects that examine real-world challenges in cancer research. Discussions highlight how scientific discoveries translate into clinical practice and public health strategies. Collaboration with peers encourages analysis of complex problems from multiple perspectives. The program also provides exposure to different career paths within oncology. Participants engage with professionals through sessions and networking opportunities. Additional activities extend beyond the summer program.
Frequently asked questions
What types of medical programs are available for high school students in Des Moines?
Options include university research internships (DMU Young Scientist Internship), paid hospital rotations (Iowa Specialty Hospitals), college credit courses (DMACC Career Advantage), short residential experiences (BullD.O.G.S. at Drake), volunteer programs (MercyOne), and remote programs in AI, neuroscience, and oncology.
Are there free medical programs for high schoolers in Des Moines?
Yes, several programs charge no tuition, including DMU Young Scientist Internship, DMU Mini Medical School, DMACC Career Advantage, MercyOne Junior Volunteer Program, Iowa State AgDiscovery, Columbia BrainSTORM, and UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars. Some programs that do charge fees, like Lumiere and Veritas AI, offer full financial aid.
Can students outside of Iowa participate in any of these programs?
Several programs are fully remote and open to students nationwide or internationally, including the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Veritas AI's AI + Medicine, Columbia BrainSTORM, UCLA Neuroscience Scholars, Stanford AIMI, and the American Cancer Society High School Program.
What is the youngest age to participate in a medical program in Des Moines?
Most programs accept students ages 15–16 and above. Iowa State AgDiscovery targets ages 15–17. MercyOne, Iowa Specialty Hospitals, and DMACC require students to be at least 16. Some programs, like DMU Mini Medical School, are open to all high school students without a stated age minimum.
Do any programs provide stipends or pay?
Iowa Specialty Hospitals offers a paid internship, and the American Cancer Society High School Program provides a $500 stipend. Most other programs are unpaid but free to attend.
When should I apply to medical programs in Des Moines?
Application deadlines for summer programs typically fall between January and April. DMU Mini Medical School closes January 31, BullD.O.G.S. at Drake closes June 1, and Iowa Specialty Hospitals closes February 6. Students should check each program's website for the current cycle, as dates may shift year to year.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.