15 Medical Programs for High School Students in Fargo, ND
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
Structured programs can be a practical way for you to explore academic interests beyond the classroom. These programs often provide exposure to college-level coursework, activities, and post-secondary learning environments without requiring a long-term or expensive commitment. As a participant, you will attend lectures, engage in simulations, or engage in discussions that help you see how a field is studied and practiced.
If you are interested in medicine, nursing, healthcare, or related fields, programs can place you in hospitals, clinics, research labs, pathology labs, and medical school classrooms to see how professionals work. Such early exposure to academic and professional settings can help you understand expectations, workflows, and communication in healthcare environments. If you live in or around Fargo, North Dakota, the city runs several programs designed to help high schoolers learn about human biology, patient care, and medical research.
Why should I do a medical program in high school?
Participating in a medical program outside school can help you dive into advanced concepts and build foundational knowledge and skills such as critical thinking, observation, and communication. It also gives you a glimpse into what studying medicine involves, from coursework to practical applications. These experiences can also boost your college applications, especially for competitive pre-med or science programs, by demonstrating initiative, commitment, and early exposure to advanced academic environments.
To help you get started, we have curated a list of 15 medical programs for high school students in Fargo, ND.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, winter, fall, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Students enrolled in high school who 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 across a wide range of subject areas for high schoolers to explore. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose topics from subjects such as medicine, data science, international relations, psychology, engineering, chemistry, physics, economics, computer science, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Sanford Health facilities across its network, including Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort
Dates: Flexible dates; 1- to 8-hour sessions
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school juniors and beyond
The Sanford Health Job Shadow Program is a short-term observational experience in which you will spend 1–8 hours shadowing healthcare professionals in a clinical setting. This experience is designed for early exploration of medical careers. You will observe patient care, daily workflows, and team interactions to understand how different roles function in real medical environments. The program lets you ask questions and gain insight into responsibilities, required skills, and career pathways. It focuses on exposure rather than hands-on work, helping you assess your interest in specific healthcare fields.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks; multiple cohorts each year
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 12 who have completed the AI Scholars program or have a background in coding
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers various programs designed for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, you will explore how AI and machine learning can be applied in healthcare and medical research. You will work on project-based tasks involving the development of AI models for applications such as disease diagnosis and medical imaging. The program also examines how AI-generated insights can support doctors and patients in medical decision-making. You will gain exposure to the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine while working on real-world scenarios. You can learn more about the program through its brochure and application form.
Location: Sanford Fargo Hospice, Fargo, ND
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: Flexible/ongoing
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all; some opportunities may require specific skills or experience.
The Sanford Fargo Hospice Volunteer Program at Sanford Health is a service-based opportunity in which you will support patients and families in hospice care settings, such as homes, hospice facilities, or administrative offices. You will receive training in patient communication and care basics, helping you understand the needs of individuals receiving end-of-life care. Your role will focus on providing companionship, emotional support, and assistance with non-medical tasks rather than hands-on clinical care. The program offers flexible roles based on your interests and availability, allowing you to engage in meaningful community service.
Location: Essentia Health, Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: Flexible/ongoing
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all; teen positions open to students ages 16 – 17 are available.
This is a service-based opportunity where you support patients, families, and hospital staff across different departments. You will take on roles such as greeting visitors, assisting with administrative tasks, stocking supplies, or helping in patient-facing areas, depending on hospital needs. The program provides exposure to healthcare environments, allowing you to observe workflows and understand how different departments function. You will also gain insight into patient care and support services, including hospice and community-focused initiatives. The experience is flexible, helping you explore healthcare careers while contributing to the hospital community.
Location: North Dakota State University (NDSU) campus and Sanford Health, Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Four days in summer
Application deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Rural high school students entering grades 11 and 12
HOPE is a four-day summer camp offered by Sanford Health and North Dakota State University, where you will explore a wide range of healthcare careers through hands-on activities and sessions. You will participate in classes and interactive experiences that introduce different health professions while gaining exposure to both hospital and college campus environments. The program includes guided activities led by faculty and students that can help you understand career pathways and the required training in healthcare fields. You will also interact with current college students and professionals to learn about their experiences. The focus is on early exploration and understanding of medical and health-related careers.
Location: NDSU labs in Fargo, ND
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Local high school students (Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo) nominated by teachers
The PICNICS Program at North Dakota State University is a six-week summer research experience where you will work in chemistry and biochemistry labs alongside faculty, undergraduate, and graduate mentors. You can choose the biochemistry or biology track to dive into biomedical research. You will contribute to ongoing research projects while learning lab techniques, data collection, and scientific analysis in a university setting. The program focuses on building research confidence through hands-on experimentation and collaboration in active lab environments. You will also gain insight into how academic research is structured and conducted at the college level. The experience concludes with a poster presentation where you will share your findings.
Location: Sanford Health facilities, including in Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-week sessions during the school year or summer
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and nearby areas
The Sanford MedX Program is a healthcare exploration experience that gives you behind-the-scenes exposure to a wide range of medical and non-medical roles. You will participate in hands-on activities, interactive sessions, and facility tours that introduce you to areas such as nursing, radiology, lab sciences, and healthcare administration. The program includes direct interaction with professionals, allowing you to ask questions and understand day-to-day responsibilities across different departments. Some sessions focus on specific fields, giving you more targeted exposure through simulations and demonstrations. The experience is designed to help you explore and evaluate different healthcare career paths.
Location: Sanford Research labs in Fargo, ND, and Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; four students/year
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Students, ages 16 and up, entering their senior year in the fall of the upcoming academic year
The PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship at Sanford Research is a 10-week immersive program where you will work as part of a biomedical research team in a professional lab setting. You will contribute to ongoing projects while developing skills in forming research questions, designing experiments, and collecting and analyzing data. The program includes journal club sessions where you will review scientific literature, along with training in research ethics and scientific communication. You will also present your work through lab meetings and a formal research poster at a symposium. You will earn college credit through the University of South Dakota and receive a scholarship upon completion.
Location: Sanford Health facilities in Fargo, ND
Cost: $75
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: Fall: September – December | Spring: January – April; 11-week semester program conducted on Mondays
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead
The Youth Medical Explorers (YME) Program at Sanford Health is a healthcare career exploration program in which you will participate in multi-day sessions featuring hands-on activities, presentations, and facility tours. You will rotate through various clinical and non-clinical departments, gaining exposure to emergency medicine, surgery, radiology, pharmacy, and lab sciences. The program includes demonstrations and simulations, along with opportunities to engage directly with professionals like physicians, nurses, and therapists. You will also gain insight into daily workflows and responsibilities across healthcare roles.
Location: Fargo VA Medical Center, Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible dates with a minimum 50-hour lifetime volunteering commitment; summer experience
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 and up
The Fargo VA Summer Youth Volunteer Program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is a structured volunteer experience in which you will support patients and staff at a federal medical center. You will take on tasks such as assisting at information desks, escorting patients, supporting recreational therapy activities, and helping with administrative tasks. The program includes orientation and role-specific training, preparing you to work regular weekly shifts in a professional healthcare environment. You will also interact with physicians, nurses, and therapists, gaining insight into how care is delivered to veterans. A minimum service commitment of 50 hours ensures consistent involvement and deeper exposure to hospital operations.
Location: Sanford Health, Fargo, ND
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 21 – 23
Application deadline: May 22
Eligibility: Recent high school graduates and students entering grades 11 and 12; applicants must be at least 16 years old.
Sanford Orthopedic Camp is a free three-day program designed to introduce students to sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, and musculoskeletal healthcare careers. At camp, Sanford Health physicians will offer insights into orthopedics and related fields, as well as how to pursue them. You will gain exposure to real medical procedures. The program also lets you interact with health professionals and build an early network.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Application fee: $45 + program fee: $2,400; fianncial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students/session
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26 | Session B: July 6 – 17
Application deadline: February 21 (extended)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12 in the fall who will be at least 14 years old by the program's start and are U.S. residents
This is a two-week virtual program where you will get to explore how AI is applied in healthcare through lectures, mentorship, and project-based learning. You will attend sessions on topics such as medical imaging, clinical datasets, model evaluation, and responsible AI, led by researchers and clinicians. The program includes a mentored team project in which you will work on a focused health-related research problem, learning to frame questions, analyze data, and communicate findings. You will also engage with guest speakers from healthcare, academia, and industry to understand real-world applications and career pathways. The experience combines technical learning with exposure to interdisciplinary medical research.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,500 + $95 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 3 | July 13 – 24
Application deadline: Application window opens in January
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 and up; applicants under 16 may apply only if they are high school juniors or seniors.
This virtual medical program is designed to help you learn the fundamentals of cardiothoracic surgery through lectures and hands-on lab sessions. You will study cardiac and thoracic anatomy and physiology, and common surgical conditions, while gaining exposure to diagnostic techniques such as ECGs and imaging. The program emphasizes practical training, allowing you to practice core surgical skills such as suturing, knot tying, instrument handling, and basic procedures on simulation models. You will also explore clinical concepts such as coronary artery disease, valve disorders, and lung conditions through a structured curriculum. The experience is guided by faculty, surgeons, and medical professionals, who will provide insights into surgical training and careers.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Summer: $95 application fee + $4,580 program fee | Fall: $75 application fee + $2,480 program fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Summer: February 9 | Fall: June 1
Dates: Summer: July 27 – August 7 | Fall: 10-week program
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, and undergraduate pre-med students
This virtual Stanford program offers hands-on medicine-focused learning experiences to high school and undergraduate students. During the program, you will learn about medical disciplines through instructional sessions, simulations, and expert-led activity-based sessions. You will also gain experience in administering injections, suturing, and performing physical exams. You will work on real clinical cases, learning how to diagnose conditions and develop treatment plans. You will additionally work on medical challenges with a small group of peers. The curriculum is designed to help you learn about various specialties in medicine and build the technical skills required for a career in the field.
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 1:1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.