top of page
Post: Blog2_Post

10 Free Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in California

If you're a high school student in California interested in medicine but can’t commit to an expensive pre-college program in medicine, free summer medical programs can give you some great experience without the financial burden. These programs, typically offered by hospitals, universities, and nonprofits across the state, cover areas like clinical skills, medical research, and public health.


You'll gain exposure to healthcare careers through hands-on labs, mentorship from medical professionals, and college-level learning environments. Many programs also offer resume-building opportunities that can strengthen future college and scholarship applications.


To help you find accessible options, we’ve compiled 10 free summer medical programs for high school students in California, each chosen for its academic quality, mentorship access, and financial accessibility.


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

Acceptance Rate: Highly selective

Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).

Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3 or above; no prior research experience required

Cost: The program is fully funded!


The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.


The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here! 


This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. 


Location: Virtual

Acceptance Rate: Selective

Program Dates: Multiple cohorts offered year-round

Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort

Eligibility: High school students with prior coding experience or completion of the Veritas AI Scholars program

Cost: Full financial aid available!


Veritas AI + Medicine introduces high school students to the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare through hands-on, project-based learning. In this program, you’ll work in small teams to explore healthcare data, build diagnostic tools, and apply machine learning to real-world medical problems. The curriculum includes mentorship from AI professionals and exposure to medical imaging, neural networks, and clinical data science. 


You’ll complete a collaborative capstone project evaluated by PhD-level experts, offering a practical way to demonstrate your understanding of AI in medicine. With full financial aid options, this program supports access for students interested in both technology and health.


Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Acceptance Rate: ~3%; approximately 50 students selected annually

Program Dates: June 9 – July 31

Application Deadline: February 22

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, age 16 or older, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Cost: Free to attend; minimum stipend of $500+ provided (higher for underrepresented students)


The Stanford SIMR Program is among the most competitive high school biomedical research opportunities in the nation. You’ll spend eight weeks conducting full-time research under the mentorship of Stanford faculty and researchers in one of eight advanced tracks, including cancer biology, neurobiology, cardiovascular biology, and bioinformatics. You’ll learn lab techniques, attend faculty-led seminars, and develop your scientific communication skills. 


The program ends with a formal research symposium where you’ll present your work to peers, mentors, and faculty. With stipends available and no tuition, SIMR offers exceptional access to world-class medical research for aspiring scientists.


Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Acceptance Rate: ~20 students selected annually

Program Dates: June 23 – July 25

Application Deadline: March 17

Eligibility: Current high school juniors from Northern California who are low-income and first-generation college-bound

Cost: Free to attend; $1,250 stipend provided


The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a five-week, fully-funded summer experience focused on empowering first-generation students to pursue careers in healthcare and public health. Hosted on campus at Stanford University, the program offers clinical shadowing, academic lectures, and small-group research projects that explore real-world public health challenges.


You’ll engage in workshops on anatomy, epidemiology, and research methods while preparing for college through mentorship, admissions guidance, and professional development. With only 20 students accepted each year, SMYSP is both highly selective and deeply committed to advancing health equity through education.


Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA

Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive; 75 students selected annually, ~60% high school students

Program Dates: June 2 – August 8

Application Deadline: March 12

Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Cost: Free to attend; $4,500 stipend provided


The City of Hope hosts this 10-week biomedical research program that offers high school students an intensive, hands-on introduction to academic medicine and translational research. You’ll be paired with a research mentor and join a lab focused on diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or HIV. 


The program includes weekly lectures, ethics training, and lab skills development, culminating in a formal research paper and presentation. You will contribute to real-world outcomes like peer-reviewed publications and patents, making this one of the most rigorous medical research opportunities in California. The generous stipend and mentorship model make it both accessible and impactful.


Location: Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, CA

Program Dates: June 16 – August 8

Application Deadline: Typically March

Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11 attending select San Diego schools

Cost: Free to attend; stipend provided


The OPTIMUS Outreach Program is an eight-week internship that introduces high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to the fields of cancer biology and clinical medicine. Hosted by UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center, the program combines hands-on lab research with real-world clinical shadowing. 


You’ll learn techniques in molecular biology, observe surgical procedures, and practice clinical skills such as suturing — all while being mentored by medical professionals. The program emphasizes representation in science and medicine, and supports participants with a stipend to make the experience accessible. It’s a strong option for San Diego students looking to explore cancer research in depth.


Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), CA

Program Dates: June 6 – August 1

Application Deadline: April 4

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors; ideal for students interested in continuing research during the school year and potentially mentoring future interns

Cost: Free to attend; unpaid


The BrainSport Summer Research Internship at UCLA explores the intersection of neuroscience, sports medicine, and brain injury research. Over eight weeks, you’ll contribute to ongoing studies on brain health, performing tasks such as literature reviews, data analysis, and cognitive assessments. 


You’ll also gain exposure to neuroimaging tools, clinical research methods, and statistical modeling techniques in a professional lab setting. The program includes seminars and mentorship from UCLA researchers and clinicians, giving you insight into careers that bridge science, medicine, and athletics. Though unpaid, this immersive experience is both rigorous and deeply informative.


Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA

Acceptance Rate: Highly selective; 25 students selected from 50 interviews

Program Dates: June 9 – August 1

Application Deadline: March 2

Eligibility: High school juniors enrolled in SFUSD, San Francisco charter schools, or College Track San Francisco, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds in science

Cost: Free to attend; part-time interns receive $3,200, full-time interns receive $4,500 upon completion


The UCSF SEP High School Intern Program is an intensive 8-week biomedical research experience designed to support students from underserved communities in San Francisco. You’ll work in a UCSF lab under the mentorship of a professional scientist, conducting research in fields like immunology, neuroscience, stem cell biology, and infectious diseases. 


The program also offers structured college preparation, including resume workshops, financial aid guidance, and university visits. In addition to lab work, you’ll be part of a collaborative cohort, gaining both technical skills and a support network of like-minded peers and mentors. This program is ideal for students pursuing a career in science or medicine.


Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Acceptance Rate: Highly selective; ~20 students accepted per cohort

Program Dates: June 23 – August 8

Application Deadline: November 30

Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by June

Cost: Free to attend; transportation support may be available


The STaRS Internship Program at Stanford offers a specialized medical research experience that bridges surgery, biotechnology, and biomedical engineering. Over seven weeks, you’ll explore advanced topics like tissue regeneration, surgical robotics, and medical device innovation under the mentorship of leading reconstructive surgeons and researchers. 


You’ll participate in hands-on labs, collaborative projects, and seminars that showcase how science and engineering are reshaping modern healthcare. Though unpaid, the program is fully funded and highly selective, making it a strong fit for students passionate about medical innovation and design.


Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Program Dates: June 16 – July 25

Application Deadline: Typically in early spring

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from select Northern California counties with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0; priority given to students with limited research experience

Cost: Free to attend; $3,000 stipend available for students with financial need


The PIPS program provides high school students with a targeted entry into pediatrics and biomedical research at Stanford University. Over a duration of six weeks, you’ll receive mentorship from Stanford faculty as you work in laboratories investigating subjects such as child health, genetics, and disease mechanisms.


The program includes 30 hours of weekly lab work, research seminars, and sessions on college and career planning, all designed to help you build core scientific skills and gain exposure to academic medicine. PIPS emphasizes inclusion and access, making it an ideal opportunity for students with limited prior research experience who are eager to learn in a rigorous, hands-on setting.


Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.


Image Source - Stanford University logo


One__3_-removebg-preview.png
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

+1 ​‪(573) 279-4102‬

919 North Market Street,

Wilmington, Delaware, 19801

We are an organization founded by Harvard and Oxford PhDs with the aim to provide high school students around the world access to research opportunities with top global scholars.

©2024 by Lumiere Education.

bottom of page