14 Medical Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student interested in exploring a future in medicine, summer camps offer an engaging way to get started. These programs give you exposure to clinical skills, lab techniques, and healthcare environments, helping you understand what a career in medicine actually involves, well before college. Whether you’re still deciding between biology, public health, or clinical medicine, these camps can help you figure out what fits and what will help your college application.
What makes a camp different from other academic programs?
Camps are typically shorter and more accessible than semester-long programs or research internships. They’re designed to provide you with college-level academics and healthcare practice, often through simulations, group projects, or direct mentorship from medical professionals. Many programs also focus on teamwork and problem-solving, offering you a well-rounded introduction to healthcare study and practice.
We’ve compiled 14 medical camps for high school students, selected for their academic rigor, mentorship opportunities, affordability, and ability to help you explore healthcare careers.
If you are interested in summer camps, check out our blog here.
Location: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~27 slots per session
Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old by the first day of camp
Over the course of one intensive week, you’ll assume the role of a public‑health detective working through scenarios that mimic the daily operations of the CDC. You’ll engage in activities such as investigating simulated disease outbreaks, analyzing health data sets, conducting mock press conferences, and learning how epidemiologists, communicators, and scientists collaborate to protect populations. While the focus is public health and epidemiology (rather than clinical care), the exposure you gain is rare among high‑school programs and offers strong résumé value for students interested in global health, policy, or medical research.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective 1-on-1 research mentorship
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
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school; strong academic record (3.3+ GPA recommended); no prior experience required
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. While it isn’t purely a clinical “medical camp,” it fits the broader category of programs for high school students looking into medicine, especially those interested in research and publication. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Various sites across Montana
Cost: Free; transportation stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi‑day summer sessions (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
Heads Up Camp offers a deep dive into various behavioral health careers, including social work, addiction counseling, psychology, and peer support. Participants will gain practical experience through workshops, hands-on simulations, and tours of relevant facilities. The program includes training in Teen Mental Health First Aid and other peer‑support tools, giving you practical skills to support mental‑health awareness and leadership in your community. You will have the opportunity to engage with practicing behavioral-health professionals, participate in real-world case simulations, and reflect on the delivery of mental-health services, particularly in Montana's rural and underserved areas.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Multiple cohorts
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Various locations in the Northwest AHEC Region
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by county and virtual cohort; registration is first-come
Dates: Varies with camp location. You can find the full list here
Application Deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: 8th–12th graders (virtual) | 9th–12th graders (in-person)
Camp Med is a free, flexible opportunity for North Carolina students to explore healthcare careers. The virtual program allows you to work at your own pace through modules on body systems, local health challenges, and medical ethics, while the in-person version includes workshops, tours, and skills practice. Facilitated by educators and health professionals, both formats provide career exposure without requiring prior experience. It's a strong option if you're early in your exploration and want a low-pressure way to learn more about the field.
Location: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI (and other sessions on each of the Hawaiʻi islands: Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Big Island, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited seats per island
Dates: February 7
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
Teen Health Camp offers a one-day introduction to healthcare and clinical skills. Hosted by the John A. Burns School of Medicine, the camp features workshops on suturing, casting, CPR, and other basic medical procedures, all guided by faculty, medical students, and healthcare professionals. Each island hosts its own session, making this an opportunity to explore medicine in a real-world environment. The island setting adds a unique context, and the program is especially suitable for students early in their high‑school years who want a practical, hands‑on medical experience without a long‑term commitment.
Location: Methodist Fremont Health, Fremont, NE
Cost: $45 (includes food)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 participants
Dates: 2-day sessions
Application Deadline: Early spring
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
This two‑day immersion gives you a hands‑on look at a variety of healthcare careers and allied health fields like radiology, physical therapy, pharmacy, and nursing. You will tour hospital departments, engage in simulation activities and group problem‑solving tasks, and participate in a round‑table Q&A session that covers college preparation, scholarship opportunities, volunteering, and health‑career pathways. The camp is facilitated by Methodist Fremont staff in partnership with the Northern Nebraska Area Health Education Center. Because it’s short and affordable, it’s a strong option if you’re exploring broadly and want a realistic taste of working in a hospital environment.
Location: College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Rockford, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1-week day-camp
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ by program start
This STEM-focused camp emphasizes the research and technology side of medicine rather than clinical care. You'll spend the week in campus labs working on biomedical research projects, learning how science drives innovation in healthcare. Instruction includes lab skills, experiment design, and data analysis. It gives you a strong glimpse into the “behind the scenes” side of medicine and can be a high-value addition among medical camps for high school students for future scientist-MD or doctor-scientist tracks.
Location: Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive (small cohort)
Dates: Session I: June 16 – 20 | Session II: July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors residing in Los Angeles County
Camp CHLA is a hospital-based experience where healthcare professionals share their “day-in-the-life,” as you explore different medical specialties and participate in workshops like CPR and emergency response. You’ll also learn about the patient experience and ethical considerations in pediatric care. The program is highly competitive due to its immersive format and direct connection to a top hospital. It offers both breadth and depth, helping you explore potential roles in a real clinical setting. It’s especially geared towards students serious about applying to medical or health sciences programs in college.
Location: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
Cost: $325 tuition; full and partial scholarships available based on need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited to Ohio residents
Dates: 3-week summer session
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders who are Ohio residents; recommended GPA 3.0 overall, 3.3 STEM
This intensive day camp immerses you in a medical‑school style environment, blending lectures by OSU medical faculty, peer‑group problem‑based learning, clinical workshops (like phlebotomy and suturing), and physician shadowing in hospital settings. You’ll also complete a clinical‑skills assessment and a community‑service component, gaining first‑hand insight into what practicing physicians do. The camp aims to inspire students, especially those underrepresented in medicine, to consider healthcare careers by challenging them academically and socially. If you’re already leaning strongly toward medicine as a career, this is one of the more intensive medical camps for high school students you’ll find.
Location: Oakland University School of Health Sciences, Rochester, MI
Cost: Cost varies; scholarships may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited slots
Dates: June 15 – 19 | June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
In this camp, you’ll explore a broad spectrum of healthcare professions through interactive, hands‑on lab sessions and simulation‑based activities. The curriculum spans multiple departments, including interdisciplinary health sciences, clinical & diagnostic sciences, human movement science, and public & environmental wellness. You’ll spend time in Oakland University’s human health building with its high‑tech simulation labs, explore health‑career pathways, and engage in problem‑based learning scenarios. This camp is well-suited for students who are curious about medicine, allied health roles, or public health and want a holistic, exploratory experience rather than a narrow focus. By the end of the week, you’ll have a clearer understanding of where you might fit in the healthcare ecosystem.
Location: University‑based workshops at campuses including University of California, Berkeley (CA), University of California, San Diego (CA), Columbia University (NY), and University College London (UK); plus online and commuter options
Cost: Tuition required; exact cost varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: Various 1-2 week sessions depending on location
Application Deadline: Varies depending on session
Eligibility: Ages 14‑18; usually requires strong academic record and submission of recommendation(s)
In this high‑level camp, you’ll engage in lectures and laboratory modules taught by instructors with PhDs in biomedical science. The curriculum explores advanced subjects, including the molecular biology of cancer, molecular neuroscience, immunology, and bioinformatics. These topics illustrate how disruptions in cellular processes lead to disease and how contemporary medical approaches are used to target them. You’ll also complete an independent mini‑research project, designing your own experiment or analytical study, which helps you build a substantive piece for your portfolio or college application. Residential participants will get to stay on university campuses, interact with peers and mentors, and gain both academic insight and exposure to campus life.
Location: Various sites across Montana (Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Billings, Miles City) through Montana AHEC
Cost: $500 (tuition covers room, board, transportation, and materials); scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 1‑week sessions across several regions each summer
Application Deadline: Typically in early spring
Eligibility: Current Montana high‑school sophomores or juniors (some camps also accept seniors); homeschooled/GED eligible; preference given to students from rural, low‑income, or first‑generation backgrounds
During a week at MedStart, you’ll stay on a Montana college campus and engage in workshops, job‑shadow experiences, and simulation activities that reflect healthcare careers — not just doctors and nurses, but allied health, therapy, and community health as well. You will interact with healthcare professionals, including physicians, therapists, and technologists, gaining a better understanding of how healthcare systems operate in underserved communities and the educational pathways required to work in these areas. The program also features college readiness components, allowing you to experience dorm life, discuss scholarships and planning, and receive encouragement.
Location: El Paso, Texas
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 30 students
Program Dates: Camp 1: June 16 – 27 | Camp 2: June 30 – July 11
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Current or rising High school students
The Foster School of Medicine hosts a couple of two-week-long medical camps during the summer, which take place on the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus. You participate in activities such as presentations with medical professionals, field trips, and mock crime scene investigations to learn about the field and develop necessary skills. The camps also include workshops about financial aid and a ‘reality’ store exercise to teach you how to manage your expenses.
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.
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