15 Medical Programs for High School Students in Alaska
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 11 min read
If you’re thinking about studying medicine after high school, it’s a good idea to explore your interest in the field early. Medical programs for high schoolers help you understand what working in this field looks like before you commit to a university track. Through these programs, you may explore patient care environments, learn about healthcare delivery in rural and urban settings, or examine public health issues that affect Alaskan communities. The experience gives context to what you study in school and allows you to see how healthcare professionals work as part of a system.
High school students in Alaska can access programs through hospitals, health networks, and academic institutions across the state. These experiences can also strengthen your college applications by showing commitment to medicine and skills in the field. A medical program gives you concrete projects and experiences to discuss in your essays and interviews.
15 Medical Programs for High School Students in Alaska
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: One-on-one mentorship
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer sessions that run between June and August
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines for each cohort; summer session applications are due in May/June
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic backgrounds; accepted students have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4.0
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week summer research experience where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a university like Harvard, MIT, or Yale to complete a project on a topic of your choice. If you’re looking for a medical program, you choose your topic in fields like neuroscience, medicine, public health, or life sciences. You meet regularly with your mentor to shape your research question, collect and analyze data, and write a paper that meets college-level standards. You build skills in research design, data interpretation, and academic writing. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK
Cost: Free, including travel, food, and housing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 5 - August 2
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Current 11th-12th grade students (including high school-aged students completing their GED)
The Della Keats Program provides a fully-funded month of academic study, research, and mentorship for high school students considering a medical career. You’ll complete advanced coursework in health sciences taught by WWAMI School of Medicine faculty, aligned with academic fields you’d pursue as a pre-med or other pre-health college student. You’ll also complete hands-on biomedical research under the guidance of professional clinical scientists. You’ll attend a series of guest lectures from researchers, med school professors, and clinicians, learn about college and medical school admissions, and tour UAA medical and research facilities, gaining networking experience and career exposure. You’ll also shadow healthcare professionals in four or more specialized fields; placements are primarily in medical fields, though options are also offered in clinical research and psychology.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. 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, you will 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 your outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Location: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
Cost: Free, including transportation, tuition, course materials, meals, housing, and activities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 26 - July 10
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are Alaska native or rural Alaskan and planning to attend college | GPA of 3.0+ is strongly encouraged
The Rural Alaska Honors Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is a 6-week summer program for Native and rural Alaska high school students where you live on campus and take college courses in subjects you choose. If you want to study medicine, you can join the Undergraduate Research track in biosciences, where you will learn experimental design, data analysis, and literature review, complete a research project with a mentor, write a report, and present your findings. You can take Chemistry to start pre-med requirements. You can earn up to 10 college credits. You will take the Study Skills Lab and Library and Information Strategies to prepare for college applications, financial aid, and leadership. You will also take a Recreation course, such as Alaska Native Games or Alaska Native Dance, go on field trips in Denali, and complete community service projects in Fairbanks.
Location: University of Alaska, Anchorage
Cost: Free, including housing, meals, and transportation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th grade students aged 14+ with a minimum 2.5 GPA | Must be an Alaska resident
ANSEP’s Summer Acceleration Academy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is a program for high school students in Alaska where you take a college course of your choice and start building career skills. Course options include science and lab research for students interested in medicine, and you learn from university professors while working in study groups. You also take part in career workshops, team building, leadership training, mentorship, and networking with faculty and industry professionals. You can earn 3 to 6 transferable college credits and may qualify for a scholarship to the University of Alaska, and you can return in future summers to earn more credits and skills. If you want a full-time option, ANSEP also offers the Academic Year Acceleration Academy, where you can complete up to three years of college while still in high school.
Location: Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Denali Center, or Tanana Valley Clinic, Fairbanks, AK
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Two 5-week sessions offered during the summer
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders and graduating seniors with strong academic standing
Foundation Health Partners offers five-week medical internships for high school students in Alaska at each of its three facilities. You’ll intern within a specialized department such as cardiology, family medicine, or oncology, working under the mentorship of a Foundation Health medical professional. Your work will include a combination of shadowing, hands-on training, clinical simulations, and learning to use medical equipment. You’ll attend educational workshops in other specialization areas like operating room surgery, medical laboratory research, and radiology to gain a broader understanding of career opportunities within the medical field.
Location: Southeast Alaska AHEC, Juneau, AK, and other SE Alaska sites | Remote participation may be offered
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided
Dates: Multiple one-week programs throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies; contact AHEC site for information
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Southeast Alaska AHEC’s Health Career Connections is a medical program for high schoolers merging academic and professional training, industry field trips, and opportunities to connect with medical professionals. You’ll visit facilities including regional hospitals, addiction treatment centers, and community health clinics, where you’ll tour the facilities, attend educational programming, and network with treatment providers. You’ll attend presentations on HIPAA and medical ethics, college healthcare programs, and specialized topics like vocational rehabilitation and fire and rescue critical care. You’ll receive training and certification in First Aid and CPR, and participate in group projects and hands-on activities. On the last day of the program, you’ll prepare and deliver a presentation on your experience.
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK; camps may be hosted at other partnered sites in Alaska
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided
Dates: One week over the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school and college students aged 15-19
University of Alaska Anchorage sponsors specialized medical programs for high schoolers through its Youth Exploration Camp initiative. You’ll participate in either the Health Career or Behavioral Health Career Camp. In the Health Career Camp, you’ll explore an array of medical careers from medicine to nursing. You’ll study topics like anatomy and physiology, patient-doctor confidentiality, and medical ethics to develop both academic and professional skills. In the Behavioral Health Career Camp, you’ll learn about healthcare practice in fields like psychology, psychiatry, and social work. You’ll focus on topics such as abuse and neglect, addiction, grief, and mental health conditions. In each camp, you’ll be eligible to earn 2-3 transferable college credits. Both camp tracks culminate in earning industry-recognized certifications; Behavioral Health Career offers Teen Mental Health First Aid and QPR Suicide Prevention, and Health Career offers CPR, First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogen, and Emergency Trauma Technician certifications.
Location: Multiple sites in and around Bethel, AK
Stipend: $15/hour; full payment of $2,400 for completing all assigned hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided
Dates: May 23-July 3
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all students aged 14-21
The Lower Kuskokwim School District offers students with disabilities the opportunity to complete paid summer internships with an emphasis on career development. Medical opportunities are offered through program partners, including Bethel Family Clinic and Arctic Chiropractic. You’ll work for your industry placement site for 145 hours over the summer, contributing hands-on work to directly support the organization’s needs. You’ll also receive 15 hours of career coaching and soft skills training, so you can create tangible plans for your next educational and professional steps after high school and develop skills for successful interviewing, collaboration, and leadership.
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage WWAMI School of Medical Education, Anchorage, AK, or remote
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided
Dates: February 14
Application Deadline: Open registration
Eligibility: Grades 9-12, undergraduates, high school teachers/guidance counselors, and other community members
UAA’s Alaska PreMed Summit is a day of educational programming for high schoolers and undergraduates considering medical school and/or a healthcare career. You’ll attend lectures and network with a variety of industry professionals, UAA faculty, and university advisors, exploring educational opportunities and careers in medicine. You’ll learn about programs including MD, Physician Assistant, and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees, including the academic experience, admissions process, and how to prepare a competitive application. You’ll choose from a series of specialized breakout sessions to attend, covering topics like research opportunities at UAA College of Health, application workshops, panel discussions with current WWAMI students, and exploring pre-college opportunities. The program is also open to teachers, guidance counselors, parents, and individuals considering a career change.
Location: Southeast Alaska AHEC, Juneau, AK | Remote participation may be offered
Cost: Program covers housing/meals in Juneau
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided
Dates: Not provided
Application Deadline: Varies; contact AHEC site for information
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+
Southeast Alaska AHEC’s Behavioral Health Career Connections is a psychology-focused medical program for high schoolers interested in pursuing a career in mental health. You’ll learn about a variety of academic and professional pathways in behavioral health, from introductory certifications to PhDs or PsyDs in Psychology and Psychiatry. You’ll visit mental healthcare treatment sites across the Juneau area to gain industry exposure and network with behavioral health professionals. You’ll learn about topics such as addiction, mental illness, well-being, and stress from AHEC staff and treatment providers. You’ll also complete group projects focused on mental health and psychology and receive certification in Mental Health First Aid. You’ll earn one transferable University of Alaska college credit for successful program completion.
Location: Alaska Primary Care Association, Anchorage, AK
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided
Dates: Two weeks; multiple sessions offered year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling/open applications
Eligibility: Alaska residents aged 16+
The Apprenticeship Training in Healthcare PATH Academy program offers upper-level high school students the ability to undertake free training in core medical skills and earn official credentials. You’ll pursue nationally-recognized certifications such as medical provider-level Basic Life Support CPR, Mental Health First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Mandt De-escalation. After completing your training programs, you’ll receive personalized career planning support. While primarily geared towards students looking to directly enter the healthcare workforce or a professional apprenticeship program, the program’s professional-level training and certification opportunities also make it a strong option for students seeking to add tangible credentials to their college applications.
Location: Southeast Alaska Area Health Education, Juneau, AK, or Remote/Hybrid
Cost: Varies | Free to students if sessions are offered at your school
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N/A
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year; students may either attend as a school class or pursue open-enrollment or individual training
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: 10th-12th grade students aged 15-18
The Southeast Alaska Area Health Education Center offers Mental Health (tMHFA) Training for high schoolers. You’ll start by learning to identify common signs of mental health or substance use challenges, mental health crises, and suicide risk. As a teen-focused iteration of MHFA, you’ll also study age-specific factors such as how violence and bullying in schools can amplify mental distress. You’ll additionally cover topics like leading conversations on mental health and substance use with friends and classmates and seeking out help from responsible adults when you have concerns about the well-being of a peer or yourself. You’ll complete the training through either a series of in-person lessons or a combination of asynchronous lessons and remote or in-person live instructional sessions.
Location: Rural school districts in Alaska, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, and remote
Cost: Free; offered through the school district
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N/A
Dates: Courses take place during the school year
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: High school students
Sponsored by the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, CTEPS is a school curriculum add-on to provide technical medical education to high school students in rural Alaskan school districts. You’ll study under high school instructors trained in CTEPS health coursework to take classes like Health Care Occupations and Health & Human Services Occupations, during which you’ll earn certifications like Basic Life Support. Throughout your coursework, you’ll explore careers across medicine, human services, and other healthcare fields, alongside the importance of maintaining strong healthcare resources in rural areas. You’ll earn course credit, shadow healthcare professionals in multiple job fields, and earn certification in Emotional Transformation Therapy and Mandt De-escalation Training.
Location: School-based
Cost: Yearly national and state dues of $10/person ($20/year total) | Competitions may have additional fees | Some schools will pay fees on behalf of students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N/A
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: High school students
HOSA-Future Health Professionals is a national student program with state branches and school chapters that helps you prepare for a career in medicine or health care. In Alaska, you can join or start a chapter at your school to access competitions, academic training, and networking. In your chapter, you will study medical concepts, terminology, and health fields, and you will compete in events such as Medical Terminology, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and World Health and Disparities, where you will apply what you learn. Chapters also host events where you meet health care providers and industry professionals, explore careers, and build connections. If you stay involved and earn strong grades, you can qualify for college scholarships funded by the program.
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.
Image Source - University of Alaska Fairbanks logo