15 Medical Programs for High School Students in Missouri
- Stephen Turban
- Sep 10
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 14
If you’re a high school student in Missouri thinking about a future in healthcare, local medical programs can give you an early (and affordable) start. Instead of just reading about science in textbooks, these programs let you step into real labs, hospitals, and clinics to see how medicine actually works, without requiring you to spend on housing or out-of-state travel.
The best medical programs in Missouri are often run by universities, hospitals, and health organizations, so you’re learning directly from people who work in the field every day. That means you not only gain skills and knowledge but also get mentorship and connections that can guide your future choices. Cost is another thing many students worry about, but a lot of these programs are affordable, and some are even fully funded.
To help you explore your options, here’s a list of 15 medical programs for high school students in Missouri!
15 Medical Programs for High School Students in Missouri
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research experience designed for high school students who want to dive deep into an academic field. You are paired 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor to design and carry out an independent research project from start to finish. The program can be anywhere between 12 weeks and 1 year long, and by the end, you will complete a full research paper. Lumiere offers projects across a wide range of subjects, including biology, medicine, and neuroscience, among others. You can choose from multiple cohorts with varying deadlines, with full application details here.
Location: Virtual
Program dates: Multiple cohorts, including summer, throughout the year, with a commitment of 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends).
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 who have prior coding experience or have participated in the Veritas AI Scholars program
Veritas AI – AI + Medicine Deep Dive is a 10-week online program designed for high school students in grades 8–12 who want to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare. Led by Harvard graduates, the program offers 25 hours of instruction across weekends, combining lectures, mentorship, and hands-on project work. You’ll study medical datasets and build machine learning models to solve real-world problems in healthcare. Topics include medical data preparation, exploratory data analysis (EDA), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), image segmentation, transfer learning, and clinical evaluation. Each session includes 1.5 hours of instruction and a 1-hour small-group mentoring session (5:1 student-to-mentor ratio). You can apply here.
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded with a $4,500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 15 to 18 students per year
Dates: June 2 to July 25
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Highly motivated 11th-grade students in the Greater St. Louis area who have no prior research experience
The Young Scientist Program – Summer Focus at Washington University in St. Louis is a paid, eight-week biomedical research internship for rising high school seniors from the Greater St. Louis area. You’ll be paired with a lab mentor and a support tutor, conducting an independent research project tailored to your interests and the lab’s focus. In addition to lab work, you’ll take two structured courses: the Writing Course, which builds your skills in reading scientific literature, writing clearly about research, and presenting findings; and the NextUp Course, which prepares you for college applications and professional development.
Location: Danforth Campus, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: Up to $500 stipend for qualifying students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 to July 18
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: High-potential high school students in St. Louis with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (full details here)
The BESt Healthcare Institute is a four-week, on-campus medical program held at Washington University’s Danforth Campus for high school students in the St. Louis area. You’ll receive foundational training in healthcare through math and science instruction, ACT/SAT preparation, and lectures from practicing medical professionals. Site visits to hospitals and clinics provide direct exposure to clinical environments, while structured sessions focus on medical ethics, healthcare careers, and patient-centered care.
Location: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; scholarship or stipend available to those who meet program expectations
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Summer (six weeks in June and July) and academic year (August through April)
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Educationally or economically disadvantaged students in grades 10-11 who are interested in healthcare professions, have a minimum of 3.0 GPA, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The STAHR Program at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) is a free, competitive summer medical program for high school students in Missouri, especially those from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds. You’ll gain direct exposure to healthcare through clinical shadowing, biomedical research, and community service. The program also includes workshops led by UMKC faculty and networking opportunities with practicing health professionals and researchers. After the summer, you continue in the academic year experience, receiving mentorship and coaching from students, faculty, and staff.
Location: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Typically from February to March (on Saturdays)
Application Deadline: Typically in early February
Eligibility: St. Louis area high school students with at least a 3.0 GPA and an aptitude in math and science
The Saturday Scholars Program at Washington University in St. Louis is a five-week, hands-on medical education experience for high school students in Missouri. You’ll attend weekly sessions on human anatomy, each focused on a different body system, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, renal, and reproductive, through lectures and lab activities led by WashU medical students.
Each Saturday includes clinical skills breakouts and interactive anatomy labs. In the final session, you present a research project to teachers, family, and peers, followed by an awards ceremony. Completing the program makes you eligible for the University of Missouri School of Medicine’s Excellence in Learning Program, a one-day, patient-based learning experience in Columbia.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: 8 weeks in spring
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Current high school students with a 2.8 GPA or higher with an interest in pursuing a healthcare profession
The Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP) is a free, eight-week virtual medical program organized by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) for underrepresented high school students in grades 9–12. You’ll explore careers in medicine, nursing, dentistry, and pharmacy through lectures, clinical simulations, and professional development workshops. You’ll meet weekly with a mentor, typically a pre-med or medical student, for one hour, and attend Saturday sessions led by physicians and healthcare professionals from institutions such as NYU, Columbia, and Johns Hopkins.
Location: University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO
Cost: $650 per session (scholarship available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Typically in June
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Missouri high school juniors with at least a 3.0 GPA
The Mini Medical School at the University of Missouri School of Medicine is a one-week, residential summer program for Missouri high school juniors interested in medicine. You’ll follow a patient-based learning model and gain hands-on experience in anatomy, microbiology, and clinical skills. The curriculum includes lectures from clinical and research faculty, seminars on medical school admissions, and networking with current medical students and staff. This year’s program features a partnership with the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, offering exposure to cancer research.
Location: University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $850
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not publicly available
Dates: Week-long session, typically held in July
Application Deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program starts and have a minimum of 3.0 GPA
The Health Care Summer Immersion Program is a six-day, five-night residential medical program for high school students held at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. You’ll engage in hands-on academic workshops and lab experiences focused on healthcare, including anatomy dissection, pharmacy compounding, microbiology, and infectious diseases. Evenings include structured social and leadership-building activities such as etiquette dinners, networking events, and campus outings. You’ll stay in university housing and participate in a full schedule that blends academic immersion with community engagement.
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Cost: From $3,985 (need-based scholarship available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not publicly available
Dates: Five-week program between June and July
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: Academically motivated high school juniors
The High School Summer Scholars Program at Washington University in St. Louis is a five-week, residential pre-college experience for academically motivated high school juniors. You’ll enroll in one or two undergraduate courses for credit, with offerings that have included brain biology, biomedical ethics, and psychology. Courses are taught by WashU instructors and mirror the pace and rigor of college-level academics. Beyond the classroom, you’ll participate in college readiness workshops, enrichment activities, and social events that help you explore campus life and connect with peers.
Location: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
Cost: $1,050 (financial assistance and scholarship available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not publicly available
Dates: One week, typically in June
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: High school students who will have completed grades 9-11 by June and have an interest in a healthcare field
The ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy is a one-week residential summer medical program held in Kirksville, Missouri, through a partnership between A.T. Still University and Truman State University. You’ll explore healthcare careers such as nursing, audiology, prosthetics, osteopathic medicine, and more through hands-on simulations and guided instruction from faculty and medical professionals. Clinical exposure includes visits to a cadaver anatomy lab, speech and hearing clinic, and diagnostic ultrasound center. You’ll live in supervised residence halls on the Truman campus, participating in structured academic and community-building activities.
Location: Columbia College, Columbia, MO
Cost: $350 (scholarships may be available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not publicly available
Dates: Typically one week in June
Application Deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: Students in grades 11-12 and recent graduates who are interested in nursing
The Summer Nursing Camp at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri, is a one-week, full-day medical program designed for high school juniors and seniors, including recent graduates. You’ll gain hands-on experience with healthcare simulators and learn core nursing techniques and patient care practices. The curriculum includes interactive sessions led by Columbia College nursing faculty and current nursing students, giving you insight into nursing specialties and academic pathways. A key feature of the camp is a guided tour of Boone Hospital, where you’ll observe modern healthcare technology and clinical operations.
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Cost: $400 for commuters and $550 for campers
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not publicly available
Dates: One week, typically in July
Application Deadline: Registrations are typically open until early July
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in healthcare
The Health Sciences Summer Camp, hosted by the University of Missouri’s College of Health Sciences in Columbia, is a one-week immersive medical program for high school students interested in healthcare careers. You’ll participate in hands-on workshops, clinical simulations, and case studies that introduce you to fields such as public health, radiography, clinical laboratory science, rehabilitation sciences, and health administration. Camp activities include designing a functional hospital, investigating and containing a disease outbreak, conducting blood typing in a clinical lab, and solving diagnostic challenges in a health science escape room.
Location: Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Cost: $325 for commuters and $400 for residents (scholarship available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not publicly available
Dates: Typically in mid-June
Application Deadline: Registrations are typically open until early June
Eligibility: High school students
The Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Camp at Missouri State University is a four-day summer program for high school students interested in medical and health-related careers. You’ll gain hands-on experience in fields such as athletic training, dietetics, exercise science, physical therapy, radiography, public health, and physician assistantship. The curriculum includes skill-based sessions led by expert faculty, exposing you to foundational healthcare techniques and clinical reasoning. You’ll also participate in evening team-building activities and campus events, culminating in the “Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Olympics,” where you apply your newly acquired skills in friendly competition.
Location: Multiple options
Cost: $40 (fee waiver offered)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not publicly available
Dates: Day-long camp in June
Application Deadline: Registrations open until spots fill
Eligibility: Students who’ve completed grade 9 or higher
The UMKC Pharmacy Camp is a one-day summer program that introduces high school students to academic and clinical aspects of pharmacy. You’ll participate in hands-on compounding activities, interact with current pharmacy students and faculty, and hear from practicing pharmacists in specialties such as cardiology, pediatrics, oncology, and emergency care. The camp provides insight into pharmacy school and career pathways, with opportunities to ask questions and explore the profession in depth.
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 - Lumiere Education logo