12 Medical Programs for High School Students in Urbana, IL
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student interested in medicine, structured programs can help you explore the field beyond what is available in your regular classes. Through these opportunities, you can engage with college-level material, learn how research is conducted, examine clinical case studies, and interact with mentors who work in healthcare and biomedical science. Participating in a program early can also help you clarify your interests and understand the different medical and health-related pathways.
What medical programs are available for high schoolers in Urbana, Illinois?
Urbana provides access to university-affiliated summer research programs, mentored biomedical lab experiences, short-term academic academies, and virtual medical coursework. Many of these programs connect you with research and healthcare institutions, providing exposure to ongoing scientific work in the region. These opportunities allow you to build foundational skills in research design, scientific communication, and ethical reasoning while exploring areas such as biomedical science, neuroscience, public health, and medical technology.
Below is a curated list of 12 medical programs for high school students in Urbana, Illinois.
If you’re looking for free online research opportunities, check out our blog here.
Location: Urbana, IL
Cost/Stipend: Students receive a $3,000 taxable stipend
Program Dates: June 15–August 7
Application Deadline: January 19 | Limited to 30 participants only
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors at the time of application | At least 16 years old by the start of the program | Strong academic background in math and science, and demonstrated interest in scientific research or medicine
ResearcHStart is a highly competitive, multi-institutional summer research program focused on cancer biology and biomedical science that invites high school students to work full-time in active laboratories under the supervision of established researchers. You’ll gain hands-on experience in areas such as cancer immunology, bioengineering, experimental cancer therapeutics, and cancer disparities. In addition to lab work, ResearcHStart includes structured career development and skill-building workshops, along with a cancer-focused faculty lecture series that helps you connect your research to real-world health challenges. You’ll benefit from ongoing mentorship from faculty, research professionals, and peers across participating institutions. The program concludes with a formal research symposium, where you’ll present your work to family members, educators, and members of the scientific community.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on the program | Full financial aid is provided
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students interested in conducting independent research in medicine and health sciences.
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. The program pairs high school students with PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper. You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free | students receive a $2,400 summer stipend
Program Dates: June 20–August 1
Application Deadline: Varies annually (check official program page each year)
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising 10th–12th graders) with an interest in biomedical research and healthcare
The SpHERES High School Research Program is a medically focused research pathway designed for high school students interested in healthcare. You’ll be placed in a research project across multiple disciplines, such as bioengineering, neuroscience, and physiology, where you work alongside faculty and mentors from the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and other research departments Throughout the program, you’ll participate in weekly seminars covering topics such as clinical skills, holistic and inclusive care, college readiness, innovation, and professional development. SpHERES scholars gain confidence as they navigate a university environment while building strong professional networks. The experience culminates in a final research symposium where you’ll showcase your work.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type | Full financial aid is available
Program Dates: 10 weeks
Application Deadline: Check website for latest updates
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12
Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Medicine is a 10-week program curated to help you explore artificial intelligence applications in healthcare through real-world project development. This specialized course demonstrates how AI technologies are revolutionizing medical practice and the broader healthcare industry. The curriculum begins with foundational concepts in AI and medicine during the first two weeks. Weeks three through five introduce essential topics: preparing medical datasets, performing exploratory data analysis, and understanding Convolutional Neural Networks, critical tools for analyzing medical imagery and health information. The final weeks cover sophisticated techniques, including image segmentation, regularization methods, transfer learning, and the fundamentals of clinical evaluation. You’ll collaborate in teams of 3-5 members on a culminating group project that applies course concepts to develop an AI-driven solution for an authentic healthcare challenge.
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 17–July 31
Application Deadline: Applications open in February (check the website for the latest updates on the specific deadline)
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th-grade high school students from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs offer a research experience to explore advanced STEMM fields, including medicine and health-related research. You’ll be assigned to active research teams, contributing to ongoing projects in areas such as cancer immunology, neuroscience, bioengineering, and other STEMM disciplines. Beyond lab work, the program emphasizes academic and professional growth through weekly seminars focused on scientific communication, college readiness, and research presentation skills. You’ll work closely with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and peers, building confidence as emerging researchers while developing a strong support network. The experience culminates in a final research symposium, where you’ll present your work through a formal research poster, making this program a strong option for high school students seeking meaningful biomedical and medical-adjacent research in Urbana.
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana–Champaign, IL
Cost: Varies by academy (check registration portal for specific details)
Program Dates: June 21–25
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 9
Eligibility: High school students | Specific grade requirements vary by academy
Illini Summer Academies (ISA) is a short-term, immersive, in-person program that gives high school students the opportunity to explore academic interests while experiencing college life. The program brings together hands-on activities, faculty-led workshops, and interactive discussions across disciplines, including biology, health sciences, veterinary medicine, and medical innovation. If your interest lies in medicine, biology, or health-related fields, ISA offers academies such as Applied Health Sciences in Action, Health Innovation Academy, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, and Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, each led by university faculty, staff, and graduate students. These academies introduce you to real-world applications of health, biology, and life sciences while helping you build practical skills and academic confidence. The experience culminates in recognition through academy-specific outcomes, with top participants honored at the program’s closing ceremony.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: Multiple sessions
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students interested in health sciences
The Health Science Immersion Program (HSIP) is a virtual educational experience that introduces high school students to the academic, professional, and research components of health sciences careers. The curriculum typically includes career-focused speaker sessions with health professionals and academic researchers, group discussions, and a small-group research article project that helps students engage with real health science literature and concepts. HSIP sessions cover diverse topics, including human anatomy, neuroscience, medical research methods, college admissions planning, and career exploration in health-related fields. The program’s structure helps students align their strengths and interests with potential educational and professional pathways in health sciences. HSIP is offered by Impact Internships, an independent nonprofit organization, and is designed to broaden students’ understanding of the healthcare field through structured online engagement with practitioners and scholars.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Program Dates: Multi-length sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
Regenerative Medicine: Healing with Science is a virtual pre-college course offered by Dartmouth College that introduces students to the emerging field of regenerative medicine, where scientific innovation supports the repair and regeneration of human tissues. The curriculum covers core principles, including cell and tissue biology, stem cell technology, tissue engineering, biomaterials, and organ regeneration, through real-world case studies and interactive online content. You investigate how scaffold design, bioactive molecules, and technologies like 3D bioprinting are shaping future healthcare solutions. The course also addresses the ethical, scientific, and societal implications of regenerative treatments while providing a final Capstone Project in which you propose and justify solutions to real medical challenges. Coursework is flexible and online, combining video lessons, readings, and mentor guidance to support student learning.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 | Need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Session A: June 15–26 | Session B: July 6–17
Application Deadline: February 20 | Limited to 50 students per session only
Eligibility: High school students; must reside in the United States for the full program duration | Must be over age 14 by program start | Strong preference for students with math/programming skills or healthcare project experience
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program offered by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI) that introduces high school students to the research and clinical applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare. You deliver technical lectures, mentor research, and collaborate on small-team projects focused on real-world AI applications in medicine, such as machine learning for medical imaging and clinical problem-solving. The program also includes a “Meet-the-Expert” speaker series featuring professionals in academia, industry, and government, as well as community and social activities designed to support peer interaction. Students who complete the internship receive a Certificate of Completion and gain exposure to interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of technology and health science.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: June 15–July 24 (Multiple 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-week mostly asynchronous or blended sessions)
Application Deadline: Check website for latest enrollment deadlines
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12
Brown Pre-College Online offers high school students access to Brown University’s rigorous academic curriculum through virtual courses across multiple subject areas, including medical and health sciences. Courses range from mostly asynchronous to blended formats, allowing students to complete college-level coursework from anywhere. Each course typically combines independent study, written discussions, virtual office hours, guest lectures, and small-group interaction with peers and instructors. You engage with academic material at a defined pace, often building analytical and communication skills through project assignments and coursework. Those who successfully complete a course receive a Digital Certificate of Completion, and courses longer than three weeks also include a Course Performance Report reflecting student achievement.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,725 | Scholarships available for eligible applicants.
Program Dates: Session 1: June 8–19 | Session 2: June 22–July 3
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students with strong English proficiency | Willing to engage with neuroscience and clinical science topics
The Clinical Neuroscience Virtual Experience (CNV-X) is Stanford University’s online version of the Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience, designed for high school students interested in neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral science. Over approximately 10 days, you attend interactive lectures and seminars led by Stanford faculty and researchers, and engage in small-group project work exploring clinical neuroscience, mental health, and brain function. The curriculum bridges foundational neuroscience knowledge with discussions about real-world clinical and research challenges, and students present their final capstone projects to peers and program staff. The program emphasizes both scientific understanding and teamwork skills, offering insights into medical research, neurological science, and healthcare career pathways.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Program Dates: Multiple 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions available
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
Medical Research: Clinical Trials Resulting in Medical Discoveries examines how vaccines, drugs, and treatments reach patients through evidence-based clinical trials. You'll learn how researchers formulate studies, conduct trials, and evaluate gathered evidence, then develop your own study using professional methodologies. You'll explore Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) principles, their diagnostic applications, the PICO method for developing research questions, and ethical research considerations through case studies that compare ethical and unethical practices. The course teaches you to analyze medical journal articles, understand their components, interpret their methods, and assess their impact on medical innovation. It culminates in the Capstone Project, in which you create a video presentation that demonstrates the scientific method components of a clinical trial.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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