10 Medical Programs for High School Students in West Virginia
- Stephen Turban
- 3 minutes ago
- 7 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in medicine, getting early exposure to the field can help you figure out whether it’s something you want to pursue long-term. Programs that involve clinical observation, lab work, or health-focused research give you a clearer sense of how the field operates beyond what you’d see in a classroom. You also develop valuable skills such as scientific communication, fundamental lab techniques, and working in a professional setting, all of which benefit future coursework and college applications.
What medical programs are available for high schoolers in West Virginia?
West Virginia offers a range of opportunities through universities, hospitals, and public health institutions that are both rigorous and accessible. Several opportunities are fully funded or offer stipends, making them accessible to students from diverse backgrounds and helping them take a meaningful first step toward a future in medicine
To help you get started, we’ve selected 10 medical programs for high school students in West Virginia.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 15 students per cohort
Program dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students entering their junior or senior year, as well as recent graduates
The Clinical Anatomy Summer Experience (CASE) is a one-week, immersive anatomy program hosted by the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. The program, aimed at students pursuing healthcare careers, provides hands-on experience with daily human cadaver laboratory sessions led by medical school faculty. Participants gain firsthand exposure to medical school–level coursework while learning about the osteopathic philosophy of whole-person care. Students also interact with current osteopathic medical students, explore clinical pathways, and experience the academic environment of a medical school.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
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 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! You can choose research topics from subjects such as medicine, 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.
3. Brain Camp
Location: West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech), Beckley, WV
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: June 23 and June 24
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 8th, 9th, and 10th-grade students in Southern West Virginia who are interested in a nursing career
The Southern West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy is a short, summer day camp that introduces students to the nursing profession through hands‑on experiences and practical activities. Participants learn basic nursing skills, such as taking vital signs, infection control, and maintaining sterile environments, while visiting real hospitals, participating in skills labs, and interacting with professional nurses. The camp also includes opportunities to explore aspects of college life by spending time on the WVU Tech campus in Beckley and working alongside mentors who provide guidance and answer questions about careers in healthcare. The program is designed to give students a direct look at nursing practices, classroom environments, and clinical settings in a structured and supportive setting.
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: Varies by program type (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (weekends)
Application deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with prior Python experience or completion of the AI Scholars program
Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine program introduces high school students to real-world applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Participants work with machine learning models and AI-driven tools used in medical research, diagnostics, and imaging analysis. The curriculum emphasizes practical problem-solving, allowing students to explore how technology supports disease detection and clinical decision-making. Students acquire practical experience while building technical skills applicable to medicine and computer science. The program is designed to support students interested in healthcare-related careers by building a strong foundational skill set.
Location: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified; selective for program events
Program dates: Various programs throughout the academic year and summer
Application deadline: Varies by program (check individual events)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 7–12) interested in healthcare
WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative offers high school students opportunities to explore rural and underserved medicine in West Virginia. Students can participate in hands-on events, including CPR training, pharmacology camps, and anatomy lab tours, learning directly in WVSOM’s human anatomy facilities. The programs also include collaborations with HOSA and HSTA, Upward Bound programs, and campus visits to introduce students to osteopathic medicine and medical careers. These experiences can help students gain practical skills, understand healthcare pathways, and connect with medical students and professionals. By participating, students build foundational knowledge of medicine, develop early exposure to college-level learning, and explore diverse career options in healthcare.
6. Brain Camp
Location: West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Cost / Stipend: $900
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Limited to 36 participants
Program dates: July 5 – 11
Application deadline: Rolling; first-come, first-served
Eligibility: High school students entering the 11th and 12th grades
Brain Camp is an intensive, science-focused summer program for high school students, limited to just 36 participants. Students spend a week living on West Virginia University’s campus and attend lectures and demonstrations led by faculty and graduate students from the Department of Neuroscience. The program emphasizes practical lab work, enabling participants to apply authentic research methods. Topics explored include lab safety, the effects of light on human behavior, research ethics, and neuropsychological testing, providing a comprehensive introduction to neuroscience research.
Location: University of Charleston, Charleston, WV
Cost / Stipend: Participation cost not publicly listed
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Limited to 32 participants
Program dates: June 2 and June 3
Application deadline: April 26
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th or 12th grade who are interested in healthcare careers and reside in Kanawha and surrounding counties in West Virginia
The University of Charleston Health Sciences Summer Bootcamp is a two-day program for high school juniors and seniors held on the University of Charleston campus, with one night in the residence halls. The program provides high school students with the opportunity to explore various health science careers, including nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, radiologic science, and physical therapy. In addition, students will gain insight into the various ways they can prepare for careers in health science.
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: $500 taxable stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: About 20 trainees selected annually
Program dates: July 13 – July 25
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in science, research, or medicine who reside in Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County in Indiana
The Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology (SHE) is a two‑week virtual program focused on cancer science and health‑related careers. Over the course of the program, participants work collaboratively on a genetics‑based research project and a patient case study to explore key topics in cancer biology and patient care. The curriculum includes daily online faculty lectures, panel discussions, and skill‑building workshops with professionals from partner institutions, giving students exposure to both scientific and clinical perspectives in oncology. The program is structured to support peer collaboration, guided research activities, and professional development within a synchronous online setting.
Location: Virtual (in-person options available)
Cost / Stipend: ~$1,725 for virtual sessions; Scholarship available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: ~12%
Program dates: Session 1: June 8 – June 19 | Session 2: June 22 – July 3
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students following their sophomore, junior, or senior year (rising grades 11–12)
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is a two-week summer program that provides high school students with a foundational introduction to the major concepts in neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and behavioral science. Through the program, students attend interactive seminars with Stanford faculty and researchers, where they learn about major concepts in neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and behavioral science, including neural function and behavior. Throughout the program, students work in teams to develop a collaborative capstone project focused on a social or scientific question in neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, or behavioral science, which they present at the end of the program.
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: $2,400 + $45 application fee (Financial aid available)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: ~50 students
Program dates: Session A: June 15 – 26 | Session B: July 6 – 17
Application deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students attending a U.S. high school (entering Grades 9–12 in Fall) | Must be 14 years or older by the start of the program
Stanford's Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week summer internship designed for high school students passionate about technology and AI. The program offers an opportunity to build a solid foundation in AI and understand its potential impact on healthcare. Interns will attend lectures focused on AI applications in healthcare and engage in research projects. Given the program's intensive format, participants will be mentored by Stanford AI research engineers. Additionally, interns can join “Meet the Expert” sessions featuring guest speakers from academia, nonprofits, and government, offering valuable insights into potential career paths.
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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