15 Medical Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in medicine or healthcare, joining a medical summer camp can be a good way to see what working in this field is like. These camps give you practical exposure to topics such as anatomy, first aid, medical research, and patient care. You might take part in lab experiments, medical simulations, or guided workshops where you learn directly from healthcare professionals.
What makes a camp different from other academic programs?
Camps are shorter, more focused, and usually run for a few days to a few weeks, emphasizing practical activities rather than lectures or coursework. This makes them a good option if you want to explore your interest in medicine without committing to a full summer program. Participating in camps helps you gain practical experience that can help you decide whether you want to pursue a medical or health science degree in the future.
To help you find the right option, we’ve put together a list of 15 medical summer camps for high school students.
If you are interested in summer camps, check out our blog here.
15 Medical Summer Camps for High School Students
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: Free; students must arrange their own housing and transportation
Program Dates: June 23-27 | July 21-25
Application Deadline: Details will be posted on December 15
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who are at least 16 years old by the first day of camp
The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp is a one-week program at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, where you learn how public health professionals investigate and control disease outbreaks. You’ll take part in activities such as mock outbreak investigations, data analysis, and press briefings while exploring topics including epidemiology, disease surveillance, lab technology, and emergency response. Sessions are led by CDC scientists, giving you a close look at how real public health systems work. The camp is selective, with limited spots, and gives you a chance to build skills in research, analysis, and communication while working as part of a team of “disease detectives.”
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
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 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! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, medicine, neuroscience, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California (in-person) and virtual option available
Cost: $5,500–$6,500 for on-campus and $3,000–$4,000 for virtual
Program Dates: Session 1 (In-Person): July 14 – July 25 | Session 2 (Virtual): July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate pre-medical students, ages 16 and above; prior high school biology course strongly recommended.
The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) is one of the most sought-after pre-medical experiences for high school and early undergraduate students aiming to gain real-world exposure to clinical medicine. You’ll take part in simulations, dissections, and clinical case studies that show how different medical fields work in practice. Activities include heart and brain dissections, emergency response training, and visits to hospital clinics and the Life Flight helicopter station. The virtual format follows a similar structure to live sessions, giving you access to the same clinical insight and guidance remotely.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently 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. You will 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. You 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: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Cost: $2,800 for 5-day program | $2,250 for 4-day holiday week program
Program Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Rolling until seats are filled
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 at the time of application
The HMS MEDscience Clinical Camp lets you step into a Harvard Medical School simulation lab to experience what it’s like to work in emergency medicine. You’ll diagnose and treat life-like mannequins that react like real patients in urgent medical scenarios. Guided by Harvard physicians, nurses, and medical students, you’ll learn how to assess symptoms, make quick clinical decisions, and manage high-pressure situations as part of a medical team. Across four to five days, you’ll practice hands-on medical techniques, build teamwork and communication skills, and gain a clear sense of what a career in medicine involves.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $8,410 for Residential | $6,355 for Commuter
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current and rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors during the academic year before their summer program
The Medical Immersion Academy at Georgetown University gives you a firsthand look at medical school through a curriculum modeled on Georgetown’s own School of Medicine. You’ll study subjects like cell biology, immunology, cardiology, and endocrinology while learning practical medical skills such as suturing, airway management, CPR, and physical examinations. The program combines classroom sessions with lab work, hospital visits, and workshops led by Georgetown faculty, medical students, and healthcare professionals. You’ll also explore areas like emergency medicine, pediatrics, and oncology, and complete a research-based poster project that connects your academic and clinical learning. At the end, you’ll receive a Certificate of Participation recognizing your work and experience.
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: $500 for June Camp; Free for GEAR UP Residential Camp
Program Dates: June Camp: June 16–20 | GEAR UP Residential Camp: July 7–11
Application Deadline: Check website for latest information
Eligibility: High school students, grades 9–11; GEAR UP Residential Camp restricted to students from participating school districts.
The Health Sciences Summer Camps at Dell Med introduce you to healthcare through direct, hands-on learning. You’ll practice clinical skills like drawing blood, taking vital signs, performing intubations, and starting IVs while also exploring lab science and medical technology. The camp takes place in Dell Med’s simulation labs, the same spaces used by medical and nursing students, giving you realistic training experiences. You can also earn CPR and first aid certifications during the program. Outside of labs, you’ll take part in recreational activities on the UT Austin campus, including time at the Texas Union and Gregory Gym. After camp, you can stay connected through the Health Sciences Yearlong Academy, which extends learning and mentorship opportunities throughout the year.
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,400
Program Dates: Usually for a week, keep an eye on the website for the latest information.
Application Deadline: Opens November 1
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9–12
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute gives you real experience in healthcare through visits to medical facilities like the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the Wake Forest School of Medicine. You’ll work in simulation labs and practice skills such as taking blood pressure, using a stethoscope, suturing, and performing ultrasounds. Over the week-long residential program, you’ll explore areas including internal medicine, neurology, cardiology, pulmonology, and surgery. You’ll also meet medical students, visit hospital departments like the rehabilitation center and cardiac catheterization lab, and learn about new medical technologies and hospital care practices.
Location: Medford/Somerville and Boston Health Sciences Campus, Massachusetts
Cost: $3,625–$6,950, depending on session
Program Dates: Session 1 (Commuter Only): June 22–26 | Session 2: July 5–17 | Session 3: July 19–24 | Mini-Med Maine: July 20–24
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11–12 must be at least 16 years old with one year of high school biology
The Mini-Med School at Tufts University introduces you to the study and practice of medicine through lectures, lab sessions, and clinical simulations. You’ll learn directly from Tufts School of Medicine faculty and medical students while exploring anatomy, clinical cases, and health sciences. In Tufts’ Clinical Simulation Center and anatomy lab, you’ll practice skills like suturing and measuring vital signs. The program also exposes you to careers in dentistry, veterinary medicine, and physician assistant through discussions with professionals from different fields. Depending on the session you choose, you may attend as a commuter for focused instruction or join a residential session that includes field trips, seminars, and a final project on a clinical topic.
Location: UT Health Lozano Long Campus, San Antonio, Texas
Cost: $1,000
Program Dates: July 14–18
Application Deadline: Early June
Eligibility: High school students interested in medicine or biomedical sciences
The BEAT Academy at UT Health San Antonio is a week-long summer camp that introduces you to the study of anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, and neurodegeneration through seminars and lab sessions with UT Health faculty. You’ll perform biomolecular experiments, observe medical simulations, and visit anatomy labs to see how science connects to clinical practice. Alongside lab work, you’ll take part in college prep workshops that guide you through health-related career paths and the education needed for them. With only 20 students accepted, the program offers close mentorship and direct access to researchers and medical professionals.
Location: Multiple U.S. campuses, including UNC-Chapel Hill (NC), UCLA (CA), Columbia University (NY), University of Michigan (MI), and Vanderbilt University (TN)
Cost: $2,950
Program Dates: Multiple 1-week sessions between June and August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
Outset’s Summer Medicine Program gives you a pre-college experience in medicine through a mix of lectures, labs, and clinical workshops. You’ll live on campus, learn directly from physicians and medical students, and practice basic medical skills such as patient assessment and diagnostic reasoning. The program introduces you to specialties like pediatrics, surgery, cardiology, and anesthesiology while also offering sessions in nursing, dentistry, dermatology, and psychiatry. If you’re in Grade 11 or 12, you can choose advanced themes such as AI and Medicine, Health Policy, or Medical Research, giving you a broader view of how healthcare connects with technology and policy.
Location: El Paso, Texas
Cost: Not specified
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 Summer Medical Camp at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, brings together about 30 students for a week of hands-on learning and real-world healthcare exploration. You’ll join sessions led by medical professionals, take part in a mock crime scene investigation, and experience a “Reality Store” simulation that teaches you about managing finances and life decisions. The camp also includes college prep activities such as financial aid workshops and advising sessions to help you plan your academic and career path in healthcare.
Location: The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Cost: $325
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a math/science GPA of 3.3 or higher
The MD Camp at The Ohio State University is a three-week summer program that helps you understand what studying and working in medicine is really like. Run by the Ohio State University Area Health Education Center, the camp lets you shadow doctors and researchers at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, giving you a close look at how medical care and research connect. Taught by second-year medical students, the program includes lectures from faculty on topics like anatomy, cardiology, and medical ethics, along with workshops where you’ll learn skills such as suturing, drawing blood, and patient assessment. You’ll also take part in problem-based learning sessions that simulate real clinical scenarios and community service activities that show how healthcare extends beyond hospitals.
Location: UGA Health Sciences Campus, Athens, Georgia
Cost: $530 for Day Camp | $1,255 for Residential Camp
Program Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–17
The Mini Medical School 2 at the University of Georgia and Augusta University Medical Partnership is a one-week summer camp that introduces you to how scientific concepts translate into real medical practice. You’ll study body systems such as the nervous, cardiovascular, and digestive systems and learn how different diseases affect them. During the week, you’ll take part in lab sessions, organ dissections, short lectures, and discussions about medical school pathways. The program is taught by current medical students from the Augusta University/UGA Medical Partnership, who work with faculty to create an application-based curriculum that connects classroom learning with clinical thinking.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: July, 1 week
Application Deadline: Check website for latest updates
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12, you can apply here.
The AI & Health Summer High School Bootcamp at the MIT Jameel Clinic is a rigorous, one-week program that introduces you to the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in healthcare. You’ll explore how computational power is applied to accelerate scientific discoveries, enhance disease diagnosis, and improve drug identification. Through lectures and hands-on activities, you’ll learn from MIT faculty, clinicians, and industry pioneers, gaining insight into both the technical and ethical aspects of AI in medicine.
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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