10 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 13
- 6 min read
For high school students in Michigan interested in medicine, summer programs in the state offer an early (and local) opportunity to explore healthcare careers through hands-on learning. These programs offer in-person experiences that go beyond typical classroom curriculum, as they immerse you in real medical environments, college-level labs, and health-focused discussions with doctors and other medical professionals.
These local programs also help you build technical skills as you shadow professionals, run medical simulations, or participate in public health projects that directly affect your community or region.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve curated a list of 10 medical summer programs for high school students in Michigan!
This 12-week virtual program offers high school students a one-on-one mentored research experience culminating in a 15-page paper and a symposium presentation. You can be mentored by PhD scholars from top institutions such as Harvard and Yale, specializing in topics like cancer genetics and psycho-oncology.
Over the course of nine sessions, you’ll meet with your research mentor, and you’ll also work with a writing coach during two additional meetings. Five group workshops will help you build research skills and develop your understanding of scientific inquiry. If you successfully complete the program, you’ll be eligible to receive 3 post-baccalaureate credits and a digital transcript from the University of California, San Diego Extended Studies.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Cost: $2,990 (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
If you’re interested in how artificial intelligence is transforming medicine, this 10-week virtual program will guide you through applications in diagnostics, drug discovery, and genomics. You’ll work on a group project using machine learning to diagnose diseases, enhance medical scans, and explain outcomes to help doctors and patients.
Students get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Eligibility: High school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
Application Deadlines: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Cost: $2,290 (Financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
BioMed Focus is an intensive 8-week research program for rising high school juniors and seniors. You will collaborate with scientists from the University of Michigan to carry out independent, hypothesis-driven biomedical research. The program offers instruction in laboratory techniques, scientific writing, and presentation skills.
You will receive one-on-one mentorship from PhD students or postdoctoral researchers and spend full days in lab environments. The program integrates college prep workshops and a dedicated science communication course, culminating in a formal research symposium where you will present your findings to peers and faculty.
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in October
Cost: Fully funded; $4,000 stipend provided
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
This 6-week summer program at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit aims to educate high school students about careers in healthcare and the importance of health equity. You will shadow healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and researchers, and take part in hands-on clinical simulations, virtual reality clinical scenarios, and workshops.
You will be asked to create an infographic for a 10 to 15-minute group presentation on a health equity topic that impacts you, your family, or your community, which will be presented at the end of the summer program.
After the summer ends, you must remain engaged in RYSE MED through organized enrichment activities that support academic, professional, and personal growth throughout the school year.
Dates: June 29 – August 8
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders in Metro Detroit with at least a 2.5 GPA ( 2.75 for seniors)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in February
Cost: Free; stipends are available
Location: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
BCAP is a 6-week program for high school students that offers hands-on research and clinical exposure in a university medical environment. You will work alongside research faculty at the School of Medicine at Wayne State University and receive training in lab safety and procedures such as gel electrophoresis, microscopy, pipetting, and phlebotomy.
Throughout the program, faculty and research staff provide mentorship. This support enables you to create an independent research project, which will be showcased at a closing symposium attended by peers, mentors, and university staff.
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: 10th–12th graders with at least a 2.75 GPA; priority given to Detroit-area residents and students from disadvantaged backgrounds
Application Deadline: April 7
Cost: Free; completion may result in a stipend (subject to funding)
Location: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Over this 8-week research internship, rising high school juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to gain experience in medical research labs specializing in fields such as immunology, oncology, and reproductive biology. You will be assigned an independent lab project and will be guided by a research mentor to formulate hypotheses, design and perform experiments, and analyze data. Research seminars held every week will provide additional insight, and you will present your findings during a closing day symposium attended by university staff and peers.
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: Rising seniors who are at least 16 years old
Application Deadline: March 31
Cost: Free
Location: C.S. Mott Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
HSSI is a 4-week program offering training in community-based health research. You will examine real medical cases, complete a health-related community project, and explore connections between medicine and the humanities. You will participate in daily sessions that feature interactive discussions and case studies, as well as receive mentorship from faculty and health professionals on how to tackle health issues in your community.
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Eligibility: 10th–11th graders from Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, or nearby areas with a GPA of at least 3.0
Application Deadline: May 7
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
In this 9-day residential program, high school students engage in hands-on simulations covering patient care, surgery, and trauma. You will participate in practical skills such as suturing and dissection, collaborate with clinical teams, and listen to lectures from professionals, including physicians from the NIH and the White House. You will also attend lectures by guest speakers from prestigious medical institutions and complete public health group projects. The program also includes site visits to university labs and health science museums.
Dates: Multiple sessions (9 days each): June 16 – 24, June 29 – July 7, July 12 – 20, July 25 – August 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12, ages 14–18
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $4,095 (financial aid available)
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
This 8-week volunteer-based program allows high school students to experience hospital operations, enhance communication skills, and build professional experience. If selected, you must work at least one 4-hour shift weekly and must attend a mandatory orientation.
You will be placed in hospital departments where you will assist with non-clinical duties and observe healthcare operations. Participation requires an interview and health screening. On completion, you will receive a certificate and reference letter that can support future academic or career goals.
Dates: June 9 – August 8
Eligibility: High schoolers who have completed at least their freshman year
Application Deadline: April 30
Cost: Free
Location: Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, Jackson, MI
This day camp introduces high school students to a broad range of health careers through simulations and leadership training. Hosted in a modern medical education facility, you will participate in sessions across disciplines such as clinical science, public health, and movement science.
Students engage in hands-on sessions led by faculty from the School of Health Sciences and interact with professionals across four departments. The program focuses on cultivating leadership skills, fostering collaborative teamwork, and exploring non-clinical roles in healthcare within a university environment.
Dates: June 16 – 20 and June 23 – 27
Eligibility: 10th–12th graders
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $480
Location: Oakland University, Rochester, MI
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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