15 Summer Healthcare Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 13 min read
If you’re interested in healthcare, summer programs can help you explore the field beyond what is typically covered in high school classes. These opportunities introduce you to fields such as medicine, biomedical research, public health, nursing, and allied health professions while providing exposure to clinical, laboratory, and university settings. They also allow you to learn from healthcare professionals, researchers, and faculty while gaining a better understanding of different career pathways.
Why should I participate in a summer healthcare program in high school?
Summer healthcare programs allow you to explore different aspects of medicine and health sciences through structured academic and clinical experiences. Depending on the program, you might conduct biomedical research, attend medical workshops, observe clinical settings, practice skills such as suturing, analyze patient case studies, or complete health-focused projects under the guidance of physicians, researchers, and educators. Over time, these experiences can help you build scientific knowledge, develop analytical and communication skills, and explore whether a future in healthcare aligns with your interests.
To help with your search, we have compiled a list of 15 summer healthcare programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span biomedical research, clinical medicine, cancer science, public health, nursing, allied health, and healthcare technology, so students with a wide range of healthcare interests can find a relevant summer opportunity.
Several programs are free or paid, including OHSU CURE Program ($4,000 stipend), Dartmouth Hitchcock Internship ($14 per hour), Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars ($2,500 stipend per summer), UNM Health Careers Academy ($500 stipend), UMass Chan HSHCP ($600 stipend), and UCSF PITCH and University of Miami programs (both free).
Many programs specifically prioritize underrepresented, low-income, or first-generation students, including OHSU CURE (students from disadvantaged backgrounds), UCSF PITCH (first-generation and low-income students), and UCSF CURE (students from underserved communities), so eligible students should take note of these targeted opportunities.
Programs vary in length and format, from single-day healthcare exploration camps, such as OHSU Experience Day Camp, to two-summer mentored experiences, such as Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars, so students can choose based on their availability and depth of interest.
Application deadlines for competitive programs fall early, including Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars (January 16), OHSU CURE (January 8), UCSF CURE (February 8), University of Miami Careers in Medicine (February 20), and University of Arizona Med-Start (February 1), so students should begin preparing materials in the fall.
Location: Remote - you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring; options range from 12 weeks to one year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12 who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students, offering a diverse range of subject areas to explore, including STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences. You will work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent healthcare research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent legal research paper! You can customize a research topic to match your interests. Earlier cohorts have worked on gut microbiome variability, CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Complex, and more. You can request a letter of recommendation from your mentor at the end of the program. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 stipend + Tri-Met pass
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 22 – August 14 (maximum 40 hours/week)
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, or seniors from Oregon high schools with a 3.0 GPA or higher; must be 16 or older at the start of the program (check all criteria here)
Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)'s Ted R. Lilley Continuing Umbrella of Research Education (CURE) Program provides a hands-on, paid internship experience for Oregon high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. You will receive mentorship from staff and faculty at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. You will gain exposure to biomedical research and other healthcare-related fields. You will be matched with a cancer researcher and work in a research lab to gain real-world research experience. You will also attend weekly seminars and make a poster presentation at the end of the program.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Deadlines vary by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective 8-week start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships span a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech to AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are, on average, high-growth companies that raise over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Earlier cohorts have worked with health tech/mental health-associated host companies such as JuneBrain, Softenmind, and IPMD.
Location: UCSF campuses, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 1:5/6 mentor-student ratio
Program Dates: July 6 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 1 (applications typically open on January 5)
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th graders with a minimum 2.5 UC/CSU GPA; must reside in California and attend a California high school
The Program for the Investigation and Training in Careers in Health (PITCH) is a 3-week educational experience for first-generation and low-income high school students hosted on multiple campuses of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). You will gain exposure to various careers in health and medical sciences while delving into health issues. Your mentor will be a current student enrolled in a UCSF graduate program who will provide guidance in developing and presenting research on a health-related issue. You will also receive guidance on postsecondary options and on planning a potential career pathway. The program wraps up with a PITCH Health Symposium, where you will present your research findings.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI, with job shadowing at Rhode Island, The Miriam, and Hasbro Children's hospitals
Cost/Stipend: Free with a $2,500 stipend/summer; transportation expenses will be reimbursed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20
Program Dates: July 6 – August 14 (across two consecutive summers, with an orientation in June)
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Students attending a public high school in Central Falls, Pawtucket, and Providence nominated by their school
Brown University's Future Gen Cancer Scholars Program is a mentoring program across two successive summers, in which you will be paired with a clinical hematologist and an oncologist, learn molecular biology techniques and other lab skills, and more. You will attend lectures on a wide range of topics, including common types of cancer, the ethical and other aspects of clinical trials, and basic cancer treatments, and you will receive mentorship for college applications. You will shadow and observe physicians in inpatient and outpatient settings, and learn empathy and compassion while they interact with patients. You will learn key skills, including using lab equipment, performing a physical exam, reviewing medical literature, analyzing data, and more. The program wraps up with a presentation or project that provides an overview of what you have learned.
Location: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH/other possible Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic locations
Cost/Stipend: $14/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7 (30 – 40hours/week)
Application Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: Students entering the junior or senior year of high school and local/regional to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center & Clinics; must be at least 16 years old by the start of the internship (check all criteria here)
The Dartmouth Hitchcock High School Foundations Summer Internship Program provides local high school students with opportunities to gain exposure to the work of healthcare professionals through a rotational internship of two to three departments. Earlier cohorts have worked with professionals in areas such as pharmacy, radiology, medical labs, and food and nutrition services. You will develop values and skills in work ethic, communication, leadership, and more. You will also receive professional development guidance through interactive sessions on topics such as communication and active listening, self-management, empathy, and more. You will receive a certificate of completion upon completion of the program.
Location: UMass Chan Medical School, North Worcester, MA
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-free with free housing at Worcester State University, Wasylean Hall; $600 stipend (paid at program-end)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 28 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 2 (applications typically open in mid-November)
Eligibility: Current high School sophomores or juniors from a Massachusetts high school; must be a resident of MA; must be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident; must be at least age 16 on June 15
UMass Chan Medical School High School's Health Careers Program (HSHCP) is a residential program that provides high school students with opportunities to explore careers in biomedical research and healthcare. The academic components of the program include English communication, biology, math, and more. Field trips may be scheduled to support the science components of the curriculum, along with lab activities. You will attend seminars led by guest lecturers on Cultural and Contemporary Health Issues (CCHI) and career-related topics, with previously covered topics including palliative care, improvements to community health, pathways to a career as a DNP/RN, and more. You will complete a health equity research group project that may be one of the top three projects selected to be presented at the program’s closing ceremony.
Location: Multiple UCSF campuses in San Francisco, CA, and Oakland, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend upon completing the program (the information on the program cost and stipend is not available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 8 (applications typically open on October 12)
Eligibility: Current 11th grader in high school/a current community college student at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF) with a minimum GPA of 2.5; must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program (check all requirements here)
High school students keen to explore clinical, behavioral, or other healthcare research fields could consider UCSF's 8-week CURE research internship program. With mentorship by UCSF faculty, post-docs, and graduate students, you will work on a scientific research project and present it at the UCSF research symposium. You will also attend weekly seminars and sessions on college preparation as well as academic and professional development. You will receive guidance on potential biomedical research career pathways in the health domain. You will receive a stipend on successful completion of the program.
Location: University of Miami, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school juniors attending a Miami-Dade County public high school who will be entering senior year in Fall; should have a minimum overall GPA of 3.2; must be a U.S. citizen/have eligible residency or citizenship status
The University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine hosts the High School Careers in Medicine Program for high school juniors from Miami-Dade County public high schools with a strong interest in health and/or the medical profession. In this one-week summer program, you will gain exposure to clinical medicine through simulations that provide a hands-on learning experience. You will learn suturing and other skills and gain an understanding of health care delivery through patient case studies. You will receive mentorship from faculty, medical students, and residents for college applications and for professional and career development.
Location: Multiple locations across NM
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 stipend on program completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June, with dates varying based on program location (check schedules here)
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors in high school with a 2.5 GPA or higher; must be a resident of New Mexico/Navajo Nation; must be able to meet the transport and attendance requirements of their chosen program
The University of New Mexico's Health Careers Academy (HCA) is a non-residential program that combines academic subjects with service-learning and exploration of health science careers. You will pursue math, English, science, and ACT preparatory courses and develop critical thinking and other skills relevant to a healthcare degree pathway. You will attend presentations on a diverse range of health professions and gain networking opportunities with students and healthcare professionals. You will also attend sessions on cultural humility and participate in service-learning activities. By the end of the program, you will have expanded your knowledge of healthcare professions and built self-confidence to prepare for higher education.
Location: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 tuition (covers housing, meals, transportation within the program, curriculum materials, and instruction cost)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: July 13 - 17
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with an interest in healthcare careers
The Health Careers Institute at Dartmouth (HCID) is a one-week residential learning program for high school students to gain exposure to healthcare careers. You will gain exposure to fields in direct health care, such as therapy and medical research, as well as an understanding of public health and health policies. You will meet and interact with peers, HCID faculty and students, and professionals. You will attend classroom instructional sessions and collaborate with peers on a research project. You will gain self-confidence and key skills, such as communication and critical thinking.
Location: University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ
Cost/Stipend: $6,000 with scholarships and tuition waivers available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: First Sunday in June – mid-July
Application Deadline: February 1 (applications typically open in September)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their junior year with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents and residents of Arizona for at least one year
The Med-Start Health Careers Program, hosted by the University of Arizona Health Sciences, is a residential program for high school students with a keen interest in a health care profession. You will attend college-level English, math, and chemistry courses, as well as lectures on health careers, with the program's focus on understanding the importance of health care in rural areas. You will participate in hands-on lab experiences on campus. You will also undertake tours of health care and research facilities and field trips to Arizona universities. You will attend sessions on writing university applications and personal statements, and on building a resume.
Location: Oakland University main campus, Human Health building, Rochester, MI
Cost/Stipend: $480 (registration, non-credit)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 15 – 19 (Section 1) and June 22 – 26 (Section 2)
Application Deadline: Till spots fill (registrations typically open on February 1)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12
This summer camp for high school students is hosted by the School of Health Sciences at Oakland University (OU). You can explore potential career paths in healthcare areas of interest through OU departments, such as clinical and diagnostic sciences, interdisciplinary health sciences, and more. You will gain exposure to the roles of physical therapists, nutritionists, physician assistants, health imaging specialists, and other healthcare professionals. You will work on a real-life case study with hands-on activities. You will attend panel sessions led by industry professionals, including OU faculty and alumni. You will gain opportunities to interact with academic advisers to prepare for college applications.
14. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Applications of Science for Health (M*A*S*H*)
Location: Multiple locations across Arkansas (check locations here)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Vary based on location (two weeks; check schedules of each camp here)
Application Deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11 – 12 at the time of application; must have completed one Biology course
The Medical Applications of Science for Health (M*A*S*H*) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) offers high school students opportunities to explore careers in healthcare. You will gain shadowing opportunities with healthcare professionals in surgeries, outpatient settings, and more. You will develop skills in suturing, CPR, and dissection of a sheep's heart. You will also attend workshops and undertake field trips. You will participate with peers in team-building exercises and volunteer-service activities.
Location: Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available (the cohort size was 30 in an earlier cycle)
Program Dates: August 18, August 20, August 25 (three options)
Application Deadline: Till spots fill (registrations typically open at the end of March)
Eligibility: Incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Oregon high schools
This camp, hosted by the Oregon Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at the OHSU campus, is a one-day healthcare career exploration day camp. You will gain opportunities to explore healthcare fields such as dentistry, ophthalmology, nursing, physical therapy, and more. You will participate in hands-on, real medical simulations and develop suturing and other skills. You will gain opportunities to interact with health care professionals and OHSU students. You will tour campus facilities, such as research labs, the Casey Eye Institute Mobile Clinic, and more.
Frequently asked questions
What summer healthcare programs are available for high school students?
Options include biomedical research internships, such as OHSU CURE and UCSF CURE, clinical exposure and shadowing programs, such as Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars and Dartmouth Hitchcock, career exploration programs, such as OHSU Experience Day Camp, Oakland University Health Sciences Camp, and UNM Health Careers Academy, and independent research programs, such as Lumiere and Ladder Internship.
Are there free or paid summer healthcare programs for high school students?
Yes, several programs are free or paid, including OHSU CURE ($4,000 stipend), Dartmouth Hitchcock ($14 per hour), Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars ($2,500 per summer), UNM Health Careers Academy ($500 stipend), UMass Chan HSHCP ($600 stipend), UCSF PITCH (free), University of Miami (free), UAMS MASH (free), and OHSU Experience Day Camp (free).
Which programs are best for students interested in clinical medicine and patient care?
Students interested in clinical medicine might consider Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars for physician shadowing in inpatient and outpatient settings, Dartmouth Hitchcock for rotations across hospital departments, University of Miami for suturing and patient case study simulations, and UAMS MASH for surgical shadowing and hands-on clinical skill development.
Are there healthcare programs open to students outside specific states?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Ladder Internship are fully virtual and open to students regardless of location, while many in-person programs, such as Dartmouth College's Health Careers Institute and Oakland University's Health Science Summer Camp, accept students from outside their home states.
Which summer healthcare programs are best for students interested in research?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program, OHSU CURE, UCSF CURE, and Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars all offer structured, mentored research experiences that culminate in a poster presentation or independent project.
When should I apply to summer healthcare programs for high school students?
OHSU CURE closes January 8, Brown Future Gen Cancer Scholars closes January 16, University of Arizona Med-Start closes February 1, UCSF CURE closes February 8, and University of Miami closes February 20, making these among the earliest deadlines, while programs, such as OHSU Experience Day Camp and Oakland University Health Sciences Camp, open registration in late winter and fill on a first-come basis.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.