10 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Chicago
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 7, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 18, 2025
If you're a high school student in Chicago with an interest in medicine, summer medical programs in the region allow you to explore the field in an accessible way. These programs offer exposure to college-level academics and campus life while building practical skills like taking vital signs, using lab equipment, and engaging in clinical simulations. Most of these programs are hosted by local universities, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations, while some programs provide financial aid or are free to attend, making them an accessible option for curious and motivated students.
Beyond academics, these programs offer exposure to healthcare careers through workshops, guest lectures from professionals, and hands-on shadowing opportunities. You also get the chance to connect with mentors, peers, and industry professionals—relationships that can support future college and career goals. For anyone considering a career in medicine, a summer program can help clarify interests and build a strong foundation. To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down a list of 10 summer medical programs for high school students in Chicago.
Here are 10 summer medical programs for high school students in Chicago.
Dates: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year. Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The upcoming summer cohort deadline is May 11.
Eligibility: Current high school students demonstrating a high level of academic achievement are eligible to apply. Accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4. No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
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 medicine, neuroscience, health science, life sciences, and more. More details here.
Dates: The program typically runs for 25 hours over 10 weeks on weekends.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The upcoming summer cohort deadline is May 25.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience are eligible to apply.
Location: Virtual.
The AI + Medicine track from Veritas AI gives high school students a chance to explore how artificial intelligence is used in the healthcare industry. In this program, you'll explore areas like AI-driven diagnostics, medical image interpretation, and data-based prediction models. You’ll gain hands-on experience with real-world tools and learn how AI technologies are developed and applied in clinical settings. You’ll develop a strong foundation in both technical and medical knowledge, helping you understand how AI is integrated into real-world healthcare systems. Here is the program brochure and the application form!
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 33 - 35 students.
Dates: June 23 - August 1.
Application Deadline: January 26.
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older as of May 31 in the year the program takes place are eligible to apply. High school students must be a junior at the time of application.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
The Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program, offered by the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Northwestern University, provides a paid summer research opportunity for high school students interested in the biological sciences. You will be paired with Northwestern faculty and assigned research projects—either basic or clinical in nature—that are grounded in scientific inquiry and contribute meaningfully to ongoing lung disease research within your host laboratories. You will also engage in programming designed to support your preparation for future college or graduate school applications. It is a highly selective program that only accepts 33-35 students, and it concludes with a research presentation at the annual Summer Research Symposium.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 30 students.
Dates: The program typically runs from the second full week of June through the first week of August.
Application Deadline: January 20.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors at the time of application are eligible to apply. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age at the start of the program and demonstrate a strong interest in a career in scientific research or medicine.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend of $3,000.
Location: University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, or Rush University.
ResearcHStart is a collaborative summer program for high school students from the Chicago and Urbana-Champaign areas, offering an introduction to careers in cancer research. You will work full time in the labs of cancer researchers, gaining hands-on experience in advanced areas such as cancer immunology, bioengineering, therapeutics, and health disparities. Alongside research, you will engage in professional development workshops, faculty lectures, and receive mentorship from both peers and faculty. The program concludes with a symposium where you will present your work to an audience of family, peers, and scientists. Through this experience, students deepen their understanding of cancer, its scientific foundations, and its impact on communities in Illinois.
Dates: June 16 – August 8.
Application Deadline: January 20.
Eligibility: High school students completing their sophomore, junior, or senior years from backgrounds underrepresented in science and healthcare are eligible to apply.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend of $3,000.
Location: University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL.
The Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS) program is an eight-week program for high school students led by the University of Illinois Cancer Center in partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago Urban Health Program. It is designed to mentor and train underrepresented minority high school students with an interest in cancer research and health-related careers. You will conduct independent research in UIC faculty labs, aligned with your specific interests, across various areas such as molecular biology, computational science, and biostatistics. The program also includes workshops, lectures, and skill-building activities. Students present their research at the Cancer Center’s annual student symposium.
Dates: June 23 - August 1.
Application Deadline: February 28.
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen and sophomores at the time of application are eligible to apply. Applicants must be Chicago residents and have a minimum 2.5 weighted GPA. Oak Park and River Forest Residents are also eligible to apply.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
The MedSTEM Explorers program at Rush University Medical Center is a six-week, paid summer pre-internship for high school students. It offers you the opportunity to explore careers in STEM and healthcare while developing academic and professional skills. You will engage in workshops, research projects focused on health issues in their Chicago communities, and college readiness activities that build critical thinking, collaboration, and time management. The program also includes healthcare training and certification to enhance workplace preparedness. Successful participants may be invited to continue in the MedSTEM Pathways internship program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 students.
Dates: The program typically runs for two weeks in the second half of July.
Application Deadline: March 3.
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in a career in scientific research or medicine are eligible to apply. Participation is especially encouraged from those who identify as female and underrepresented in biomedicine.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend of $500.
Location: Virtual.
The Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology is a virtual, two-week program designed for high school students with an interest in science and medicine. Aimed at empowering women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in the sciences, the program introduces you to biomedical career pathways with a focus on cancer. You will engage in a genetics-based research project and a patient case study, gaining insight into both scientific and clinical aspects of cancer. The experience includes daily lectures, panel discussions, and professional development workshops, along with hands-on research facilitated through a home laboratory kit.
Dates: June 16 - August 1.
Application Deadline: February 28.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, and recent graduates, are eligible to apply. Applicants must be Chicago residents and have a minimum 2.5 weighted GPA. Oak Park and River Forest Residents are also eligible to apply.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
MedSTEM Pathways is a paid internship program that offers high school students hands-on experience in healthcare and STEM careers. You will be placed in departments at Rush University Medical Center or partner organizations aligned with your career interests. The summer session includes both work-based learning and classroom instruction focused on college readiness, life skills, and industry certifications. You will develop academic, professional, and interpersonal skills through training, mentorship, and networking with healthcare and STEM professionals. The program also provides opportunities to earn credentials in high-demand fields such as ECG technology, certified nursing assistance, and IT support.
Dates: Session 1: June 14 - July 4 | Session 2: July 7 - July 26.
Application Deadline: Priority: January 22 | Regular: March 5 | Extended: April 15.
Eligibility: Current high school students in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade are eligible to apply. Applicants must be at least 14 years old.
Cost: Residential: $8,900. Need-based financial aid is available.
Location: The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
The University of Chicago’s 3-Week Immersion program offers high school students the opportunity to engage with academic subjects through rigorous, undergraduate-level courses. These graded, credit-bearing courses span three weeks and provide close interaction with faculty, researchers, and professionals through seminars, research projects, and experiential learning. If you are interested in medicine, you can explore topics such as molecular biology, biotechnology, neuroscience, infectious diseases, and developmental psychology.
Dates: June 14 - July 12.
Application Deadline: January 18.
Eligibility: High school students in 10th and 11th grades are eligible to apply. High school biology is required.
Cost: $14,490. Need-based financial aid is available.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
This four-week intensive program provides high school students with hands-on training in molecular, microbiological, and cell biology techniques commonly used in research laboratories. Through a project-based curriculum, you will progress from foundational laboratory skills to advanced applications in areas such as genetics, developmental biology, and cancer research. After two weeks of core instruction, you will undertake independent research projects. The program also emphasizes scientific communication through regular writing assignments, lab notebook documentation, reading of research articles, and group presentations. Weekly seminars with faculty further enrich the experience, which concludes with a research forum where you will present your findings.
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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