15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Colorado
- Stephen Turban
- 20 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you are interested in medicine and want to use your summer to explore the field, summer medical programs are a smart option. These programs offer you exposure to clinical settings, biomedical research, public health concepts, and patient-focused thinking, helping you understand what working in medicine involves. Beyond skill building, these programs add value to your college applications and resumes. They show initiative and commitment to the field. They can also help you decide whether medicine is something you want to pursue in college and beyond. Â
Colorado offers a wide range of medical programs for high school students. Many programs are run by local universities, hospitals, and research centers, allowing you to gain valuable experience. In this list, we’ve included research programs, shadowing opportunities, and patient care experiences. To help you find the right fit, here are 15 summer medical programs for high school students in Colorado!
15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Colorado
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies based on the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application deadline:Â Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school, high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows you to engage in an independent research project in medicine or health-related fields under the guidance of a PhD mentor. Over the course of approximately 12 weeks, you work one-on-one with your mentor to develop a research question, conduct a literature review, analyze data, and refine your findings into a formal research paper. Medical topic options commonly include neuroscience, public health, psychology, and health sciences, depending on mentor availability. Alongside research work, you receive structured support through research workshops and writing-focused sessions designed to strengthen academic communication skills. By the end of the program, you will have completed a standalone research paper that may be eligible for submission to academic journals or conferences.
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Stipend: $4,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified
Dates: June 1–July 31
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Colorado high school seniors, 18+ at program start
This nine-week internship places you directly within a biomedical research environment focused on pediatric health. You will work alongside faculty mentors on research projects, gaining exposure to experimental design, data collection, and research analysis methods used in child health studies. Weekly seminar sessions introduce broader research themes and help connect your lab work to ongoing medical questions. At the conclusion of the summer medical program for high school students in Colorado, you prepare a written research summary and present your findings through a poster or oral presentation.Â
Location:Â Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline:Â Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility:Â Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive focuses on how artificial intelligence tools are applied within healthcare and biomedical research settings. Over a 10–15 week remote format, you study machine learning concepts such as neural networks, model training, and data analysis, then apply them to medical use cases like diagnostics, imaging, or disease prediction. Instruction combines lectures with project-based work, allowing you to see how medical datasets are designed and analyzed using Python. You work with mentors who guide you through building and refining technical models. Prior coding experience is expected, as the program moves quickly into applied AI development. The experience concludes with a formal project presentation that documents how computational methods intersect with medical decision-making. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Location: Multiple sites in Colorado
Cost: None. A stipend is paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â 11.5% (75 students out of 600 applications annually)
Dates: Six weeks, varies by site
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores in the Denver metro or Colorado Springs area
The Medical Career Collaborative (MC²) is a multi-year summer medical program for high school students in Colorado, beginning in high school and extending beyond graduation. As a participant, you will complete a paid summer internship at Children’s Hospital Colorado or Denver Health, rotating through departments and working alongside healthcare professionals. The program includes weekly seminars that introduce medical terminology, healthcare systems, and professional skills. You are matched with mentors representing a range of healthcare roles, offering direct insight into day-to-day clinical and support positions. Throughout junior and senior year, MC² also provides workshops, certifications, and postsecondary planning support. Alumni continue to receive career coaching and access to professional development opportunities after high school.
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions between June and July; exact dates depend on your grade level
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 to 12 | First-generation college students, students with financial need in designated Title 1 Aurora Public Schools and Denver Public Schools may be prioritized
The CU Pre-Health Scholars Program supports middle and high school students interested in healthcare and STEAM pathways through long-term academic enrichment. Programming is designed around two main components: monthly Saturday Academies during the academic year and an annual summer intensive. During the summer session, you will engage in STEAM coursework designed around your grade level, with high school cohorts focusing on healthcare careers, research exposure, and postsecondary preparation. The curriculum often includes topics such as health equity, financial literacy, career exploration, and academic planning. Students may also participate in credit-bearing coursework and experiential learning activities tied to healthcare fields.
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, and CU Boulder campus
Cost: $2,400; Limited scholarship funding availableÂ
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 3-July 31
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Students aged 16+ by program start
The University of Colorado’s STEM Research Experience is a seven-week summer program that introduces you to structured academic research in STEM and biomedical-related fields. You are paired with a faculty or graduate student mentor and work closely with a small group based on shared research interests. Weekly research methods seminars cover literature review, experimental design, and data analysis, while lab work occupies 15–20 hours per week. The experience culminates in a scientific poster presentation at a formal research expo. Students interested in continuing their work are often encouraged to pursue extended research collaborations beyond the summer.
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Cost: $1,200 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1–12
Application deadline: May 22
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
The Biomedical Research Bootcamp is a two-week intensive program focused on introducing core laboratory and research skills used in biomedical science. You learn foundational techniques such as experimental planning, data recording, and lab safety while working under faculty supervision. This summer medical program for high school students in Colorado also includes visits to advanced research facilities, giving you exposure to modern biomedical equipment and research environments. Discussions on research ethics and scientific methodology connect hands-on lab work to broader healthcare research practices. Throughout the course, you maintain lab documentation similar to professional research settings. The program concludes with the development of an original research proposal.
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Cost: $650
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified
Dates: June 15-19
Application deadline: June 5
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
The Medical Student Experience is a one-week program designed to introduce you to the academic and clinical components of medical training. Through supervised labs, you will practice foundational clinical skills such as suturing, injections, physical exams, and basic diagnostic techniques. Anatomy sessions and simulations demonstrate how medical knowledge is applied in patient care scenarios. You also attend research presentations that highlight the connection between scientific discovery and clinical practice. Regular interactions with medical students and faculty allow you to ask questions about coursework, career paths, and medical school preparation.
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Cost: $1,075 (limited scholarship seats available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8–11 | June 15–18 | June 22–25
Application deadline: Open until full
Eligibility: Students entering 10th - 12th grade in the fall
The University of Colorado’s BOLT Camp introduces you to biomedical engineering through a hands-on, team-based design experience at the Anschutz Medical Campus. You work in student teams to design, build, test, and refine prototype devices to address healthcare challenges. Faculty-led workshops introduce core engineering principles and explain how they are applied in clinical and biomedical settings. The program includes activities such as 3D printing, lab tours, and interactions with physicians, researchers, and industry professionals. Throughout the week, you are encouraged to consider user-centered design, including how medical devices impact individuals with disabilities.Â
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins
Cost: $1,800 (residential) | $1,200 (commuter); Fee waivers availableÂ
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â 21 students
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ by program start
SciVet at Colorado State University is a weeklong program that explores veterinary medicine through both laboratory and field-based scientific work. You will participate in investigations using professional tools while studying topics that connect animal health, ecology, and environmental science. Activities may include wildlife research, dendrochronology, water quality analysis, equine-assisted therapy, and studies of native species. With a small cohort of students, you receive direct mentorship from faculty, staff, and guest experts throughout the week. Some fieldwork involves outdoor activity and moderate hiking, reflecting real conditions encountered in veterinary and environmental research.Â
Location: Arapahoe Community College (Littleton) & Community College of Denver (Lowry)
Cost: $259
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified
Dates: ACC Littleton Campus: June 8–26 |
CCD Lowry Campus: July 6–24
Application deadline: Not specifiedÂ
Eligibility: High school students and young adults (ages 15–24)
The Colorado Health Careers Academy is a three-week summer program that introduces you to a wide range of healthcare and allied health professions. Delivered in a hybrid format, the academy combines online learning during the week with in-person sessions on Fridays at participating campuses. In this summer medical program for high school students in Colorado, you explore healthcare careers through webinars, virtual job shadowing, presentations, and career panels, while reflecting on how your interests align with different pathways. Hands-on labs and professional development workshops allow you to practice clinical skills and workplace readiness, including resume writing and interviewing. Participants earn a Basic Life Support certification as part of the training. Advising support helps you plan next steps, whether that involves further education, certification programs, or entry-level healthcare roles.
Location: University of Colorado Boulder, Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building
Cost: $650Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified
Dates: June 8-12 | July 6-10
Application deadline: May 29 | June 26
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
CU Science Discovery’s Neuroscience course introduces you to the structure and function of the brain through a combination of lectures, experiments, and laboratory experiences. You dive into how anatomy, physiology, genetics, and behavior intersect in topics such as sensory systems, learning, memory, and brain development. Hands-on activities include mini-experiments, electrophysiology simulations, DNA extraction, and neuroanatomy dissections. Faculty instruction is supplemented by guest presentations and laboratory tours that show how neuroscientists conduct research. One class session includes a field trip to a neuroscience research facility, providing additional exposure to applied brain science.
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 25 students for the mentorship programÂ
Dates: Seminar Series: November – June (Monthly); Mentorship Program: June – May (one-year duration)
Application deadline:Â January 1
Eligibility:Â All high school students
BrainSTORM is a virtual neuroscience program that combines a monthly seminar series with an optional year-long research mentorship. You will attend online seminars led by experts in fields such as neuropsychology, neurology, neuropathology, and neuroimaging, covering topics like Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and brain injury. Students who opt into the mentorship track are paired with a mentor to design and complete an original neuroscience research project, either virtually or in a hybrid format. Projects are shaped around your interests and may support school-based research or independent study goals. This virtual summer medical program for high school students in Colorado concludes with a poster symposium where participants present their research findings.
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: SelectiveÂ
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application deadline:Â RollingÂ
Eligibility:Â Open to all high school studentsÂ
The sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program is a free, five-week online experience focused on guiding you through the process of independent neuroscience research. As a participant, you use open-access papers, publicly available datasets, and open-source software to develop a research question and conduct analysis. Weekly lectures introduce key neuroscience concepts, while journal club sessions center on reading, presenting, and critically evaluating scientific literature. Students in the synchronous track further receive ongoing mentor feedback as they refine their research and interpret results. The program concludes with a 10–15 minute presentation and a written project paper.Â
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â $850 + $45 application fee (financial aid is available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Session A: June 15–26 | Session B: July 6–17
Application deadline:Â February 20
Eligibility:Â High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be 14 years or older by the program's start
The Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a free, two-week virtual program that introduces you to machine learning concepts used in healthcare. The curriculum covers topics such as data challenges in medicine, model evaluation, ethics, and clinical implementation of AI systems. You participate in online modules, group discussions, and breakout activities designed to reinforce how AI tools are developed and assessed in health contexts. Interactive sessions with professionals from academia, industry, and public sectors provide insight into real-world applications of health AI. Emerging areas such as generative AI and foundation models are also discussed. Students who complete the full program receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the bootcamp.Â
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.
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