10 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 8, 2025
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student in Los Angeles with an interest in medicine, the city gives you access to some of the most respected hospitals, research centers, and universities in the country — without needing to travel. Summer programs here range from volunteer placements at Cedars-Sinai and Children's Hospital to structured internships with biomedical research training, clinical shadowing opportunities, and AI-in-medicine courses. Beyond the hands-on experience, these programs help you build a meaningful application profile and clarify whether a career in healthcare is the right path for you.
Here is a curated list of 10 summer medical programs for high school students in Los Angeles, selected based on academic rigor, networking opportunities, funding availability, selectivity, and the prestige of the host institution. The list includes fully remote options alongside LA-based programs, covering students from grade 9 through 12. Note that dates and deadlines reflect the most recent available cycle — always confirm on the program's official page before applying.
Quick Look
10 programs total, spanning remote research mentorships, hospital volunteer placements, clinical internships, and AI-in-medicine courses
Most LA-based programs are free, including UCLA Volunteen, CAMP CHLA, CHLA Summer Volunteer, Eve and Gene Black, Kaiser Permanente, and Samuels Family LA-HIP. The UCLA Pre-Med Scholar Program costs $1,450 with scholarships available; Lumiere starts at $2,990 and Veritas AI at $2,290, both with financial aid
Programs range in competitiveness from year-round rolling applications (Kaiser Permanente) to highly selective placements with only 20 spots (CHLA Summer Volunteer) or limited cohorts (Samuels Family LA-HIP)
Most in-person programs require students to be Los Angeles residents or Los Angeles County residents; Lumiere and Veritas AI are fully remote and open to students globally
The earliest deadlines are CAMP CHLA (January 10), Eve and Gene Black (February 16), CHLA Internship (February 7), and Cedars-Sinai Winter session (December 2)
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale); no prior research experience required
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. Apply here.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts are available year-round.
Cost/Stipend: Starting from $2,990 (financial aid available)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Medical Track is a selective research opportunity for high school students interested in fields like neuroscience, epidemiology, and biomedical sciences. Through 1-on-1 mentorship with top PhD researchers, you’ll develop an independent research project over 12 to 20 weeks.
The fully virtual program culminates in a research paper that may be submitted for publication. Designed for ambitious students, Lumiere offers personalized mentorship, deep academic engagement, and a strong foundation in the research process. Whether you’re preparing for competitive college applications or exploring future careers in medicine, this program provides a rigorous and rewarding experience.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in healthcare and prior coding experience or completion of the Veritas AI Scholars program
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines based on cohort. Apply here.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Cost/Stipend: $2,290
The Veritas AI + Medicine Deep Dive introduces high school students to the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. Through a series of interactive sessions, you’ll explore how AI tools and machine learning models are revolutionizing medical diagnostics, treatment planning, and healthcare delivery.
Over the course of the program, you’ll complete coding exercises, use healthcare datasets, and collaborate on a final group project that addresses a real-world medical challenge using AI. The program concludes with a group presentation evaluated by PhD mentors, making it ideal for students eager to combine a passion for technology with an interest in medicine.
Location: UCLA Health, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old
Application Deadline: Applications will open in January
Program Dates: Orientation typically takes place in the third week of June; participants must complete 50 volunteer hours by August 31
Cost/Stipend: Free
The UCLA Health Volunteen Summer Program gives high school students the chance to support essential healthcare services in a hospital setting. As a Volunteen, you will assist with patient transport, wayfinding, visitor support, and delivery of patient mail.
Volunteers also help with discharging patients, providing wheelchair services, and assisting transport staff. The program is designed to strengthen your communication and interpersonal skills while contributing to patient care operations. A flexible scheduling system allows students to design their volunteer hours, and a hybrid option is available for those interested.
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors residing in Los Angeles County; students who have previously attended Camp CHLA are not eligible
Application Deadline: January 10
Program Dates: June 16 – 20 | July 28 – August 1
Cost/Stipend: Free (participants are responsible for transportation)
CAMP CHLA is a five-day summer program designed to introduce high school students to careers in healthcare. You will shadow healthcare professionals, attend career talks, and participate in daily activities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. You will gain hands-on experience with practical skills like CPR, first aid, and body ergonomics, providing a solid foundation in health promotion and disease prevention.
The program emphasizes exposure to different medical roles and pathways, giving you a comprehensive view of healthcare careers. Networking opportunities with peers and professionals make this an ideal program for students passionate about pursuing medicine.
Location: Various medical centers in Los Angeles, CA and virtual
Eligibility: Students currently in 11th and 12th grade; each facility may have additional requirements
Application Deadline: February 16
Program Dates: Multiple two- and four-week sessions between June and August
Cost/Stipend: Free (one $500 scholarship awarded)
The Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program, founded by the Los Angeles Pediatric Society in 1969, offers high school students the chance to explore careers in medicine and healthcare. You will be placed at leading hospitals such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where you’ll observe medical professionals, including pediatricians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, and specialists.
You will participate in daily educational sessions and assist with patient care activities, gaining first-hand exposure to the healthcare environment. At the end of the program, you will deliver a presentation based on your experiences, and upon completion, you will receive a certificate of achievement. A $500 scholarship is also awarded to a select participant through the Edward M. Rissman Scholarship Fund.
Location: Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–17 by the program start date
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February each year
Program Dates: June 17 – August 2
Cost/Stipend: Free
The Summer Volunteer Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles offers high school students a chance to assist with hospital operations and patient care. You will assist patients and families by escorting them to appointments, greeting visitors, and completing administrative tasks throughout the hospital.
You must serve 15 hours per week, which can be scheduled as either two full days or four half-day shifts on campus. The program is highly competitive, accepting only 20 students each year, and the application process requires two recommendations and an in-depth essay. This experience offers valuable exposure to the healthcare environment while developing essential communication and service skills.
Location: Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: High school students who can commit to 100 volunteer hours over a period of one year; valid Social Security Number required for background check
Application Deadline: Applications are open year-round; interviews conducted monthly (except July and December)
Program Dates: Rolling start dates after acceptance
Cost/Stipend: Free
The Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Teen Volunteer Program provides high school students with a long-term opportunity to engage in healthcare support activities. You will assist patients, families, and hospital staff while gaining valuable exposure to the healthcare environment.
You have to complete a health screening, attend an information session and orientation, and obtain background check clearance. You are required to commit to a minimum of 100 volunteer hours within one year, developing communication skills and contributing to patient care services. Proficiency in English is required, and additional language skills are considered a plus.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are U.S. citizens; must be at least 16 years old by the program start date
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Dates: Session 1: June 23 – 27 and Session 2: July 7 – 11
Cost/Stipend: $1,450; scholarships available based on need
The Pre-Med Summer Scholar Program at UCLA offers high school students an immersive introduction to the medical field through hands-on activities and guest lectures. You will participate in surgical skill workshops, CPR training, pathology labs, imaging lessons, and clinical Q&A panels, gaining a broad overview of various healthcare careers.
The program is designed for students with a serious interest in pursuing medicine and includes certifications like “Stop the Bleed” training. You have to complete a short essay and submit a resume with your application, and scholarships are available for eligible students. Note that housing, meals, parking, and transportation are not included.
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: Current juniors attending a public high school in Los Angeles County; must be legally employable in California and demonstrate strong academics and a passion for science
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1, with continued college counseling through the academic year
Cost/Stipend: Free
The Samuels Family LA-HIP High School Internship Program offers a yearlong experience combining biomedical research training and intensive college counseling. You will perform hands-on laboratory experiments under the mentorship of scientists at The Saban Research Institute during a full-time summer internship, while also participating in biology coursework, SAT prep, and college application workshops.
The program is designed to eliminate barriers to careers in science and medicine for students with limited access to such opportunities. You have to attend the full summer schedule and decline participation in other summer programs if accepted. College counseling support continues through students’ senior year to guide them through the college admissions process.
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18 enrolled in high school with a minimum 3.2 GPA
Application Deadline: Winter/Spring: December 2 – 5 | Summer: April 1 – 4 | Fall: August 4 – 7
Program Dates: Winter/Spring Session: January 27 – April 13 | Accelerated Summer Session: June 16 – July 20 | Fall Session: October 6 – December 15
Cost/Stipend: Free; volunteers must purchase a $30 volunteer jacket
The Cedars-Sinai High School Student Volunteer Program offers high school students the chance to support hospital operations and engage with patients and staff. You will assist with tasks such as scanning, data entry, greeting new patients, answering phone calls, and delivering flowers and amenities.
You won’t take part in medical procedures or research activities, but you'll gain valuable insights into the operations of a major medical center. The program requires a commitment of 20 to 40 hours, varying by session, and includes health evaluations, vaccination proof, and compulsory orientation sessions. Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior medical or research experience to apply?
No — the majority of programs on this list are designed for students with interest, not experience. UCLA Volunteen, Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, and CAMP CHLA are all introductory volunteer or shadowing programs that require no academic prerequisites beyond age minimums and basic eligibility criteria. The Samuels Family LA-HIP program and Lumiere do expect strong academics but explicitly do not require prior lab experience. The only program requiring prior technical knowledge is Veritas AI, which asks for coding experience or prior completion of the Veritas AI Scholars program.
I am not a Los Angeles resident. Can I still apply to these programs?
Most in-person programs on this list are restricted to LA or LA County residents — CAMP CHLA, Eve and Gene Black, Samuels Family LA-HIP, and Kaiser Permanente all specify this. UCLA Volunteen and the CHLA Summer Volunteer Program are open to students based in greater LA without strict county residency requirements. Lumiere and Veritas AI are fully remote and open to students anywhere in the world, making them the strongest options for students outside the city.
How do hospital volunteer programs compare to research internships for college applications?
Both are valuable but in different ways. Hospital volunteer programs at recognisable institutions like Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, and CHLA demonstrate sustained commitment to healthcare and patient-facing empathy, qualities that medical school admissions officers later look for. Research internships like Samuels Family LA-HIP and Lumiere produce a more concrete academic output — a research paper, a symposium presentation, or a published abstract — which carries more direct weight in undergraduate college applications, particularly for students applying to pre-med or biology tracks. Ideally, combining one of each over the course of high school gives you the strongest possible profile.
Key Takeaways
This list covers 10 summer medical programs for high school students in Los Angeles, ranging from one-week career exploration camps to yearlong internships with college counselling built in.
The most deadline-sensitive programs are Cedars-Sinai Winter/Spring session (December 2), CAMP CHLA (January 10), Samuels Family LA-HIP (February 7), and Eve and Gene Black (February 16). Students targeting these should begin preparing materials by November.
For students seeking the most substantive research experience, Samuels Family LA-HIP (full-time lab internship plus college counselling through senior year) and Lumiere (independent research paper with a PhD mentor) stand out as the two programs producing the most tangible, application-ready outcomes.
For students who simply want exposure to a hospital environment with no formal application, Kaiser Permanente's Teen Volunteer Program accepts applications year-round and is the most accessible entry point on this list.
Next steps: identify whether you want research depth, clinical exposure, or volunteer experience; check residency requirements for in-person programs; then apply to your earliest-deadline option first.
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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