15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Louisiana
- Stephen Turban
- Sep 10
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 14
If you’re a high school student in Louisiana interested in medicine, joining a local summer program can be a practical (and affordable) way to explore the field early. Medical summer programs offer you exposure to college-level academics, hands-on experience, and insight into healthcare careers. You’ll learn practical skills like lab techniques, patient care basics, and communication, while also getting a sense of what college life and medical work actually look like.
Joining a summer program is also a good way to test your interests before college. You get exposure to how medical careers work in real life, along with a chance to meet others on a similar path. And unlike high-cost pre-college programs, many of these are free or low-cost, making them a more accessible option for students from different backgrounds.
In this blog, we’ve listed 15 summer medical programs for high school students in Louisiana!
15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Louisiana
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1-on-1 program
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer sessions that run between June and August
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines for each cohort; summer session applications are due in May/June
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic backgrounds; accepted students have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4.0
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week one-on-one research mentorship for high school students. You’ll work with a PhD researcher from a top university to design and complete an independent research project in a field you choose, biology, chemistry, physics, math, or any subject that aligns with pre-med or STEM interests. You’ll meet with your mentor weekly to define your research question, conduct a literature review, build your methodology, and write a full-length research paper. You’ll also get writing support and guidance on how to submit your work to academic journals or competitions.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 3-5 students per group
Dates: Multiple 10-week courses throughout the year
Application Deadline: Summer sessions have a May/June deadline
Eligibility: Students must have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program or have a background in coding. The program is open to students from grades 8-12.
Veritas AI – Deep Dive: AI + Medicine is a 10-week online program for high school students (grades 8–12) interested in exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare. You’ll learn foundational and advanced AI concepts like convolutional neural networks, image segmentation, and transfer learning through the lens of medical applications. Each week includes a 1.5-hour lecture and a 1-hour small-group session (5:1 student-to-mentor ratio), totaling 25 hours over the program. You’ll work with a cohort of 3–5 students to complete a collaborative research project, applying what you’ve learned to real-world medical data. You can apply to the program here.
Location: Offered in Acadia Parish, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma, Lafayette/New Iberia, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, Vermilion Parish, Bastrop, and DeRidder
Cost: Approximately $150 with scholarships available; varies by location
Dates: Year-long, with higher summer intensity
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students, typically rising seniors, must be 18 by the end of the program to participate in certain activities, like ambulance ride-alongs
The Acadian Ambulance Service Explorer Program is a year-round emergency medicine training program for high school students ages 14–20 in Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee. You’ll gain hands-on experience in emergency medical services by shadowing EMTs, riding along on ambulances, and volunteering at public events like festivals and football games. The program includes monthly meetings where you’ll learn CPR, take vitals, and build foundational skills in patient care. During the summer, you’ll have more frequent opportunities to volunteer and participate in ride-alongs. You can also earn your Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification, which strengthens your resume for future medical programs and college applications.
Location: Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost: Paid internship
Dates: 6-week program; dates vary by year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; application opens December 6
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-graders from public schools in Greater New Orleans. Priority is given to under-resourced students, including those on free or reduced-price lunch or first-generation college students.
Tulane High School Summer Research Program is a 6-week paid research internship for public high school students in the Greater New Orleans area. You’ll work directly with Tulane faculty and graduate students in the School of Science and Engineering, gaining hands-on experience in a university research lab tailored to your interests in science or medicine.
Lab schedules vary by placement, offering flexibility while ensuring meaningful engagement. If you complete the program, you will be automatically admitted to the Tulane Science Scholars Program (TSSP) the following summer with a full scholarship. TSSP is a 3-credit college course in science or engineering, giving you a head start on college academics and exposure to campus life.
Location: Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost: $5,995 (Residential) or $2,495 (Commuter)
Dates: June 9-20 (Session One), June 30 - July 11 (Session Two), and July 14-25 (Session Three)
Application Deadline: February 21 (Priority Deadline); April 4 (Regular Deadline); April 25 (Extended)
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-graders with a strong interest and background in STEM
The Tulane Science Scholars Program is a two-week summer experience where high school students take college-level science and engineering courses at Tulane. You’ll earn real college credit, and most of the classes are focused on medicine, biology, chemistry, or neuroscience, so it’s a strong fit if you’re thinking about pre-med. You’ll stay on campus, meet other students who care about science, and get a taste of college life. If you complete the Tulane High School Summer Research Program, you’re automatically accepted into this program the following year with a full scholarship.
Location: Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost: Free with $2,645 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive; 12 students
Dates: June 2 - July 25
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students must live in the New Orleans area
The LSU Summer Research Internship is an 8-week research program for high school students in Louisiana. You’ll be matched with a mentor from LSU Health Sciences Center, University Medical Center, or Children’s Hospital based on your interests. During the program, you’ll work in a lab, complete a research project, and present your findings at a symposium alongside college students. You’ll also attend seminars on career prep, learn how to present research, and study experimental techniques beyond your project.
Location: Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 15-20 students
Dates: June 1-26
Application Deadline: Applications open in January and are due on March 21
Eligibility: Students must be rising 12th graders and at least 16 before the program start date
Ochsner STAR Summer Scholars Program is a free, four-week summer experience for rising high school seniors in Louisiana. You’ll spend your days at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, rotating through hospital departments, completing hands-on labs, and attending seminars led by healthcare professionals. You’ll explore over 60 specialties, meet more than 75 staff members, and earn over 160 hours of science and medical education. You’ll also get CPR certified, build professional skills like resume writing and public speaking, and complete research projects guided by Ochsner scientists.
Location: Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost: $2,000; financial aid available
Dates: June 21 - July 19
Application Deadline: March 3 (Priority), May 5 (Final)
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
SOAR X STEM is a four-week summer program at Xavier University of Louisiana that helps high school students prepare for college-level science and math. You’ll live on campus, take seminar-style classes, and work in small groups to analyze scientific texts, lead discussions, and complete research papers and presentations. The program is designed to feel like a real college experience, with current Xavier students mentoring you and helping you adjust to campus life. You’ll also explore New Orleans through cultural excursions and build connections with other students who share your passion for science.
Location: Louisiana State University - Alexandria, Alexandria, LA
Cost: Free
Dates: 2 weeks in June; exact dates vary by year
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students must reside in one of Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn Parishes of Louisiana. Rising 12th graders and graduating seniors are eligible to apply, and students must attend one of LSU Alexandria’s one-day programs before the course.
The M.A.S.H. program is a fully funded summer experience for high school students interested in healthcare. Run by LSU’s Allied Health Department, it focuses on public health and healthcare systems rather than traditional science coursework. You’ll earn 3 transferable college credits by completing the program, giving you a head start on college requirements. Past sessions have included topics like forensics, emergency medicine, and medical law, offering a broader view of healthcare beyond biology and chemistry.
Location: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Cost: $1,250, plus $1,500 for students who choose to reside on campus
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: July 13 - 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions, closes in June
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
LSU’s high school anatomy course gives you hands-on experience with every major body system. You’ll study alongside faculty from medicine, veterinary science, and kinesiology, and complete dissections for each system to learn how organs work and connect. You’ll compare human and animal anatomy, which helps you understand the features of the human body and gives you a rare look at veterinary medicine. You’ll also meet doctors and veterinarians, ask questions about their careers, and see how anatomy connects to real-world medical work.
Location: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport
Cost: Free with stipend provided for summer lab work
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; 8-12 students selected
Dates: 7 weeks of research in June - July; Attendees must return to the lab and attend a science elective course running from August - May after the program
Application Deadline: Applications open in January and are due February 28
Eligibility: Rising seniors attending school in Caddo, Bossier, or DeSoto parishes | Students must have an ACT score of 28+ and strong grades, including at least a B average in all science courses | Students must have completed coursework in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (or comparable) by the program start date
The Science & Medicine Academic Research Training (SMART) Program is a paid, year-long research opportunity for advanced high school students in Louisiana. You spend seven months working on biomedical research projects at LSU’s Shreveport campus, alongside faculty and clinicians. After the summer, you continue your research through May with additional lab time and training. The program is designed for students interested in medicine, biomedical engineering, or research careers. You earn about 2.5 Carnegie credit units, and many students submit their work to science fairs like the Siemens Competition, Intel ISEF, and bioGENEius.
Location: Multiple Louisiana sites; Ochsner Medical Centers and affiliated hospitals in New Orleans East, Baton Rouge, River Region, Shreveport, or Monroe
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not available online; may vary by location
Dates: Vary by parish; 5 days in June or July
Application Deadline: Applications open in February and are due April 7
Eligibility: Students must be at least 14 by the program start date and have an interest in healthcare careers | Students must attend school in one of the above locations - refer to program site for specific zip code requirements
Ochsner STEM Pathfinder is a free, week-long summer program for high school students in Louisiana interested in healthcare and medical science. You’ll explore careers across medicine through mentorship and career chats with Ochsner doctors, nurses, researchers, and other professionals. The program includes hands-on lab activities, clinical simulations, and skill-building workshops focused on anatomy, diagnostics, and patient care. You’ll also learn about college pathways and degree options in healthcare, and receive guidance on preparing for medical careers. Sessions are held at multiple Ochsner locations across Louisiana, and students are selected through a competitive application process.
Location: LSU Health Shreveport, School of Allied Health Professions
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Shreveport, LA
Dates: June 9-13 (Session 1) or July 7 - 11 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students must attend high school in Louisiana (including graduating seniors), have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be at least 16 years of age by the program start date | While any Louisiana resident is eligible, they must be able to commute daily to Shreveport
LSU Health Shreveport Summer Science Program introduces high school students in Louisiana to a wide range of healthcare careers. You’ll rotate through focus areas like nursing, public health, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and medical lab research, with hands-on activities and mentorship from professionals in each field. The program also includes hospital tours, lab visits, and leadership workshops. You’ll get guidance on college coursework, degree options, and skills needed for healthcare jobs, to help you confidently pursue higher education and a career in medicine.
Location: Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center; varied hospital sites in SW Louisiana
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Somewhat selective; admissions are coordinated individually within parishes.
Dates: 2-3 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February and are due March 1
Eligibility: 9-11th grade students in any of the 13 southwest Louisiana parishes | Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and an interest in health care
The Southwest Louisiana AHEC Summer Program offers high school students in southwest Louisiana hands-on experience in healthcare settings. You’ll rotate through hospital sites like Byrd Regional, CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini, Hardtner Medical Center, and Ochsner Medical Center, volunteering with doctors, nurses, and other professionals. The program is accredited as a half-credit elective course, which can be added to your high school transcript. You’ll earn CPR certification and practice basic patient care skills like monitoring vital signs. The program also helps you plan for college and healthcare careers by outlining academic requirements and training pathways for each field you explore.
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the Baltimore area
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) is a virtual neuroscience program for high school students. You’ll explore brain anatomy, neurological disorders, and research methods through seminars, projects, and lab-based activities. The program includes science presentations, professional development workshops, and training in basic lab techniques. You’ll also build your scientific communication skills and learn about career paths in neuroscience and related fields.
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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