10 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Maryland
- Stephen Turban
- 11 hours ago
- 7 min read
If you’re a high school student in Maryland considering studying medicine or public health in college, a summer program in the field can give you a clear head start. If you’re considering a medical summer program in the state, you’re spoilt for choice!Â
Maryland is home to various universities, hospitals and medical organizations that offer structured medical programs for high school students. These summer programs are built around hands-on work, some let you study bacteria or genetics in a lab, others focus on data, public health studies, or clinical research. You might learn how to prepare tissue slides, use research databases, or run health surveys.
You’ll also get a chance to connect with real doctors, researchers, and graduate students who can explain what a medical career looks like, without your work interfering with the school year. Even if you’re still unsure about your undergraduate degree, this experience helps you write better college essays, figure out your major, and understand how medical research works from the ground up.
To get started, here’s a list of 10 medical research programs for high school students in Maryland!
10 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Maryland
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Medicine Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,990 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June-August), Fall (September-December), Winter (December-February), and Spring (March-June).
Application Deadline: Varies;Â May 11 for the summer cohort.
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with a 3.3 GPA or higher; no prior experience needed.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers a 12-week opportunity for high school students to complete an independent research project with guidance from a PhD mentor. You meet regularly with your mentor and work on a topic you choose, which can be in medicine, neuroscience, public health, or other areas in the life sciences.Â
By the end of the program, you will submit a full-length research paper. This experience helps you build skills in academic writing, understand how research works at the college level, and add strong material to your college applications, especially if you plan to study science or healthcare.
Location: VirtualÂ
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling applications: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). The upcoming summer cohort deadline is May 25
Eligibility: All high school students can apply. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Founded and run by Harvard alumni, this program will introduce you to the overlap of AI and healthcare, as you explore the various applications of AI in the medical industry.
If you are getting started with data science, AI, and ML, you can check out the AI Scholars Program. It is a 10-session boot camp where you will learn about AI and data science fundamentals and work on real-world projects.
For a more advanced experience, you can opt for the AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase. In this, you will have personal mentorship from a mentor from a top university, as you work on your project. You will also have access to an in-house publication team that can assist you in securing publications in research journals for high school students.
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, East Baltimore, MD
Cost: None. In-person interns receive an hourly wage and transportation funds. Virtual interns get a certificate of completion
Program Dates: Virtual: 5 weeks | In-person: 8 weeks in the summer (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current junior and senior high school students. For the in-person opportunities, you must live in Baltimore City and attend a Baltimore City Public High School for the Cohen Opportunity Fund. For the virtual track, you can live anywhere in North America.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences, or JHIBS, is a hands-on research program that introduces high school students to careers in neuroscience. If you are selected for the in-person experience, you join a small group of 8 students to work on a research project with guidance from faculty, staff, and student mentors.
You also take part in clinical shadowing with neurologists, attend scientific talks, meet regularly with mentors, and build skills through weekly sessions focused on career and academic development. At the end of the program, you present your work through a poster or oral presentation. There is also a five-week virtual version of JHIBS. In the online track, you attend educational sessions, receive mentorship, and learn about basic lab techniques.Â
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s East Baltimore Campus, MD
Program Dates: June 23 - August 14
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Your household income must not exceed 200% of the federal poverty limit, and you must be from an educationally under-resourced background
Cost: None. $3000 stipend upon successful completion of the program
The Summer Academic Research Experience, or SARE, is a program that supports high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in medicine or biomedical science. You get hands-on lab experience, work on experiments with doctoral mentors, and build a strong academic foundation through classes in science, math, writing, and bioethics.Â
You may also have a chance to contribute to research that leads to publication. Beyond lab work, the program helps you develop practical skills like public speaking, networking, and clear communication. At the end of the program, you present your research in a scientific setting.
Location: NIH campus, Bethesda, MD
Cost: None. Stipends are adjusted annually, based on the educational level
Program Dates: July 7 - August 7
Application Deadline: Typically February 1Â
Eligibility: Open to rising 12th graders aged 17+ with a 3.0 GPA, attending a qualifying school near NIH in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.Â
The HiSTEP program is designed for high school students who want to explore careers in healthcare and research and gain real-world experience in the medical industry. You will take part in lab-based classes, research group visits, lectures, group projects, and discussion sessions.Â
You also get support with college applications and training in leadership and communication. A key part of the program is focused on resilience and well-being, helping you build strategies to manage the stress and challenges that accompany a career in the medical field.
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: None. Pays a stipend.
Program Dates: July 8 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility:Â Baltimore City high school students who can commit to five days a week
This research program at Johns Hopkins gives high school students the chance to work directly in a teaching lab using advanced tools and equipment. You spend your time learning from two full-time instructors and gain hands-on experience that can prepare you for future research work in college.
As you complete your project, you work alongside graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty, which helps you understand the daily work involved in a career in biomedical science. In addition to lab work, you also attend science classes that connect core concepts to your experiments. You can also check out the organisation’s pre-college programs for other options.
Location: Notre Dame of Maryland University, MD
Cost: $450, inclusive of lunches
Program Dates: June 23 - 27
Application Deadline: Not specified. Applications open in January
Eligibility: High school students
Pharmacy Camp at Notre Dame of Maryland University is a five-day program where you learn what it’s like to study and work in pharmacy. You will spend time in the lab making medicines, learn how drugs are used to treat patients, and explore different careers in the field.
You’ll also learn about things like drug research, patient care, and precision medicine. If you’re thinking about studying pharmacy in college, this program can help you understand what to expect. There is also help with college applications along the way.
Location: VirtualÂ
Cost: $25 application fee, which may be waived based on needs
Program Dates: June 18 - August 8
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: You must be at least 15 years old by June 18
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) gives you the chance to do real research with faculty mentors in areas like global and community health. You will spend your time in the lab learning how research is done, analyzing your results, and sharing what you find.
You also take part in discussion sessions, meet researchers and professionals, and learn about different careers in science and medicine. The program helps you build important research and communication skills. In some cases, your work may even be published or presented at a scientific conference.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $40 application fee, $850 participation fee. May be waived for students accepted for financial aid
Program Dates: June 16 - 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: You must be a high school student over the age of 14, and have strong math or computer programming skills, or experience with a healthcare project. You must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
This two-week virtual program introduces you to how AI is used in medicine. You will attend beginner and technical lectures, take part in group projects, and get to know students and mentors through social activities. You will work with Stanford students and researchers who will guide you through the basics of AI in healthcare.Â
You will also meet guest speakers from different fields, like tech, research, and public service, during career sessions. If you are interested, you might also get a chance to continue with an extended research internship. You receive a Certificate of Completion at the end.
Location: Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Charles St, Towson, MD
Cost: None
Program Dates: One day per week throughout the summer (June - August)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: You must be 16 years old by July 1 and entering the 11th or 12th grade in the Fall. You must also be available you a minimum of 4 hours per week during June, July, and August.
This volunteer program selects about 20 to 25 high school students to work in a real healthcare setting. You will support hospital staff in departments like nursing, patient care, and daily operations. Some of your tasks might include escorting patients, helping with administrative duties, or assisting in hospital retail areas.
The program is a short-term way to explore whether a healthcare career is right for you. Your placement will depend on your availability, your skills, and what the hospital needs. It also counts toward community service hours.
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.
Image Source - Johns Hopkins Logo