10 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in New Jersey

If you're a high schooler in New Jersey and thinking about majoring in a subject related to medicine, joining a summer program in the state can help you figure out if it’s the right fit (without spending a ton of out-of-state programs). You’ll get to try things like measuring blood pressure, learning how to read basic lab reports, or watching how doctors handle real patients. 

Some summer medical programs also teach you how to write medical notes or explain science clearly, which are skills you’ll need later in college and beyond. These programs can also help with college planning. If you’re not sure whether you want to go into nursing, biology, or pre-med, spending a few weeks in a summer medical program can give you a better idea. You’ll walk away with new skills, more confidence, and something real to write about in your college essays or talk about in interviews. 

To get started, here are 10 summer medical programs for high school students in New Jersey!

10 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in New Jersey

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Medical Track

Location: Virtual

Program Dates: Summer: June - August, fall: September - December, winter: December - February, spring: March - June.

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The regular admissions deadline for the Summer Cohort I is May 11.

Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3 or above; no prior research experience required

Cost: Starts at $2,990; need-based financial aid available

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program lets you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to complete a medical research project in topics like neuroscience, epidemiology, or biomedical science. It’s designed for students who want a focused introduction to research in medicine.

You’ll spend 12 to 20 weeks developing a research question, analyzing data, and writing a full academic paper. The program teaches you how to think through a research problem, use academic sources, and present your findings clearly. Many students finish with a paper that’s ready to submit to journals or competitions.

2. Veritas AI + Medicine

Location: Virtual

Cost: $2,290; need-based financial aid available

Dates: Multiple cohorts available year-round

Application Deadline: May 25 for Summer Cohort

Eligibility: High school students with prior coding experience or who have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program

Veritas AI + Medicine is a program where you learn how artificial intelligence is used in healthcare. You’ll work in a small group with a mentor to explore topics like how machines read medical images or how AI predicts patient outcomes using real data. The program covers the basics of machine learning and its medical uses. 

You’ll work with tools and datasets that professionals use and apply what you learn to a final project. This project focuses on solving a real healthcare problem using AI, and you’ll present it to people with experience in both fields. If you’re interested in both coding and medicine, this program gives you a chance to try both at once.

3. Waksman Student Scholars Program 

Location: Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

Cost: Fully funded

Program Dates: Begins with a 2-week summer institute; continues during the school year

Application Deadline: Usually in winter

Eligibility: New Jersey high school students

The Waksman Student Scholars Program starts with a two-week summer session where you learn lab techniques and bioinformatics skills used in molecular biology research. You’ll study DNA sequences, protein functions, and how to work with genomic databases.

After the summer, you continue the research at your high school during the academic year. You’ll stay involved through science classes or clubs, working with your teachers and university mentors. The goal is to contribute to real research that could be part of a published study.

4. Toxicology, Health & Environmental Disease (THED) Program

Location: Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ

Cost: $925; need-based financial aid may be available

Program Dates: Session 1: July 21 – 25; Session 2: July 28 – August 1

Application Deadline: March 14

Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students with an interest in biomedical or environmental sciences; completion of at least one high school biology course strongly recommended

The THED Summer Program at Rutgers is a one-week lab-based experience focused on toxicology, drug metabolism, and environmental health. You’ll work on experiments that show how chemicals affect the human body and explore topics like pharmacogenetics and forensic toxicology.

The program takes place at the Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute. You’ll learn how to design experiments, follow research ethics, and understand how lab work connects to real medical and environmental issues. Sessions are led by scientists who also discuss career paths in medicine, pharmacy, and biomedical research.

5. Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) Program 

Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

Cost: Fully funded

Program Dates: June 25 – August 27

Application Deadline: November 4 - March 8. Applications accepted until positions are filled

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, and graduated seniors entering college; preference given to students from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine and science

RUYES is a two-summer research program at Rutgers Cancer Institute where you work on real cancer research alongside professional scientists. You’ll spend about 35 hours a week in the lab testing hypotheses, collecting data, and learning how to analyze results. Each student is paired with a mentor and joins an active research team focused on cancer biology. 

You’ll also attend weekly seminars and workshops that cover topics like scientific communication, ethics, and careers in healthcare and research. At the end of the program, you present your project at the institute’s Annual Research Day.

6. Medical Internship Navigating Diversity and Science (MINDS) 

Location: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, NJ

Cost: Free to attend; stipend provided

Program Dates: Six weeks, July – August

Application Deadline: Opens in February; deadline tentatively in May

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from underserved or financially disadvantaged backgrounds with a minimum 3.0 GPA

The MINDS program is a six-week summer experience that combines public health research with hands-on medical training. You’ll join a team project studying health disparities in New Jersey and explore how factors like income, race, and housing affect health outcomes.

Alongside the research, you’ll take part in medical simulations, visit healthcare sites, and complete workshops on clinical skills. You’ll also earn CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications, which are required for many medical jobs and volunteer roles.

7. Partners in Science – The Liberty Science Center

Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ 

Cost: Free to attend; stipend provided

Program Dates: June 25 – August 16

Application Deadline: Tentatively March

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, age 16 or older by July 1; must have a strong interest in STEM and be fully available for the full program duration

Partners in Science is an eight-week program where you get matched with a professional scientist and work in a university lab on a real research project. You’ll be part of a team, learn how to run experiments, and build skills in collecting and analyzing data.

During the summer, you’ll also attend seminars that explain how science careers work and how to communicate your research. The labs span different fields, including biology, chemistry, and medicine, giving you a broad view of possible majors and careers.

8. MEDacademy

Location: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ

Cost: $3000 + $500 non refundable deposit

Program Dates: June 30 – July 25

Application Deadline: March 3

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.3, completion of math and science courses, and a demonstrated interest in medicine

MEDacademy is a four-week summer program at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University where you follow a schedule similar to first-year medical students. You’ll study topics like cardiology, pathology, and neurology through lectures, group discussions, and simulation labs.

You’ll visit Cooper University Hospital, take part in clinical workshops, and work with other students on a final group research project. The program ends with a presentation where you share your findings with faculty and peers. If you complete the program successfully, you may also earn college credit at Rowan University.

9. High School Internships 

Location: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ

Cost: Free to attend; stipend not specified

Program Dates: Individually arranged with a faculty mentor

Application Deadline: Varies based on faculty arrangements

Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older

The Rutgers NJMS research internship gives high school students the chance to work directly with a faculty mentor on real biomedical research projects. You’ll need to take the initiative to secure your placement, making it ideal for students who are proactive and ready to dive into hands-on research.

Once you're placed, you’ll assist in areas like molecular biology, pharmacology, or immunology. You'll learn essential skills such as data analysis and scientific writing while working in a university medical setting. This internship provides a closer look at academic medicine and gives you early exposure to university-level research.

10. SMART Summer Program 

Location: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ (Hybrid: virtual 4 days/week, in-person 1 day/week)

Cost: Free to attend

Program Dates: June 30 – July 25

Application Deadline: May 9

Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students, with priority given to those from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds

The SMART Summer Program is a four-week program that gives high school students a glimpse into careers in health science and biomedicine. It’s designed especially for students from underserved backgrounds and offers a mix of online lessons and in-person activities.

Throughout the program, you’ll take part in science lessons, workshops that build practical skills, and activities that help you prepare for college and future healthcare careers. You’ll also receive mentorship from professionals in the field, helping you understand the different paths in healthcare.

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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