15 Summer Medical Programs for High School Students in Tennessee
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 17
- 10 min read
If you are a high school student in Tennessee looking to boost your college applications and build a foundation in medicine or healthcare, engaging in a summer medical program can be a great next step.
Medical programs provide opportunities to explore various fields within healthcare, including medicine, nursing, surgery, pathology, and other related disciplines, through a combination of coursework and interactive activities. They also offer opportunities to engage in research, shadow or work with medical professionals, visit healthcare facilities, learn from college faculty, and/or explore academic and career paths in medicine.
From flexible remote programs to hands-on in-person clinical and research opportunities, Tennessee has multiple organizations and universities that offer various summer medical program. To help you get started, we have come up with 15 summer medical programs for high school students in Tennessee. We have curated this list based on the prestige, selectivity, mentorship quality, and relevance they offer to high schoolers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Summer Cohort II applications close on June 23
Program dates: Summer Cohort II starts on July 14; end dates vary based on the chosen format.
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic record, typically a 3.3 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
If you are a high school student looking to explore medicine through original research, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers a personalized approach. This 12-week program allows you to work on an independent research project with guidance from a Ph.D. mentor from a leading university like Harvard, MIT, or Yale. You can choose to conduct research on a topic of interest in fields like neuroscience, medicine, public health, and life sciences. During the program, you will meet regularly with your mentor to finalize a topic and develop a research paper that meets pre-college academic standards. The program offers a flexible research experience and opportunities to build data collection, interpretation, and communication skills. You can learn about the available formats and research areas on the application form here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Free
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Application deadline: April 1
Program dates: June 9 – 20
Eligibility: High school students in Nashville and surrounding areas who are in grades 10 – 12 and at least 16 years old
The Discover Biomedical Research Summer Program is a two-week in-person internship offering opportunities to explore biomedical research and build laboratory skills. Here, you will work alongside Vanderbilt graduate students in a lab setting, learning essential techniques like pipetting, data collection, and experimental design. You will participate in daily discussions on evidence-based practices, academic culture in science, and insights into graduate training. Through interactions with grad students, you will get insights into academic and career paths in medical science. Key highlights of the program include one-on-one mentoring and a closing presentation event where you will showcase your research findings.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. Summer Cohort II applications are open till June 22
Program dates: Multiple cohorts, including summer, throughout the year, with a commitment of 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends).
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 who have prior coding experience or have participated in the Veritas AI Scholars program
The Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Medicine is a 10-week online program designed for students interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. The curriculum covers a range of topics, including medical data preparation, exploratory data analysis, convolutional neural networks, and fundamentals of clinical evaluation. During the program, you will collaborate on group projects that apply AI techniques to real-world medical challenges, such as disease diagnosis and medical imaging analysis. You will also have access to Veritas AI mentors, who are experienced AI practitioners and researchers from leading institutions. By the end of the session, you will have gained practical experience in applying AI to medicine and be better prepared for future studies in related fields.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; open to a small cohort of rising seniors
Cost/Stipend: Cost not specified; unpaid research experience
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Research labs, Nashville, TN
Application deadline: Spring (typically March–April)
Program dates: May 27 – July 3
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors participating in the Interdisciplinary Science and Research program at Hillsboro, Startford STEM Magnet, and John Overton High schools; applicants must be at least 16 years old
Research experience for High School Students (REHSS) is a six-week internship in Vanderbilt’s research labs, where you will work on an independent research project under a faculty mentor. You will attend lab meetings, learn advanced techniques in areas such as biomedical science, engineering, or data analytics, and gain firsthand insights into the day-to-day of STEM research. Toward the end of the session, you will complete and present a research report. The experience can help you explore a medical field in detail, develop critical thinking skills, and gain hands-on exposure to the scientific research process. You can continue working on your research and even submit it to journals, including Vanderbilt’s Young Scientist, and competitions.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~30 students per cohort
Cost/Stipend: Free; a stipend of $4,800
Location: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Application deadline: January 31
Program dates: June 2 – July 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the Memphis area and the immediate surrounding counties in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas who are at least 16 and have a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0
The St. Jude Research Immersion Program is an eight-week summer program designed for high school students who are interested in exploring biomedical research. While applying, you can indicate your preference for epidemiology, laboratory, psychology, clinical, or data science research. If selected, you will be matched with a dedicated research team and mentor, gaining direct exposure to ongoing scientific work while learning how to think critically and ask meaningful research questions. Beyond lab exposure, the program offers access to peer collaboration, sessions with a science educator, and mentorship, facilitating regular feedback and support to pursue a career in science. At the end of the session, you will showcase your research project via a scientific poster at a community exhibition.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; two to four high school students
Cost: Free; NSF-funded internship
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Application deadline: February 15
Program Dates: May 21 - August 1
Eligibility: High school students in Nashville, TN; priority given to applicants from Metro Nashville Public Schools
The Vanderbit Biomedical Informatics Summer program is designed for students who are curious about how data, computing, and healthcare intersect. If selected, you will work in faculty-led teams, attend faculty-led lectures, and complete a research project with a final report and presentation. You will also attend seminars that offer guidance on preparation for entrance exams to graduate schools. Another part of the program is the Summer Seminar series, which covers bioinformatics research methods, questions, and approaches. At the end of the session, you will share your research experience with peers, full-time Vanderbilt students, and faculty.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~8%; 12 students selected each year
Cost: Free
Location: University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN + local veterinary clinics
Application deadline: February 27
Program dates: June 9 – July 11
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in Tennessee who are at least 16 years of age and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
The Veterinary Summer Experience Program at the University of Tennessee offers a theoretical and practical exposure to the veterinary practice. During the program, you will spend 40 hours shadowing licensed veterinarians in real-world settings, such as clinics, hospitals, and farms, gaining firsthand insight into both small and large animal care. After the shadowing experience, you will attend a one-week residential session at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where you will participate in lab sessions, simulations, and workshops led by veterinary faculty. The program can help you prepare for vet school and build early connections in the field. To be eligible for the program, you will need to identify a veterinary practice site, which must be approved by the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Small cohort of nine students
Cost: Free
Location: Meharry Medical College’s Office of Memphis Programs, Memphis, TN
Application deadline: March 28
Program dates: Four weeks in June/July
Eligibility: High school students entering 10 – 12 grades
The Future in Health Sciences Summer Internship is hosted by Meharry Medical College in collaboration with medical professionals and researchers. This internship offers high schoolers early exposure to careers in medicine, dentistry, research, and data science. As an intern, you will engage in clinical site visits, join research labs, and learn about healthcare professions through hands-on workshops. You will also get to shadow healthcare professionals during the program. The program offers access to a “teaching kitchen” to help you pick up lab skills and the basics of providing healthcare.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Free
Location: University of Tennessee’s Martin Ripley Center, Ripley, TN
Application deadline: May 1
Program dates: July 20 – 24
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in Tennessee
The High School to Health Care Program, offered by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, is a grant-backed initiative designed to introduce high school students, particularly those from rural areas, to medical laboratory sciences and public health information technology. The program’s week-long summer camp will help you explore healthcare, lab science, and data science through activities led by instructors. You will learn about topics like healthcare professionalism and ethics, patient safety, social determinants of health, cytotechnology and histotechnology, and health informatics. At the camp, you will learn about actual procedures used in healthcare labs and get access to real healthcare data. You will also work in a team to identify a public health issue affecting the community.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 30 students
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $500 taxable stipend is offered
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: April 17
Program dates: July 7 – 18
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors within the VICC catchment area
The SHE in Oncology is a multi-institutional program hosted by cancer centers nationwide. With support from the American Cancer Society, the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) offers this program to 30 high school students interested in learning about careers in biomedicine and oncology. If selected, you will attend online lectures and discussions on cancer care and cancer science. You will work on a genetics-based research project in collaboration with peers from different universities. You will also receive your own laboratory kit to participate in experiments from the comfort of your own home. Additionally, the program offers professional development sessions as well as panel discussions led by professionals in cancer research and care.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Free camp
Location: Baptist Health Sciences University (BHSU), Memphis, TN
Application deadline: Not specified, but the application window opens in March
Program dates: June 9 – 12
Eligibility: Rising 6th through 12th graders
The HealthCORE Camp is a five-day program for students interested in health careers. As a participant, you will learn about professions and roles in healthcare through hands-on laboratory sessions, clinical observation, and activities focused on public health, first aid, and emergency care. You will also get to engage in tours of the BHSU university and a hospital facility. You will also engage in group and individual activities to practice skills like dissection and lab diagnosis. The experience can help you get some exposure to the career fields and daily operations in medicine and health.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact details not specified
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid virtual internships
Location: Virtual option available for high school students in Tennessee
Application deadline: March 1; application window opens on December 1
Program dates: Five weeks in July–August; exact dates not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in North America (U.S. and Canada)
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences is a research-oriented program hosted by the Department of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The program offers a fully virtual track that allows high school students to learn about biomedical research. The curriculum introduces you to neuroscience research and neurology through a blend of online lab work, expert lectures, and career development workshops. You will explore topics such as brain imaging, cognitive function, and the biology of neurological disorders while engaging with world-class researchers and clinicians. You will also learn basic lab skills and how to conduct experiments during the program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~25 students
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee; need-based fee waivers available
Location: Remote
Application deadline: February 28
Program dates: June 16 – 27
Eligibility: High school students; strong preference for students with programming/math skills or experience participating in a healthcare project
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) offers a two-week virtual internship to students who are interested in understanding the role of artificial intelligence in solving medical problems. Here, you will attend lectures on machine learning fundamentals, work in a small team on a real-world health-care project, and receive mentorship from Stanford researchers and student leaders. The program offers career-focused “lunch and learn” sessions with professors and public health professionals. The experience can offer insights into how to use AI to make medical treatment and diagnosis easier. You may also get an extended research internship opportunity once the program ends.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: $1,795; need-based scholarships available
Location: Remote
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment throughout the year
Program dates: Self‑paced course with multiple sessions throughout the year, including summer; next session starts on July 6
Eligibility: High school students who are 13 or older
Harvard Medical School offers various virtual pre-college courses to teens, of which the Genetics: Unlocking the Power of DNA course covers the basics of genetics and the role genetic insights play in developing medical innovations. Hosted in a virtual format, the course is an accessible opportunity to explore molecular biology, biotechnology, and medical research. As a participant, you will learn how DNA shapes everything from disease to identity through case studies, virtual lab simulations, and collaborative projects. Taught by Harvard-affiliated instructors, this program offers key insights into CRISPR, genome sequencing, and ethical considerations in modern medicine. You will have access to a mentor who will address your queries regarding the course and the field of genetics to help you make informed decisions regarding future education.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: $4,380 + $95 application fee
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: February 24
Program dates: July 28 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as undergraduate pre-med students who are 16 or older
Stanford’s Clinical Summer Internship’s virtual summer session offers hands-on learning experiences to high school students interested in medicine and healthcare. During the internship, you will engage in online lectures and sessions to learn techniques like suturing, administering injections, and conducting physical exams. You will also have the opportunity to work on simulated medical case studies, make diagnoses, and suggest treatments. At the end of the session, you will participate in a group presentation to discuss the assigned medical case. This experience can help you learn about various medical specialties and acquire the technical skills necessary to pursue a career in medicine.
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 - University of Tennessee logo