15 Medical Summer Camps for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in pursuing medicine, joining a medical summer camp can give you a great head start. While some of the opportunities listed below are academic programs rather than traditional camps, they share the same immersive, short-term format—most lasting one to two weeks—and offer hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, and exposure to real-world medical settings.
This list isn’t ranked in any particular order, but each of these summer camps for high school students is highly prestigious in its own right. Whether you're interested in clinical practice, laboratory science, or public health policy, these programs offer a unique chance to explore your interests and build a strong foundation for your future.
1. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~7%; 27 participants per camp
Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old on the first day of camp
Cost/Stipend: None
Hosted at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp is one of the best summer camps for high school students. It is a rigorous medical summer camp for high school students interested in the field of public health.
Throughout the camp, you’ll explore a wide range of topics, such as infectious disease outbreaks, chronic disease prevention, environmental health, emergency preparedness, epidemiology, and public health communication. With a focus on collaboration and problem-solving, the program simulates the work of real “disease detectives,” so you’ll have to analyze data, conduct investigations, and think critically about public health issues.
2. Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; April 27 for the regular admission into the summer cohort
Eligibility: High school students who have a background in coding or have completed the AI Scholars program
Cost: $2,290
Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive is a virtual program designed for high school students interested in how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare. You’ll begin by learning foundational concepts in both AI and medical science before moving into advanced topics like medical image segmentation, disease diagnosis through machine learning, and AI applications in genomics, neuroscience, and drug discovery. In the final phase, you’ll work on independent projects that apply AI tools to solve real medical challenges.
3. Harvard Medical School’s MEDscienceClinical
Location: Harvard Medical School
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $2,800 (5-day program), $2,250 (4-day holiday week)
The MEDscienceClinical Program immerses high school students in the fast-paced, hands-on world of emergency medicine. You’ll engage in realistic, simulated medical emergencies using life-like patient mannequins in a state-of-the-art simulation lab. Working alongside medical professionals, you’ll practice clinical skills like suturing, intubation, IV insertion, and laparoscopic techniques. The program also offers trauma care training and certifications in Stop the Bleed and American Red Cross CPR/AED (in select sessions).
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
Eligibility: High school students with a high level of academic achievement (accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
Cost: Starts at $2,990 (financial aid is available)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research experience designed for high school students interested in diving deep into academic topics with one-on-one mentorship from Ph.D. researchers. You’ll work closely with your mentors to design and complete an independent research paper in areas like biology, neuroscience, psychology, medicine, and more.
The program also allows you to propose your own topics, making it a great fit for those with specific interests in the medical sciences. By the end, you’ll gain both a polished research paper and meaningful exposure to the world of academic research!
5. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Location: Stanford University / Virtual
Acceptance Rate: 10-15%
Dates: Session 1 (On campus): July 14 – 25 | Session 2 (Virtual): July 28 – August 8 | Fall Intensive (Virtual): September 11 – November 13
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Cost: $6,380 (on campus), $4,380 (virtual)
Stanford CSI is a two-week intensive medical program conducted both in-person on Stanford’s campus and virtually via Zoom. You’ll engage with Stanford medical students, residents, and faculty to learn core clinical skills such as suturing, administering injections, taking vital signs, and working through trauma simulations.
You’ll also perform guided dissections of real human organs—heart, brain, and kidney—and collaborate with others on simulated medical cases and patient interviews. If you’re part of the virtual format, you’ll get live instruction and shipped materials for hands-on activities at home.
6. Rady Children’s Hospital Summer Medical Academy
Location: Rady Children's Hospital's main campus
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; around 50 students per session
Dates: June 16 – 27 and July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $3,000
This program is an immersive experience for students interested in healthcare careers, blending lectures, interactive discussions, hands-on skills clinics, and group projects to provide a comprehensive view of the medical field. You’ll explore a variety of health professions, hear from experts on key topics in medicine, and gain valuable exposure to both the science and the human side of healthcare.
7. Georgetown University's Medical Immersion Academy
Location: Georgetown University main campus
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing who are at least 15 years old by the start of the program
Cost: $8,410 (residential); $6,355 (commuter)
At Georgetown’s Medical Immersion Academy, you’ll get early exposure to a first-year medical school curriculum, exploring core subjects like cell biology, immunology, cardiology, and endocrinology while learning how various systems of the human body function in both health and disease.
In addition to classroom instruction, the program offers hands-on training in fundamental emergency medicine techniques such as physical examinations, wound care, suturing, CPR, airway and medication administration, and more. You’ll also attend guest lectures, take part in lab work and field trips, and complete a research-based poster project.
8. Rochester Institute of Technology’s Health Care Careers Exploration Program
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; 24 students per summer
Dates: July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in the fall, who are deaf/hard of hearing, and have excellent academic standing
Cost: $850 (limited scholarships available)
Designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, this program will introduce you to a wide range of healthcare careers through hands-on learning, medical demonstrations, and group discussions. You’ll explore subjects like biology, nursing, exercise science, medical lab science, nutrition, and microbiology—all while working closely in small homeroom groups guided by program counselors. The program also includes CPR/First Aid certification, visits to local healthcare facilities, and interactive lab sessions in various specialized buildings.
9. Tufts University School of Medicine’s Mini Med School
Location: Session 1: Boston Health Sciences campus | Session 2: Tufts Medford Campus | Session 3: Tufts Medford Campus
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Session 1 (Commuter): June 23 – 27 | Session 2: July 6 – 18 | Session 3: July 20 – 27
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering the 11th or 12th grade who have completed one year of high school biology; 16 or older by the start of the program
Cost/Stipend: Session 1 (commuter only): $3,525 | Session 2: $6,750 (residential), $5,225 (commuter) | Session 3: $4,550 (residential), $3,525 (commuter)
Tufts University’s Mini Med School is a summer intensive designed for high school students who are seriously considering a future in medicine or the health sciences. Each session has similar programming but several distinctions, so make sure to check them carefully before applying. You will explore real-world medical topics, such as antimicrobial resistance, asymptomatic infections, and emerging treatments, while developing essential clinical skills like taking vital signs, suturing, and performing diagnostic procedures.
There are also visits to Tufts’ Clinical Skills and Simulation Center and anatomy labs, allowing for first-hand exposure to advanced medical facilities and human organ anatomy. In addition, you’ll work in small groups with medical student teaching assistants on case studies and complete a final Capstone Project on a clinical skill or healthcare issue you’re interested in, which you’ll present at the closing Capstone Gala!
10. Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) research lab
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~2%; typically 20 students per summer
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility:
- High school juniors residing in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of the Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Must be 14 or older by program start
- A minimum GPA of 3.5 in science subjects
- Students from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a $1,200 stipend
At the Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), you’ll get the opportunity to engage in meaningful, hands-on research in the biomedical sciences. This is a competitive program that pairs students with a mentor in a biomedical or computational research lab, where you’ll contribute to ongoing projects while developing technical skills and scientific thinking. You’ll also complete an independent research project aligned with your lab’s broader objectives.
11. Tufts University School of Medicine’s Mini Dental School
Location: Boston Health Sciences campus
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 – 27 (commuter only)
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering the 11th or 12th grade who have completed one year of high school biology; 16 or older by the start of the program
Cost: $3,525
Similar to Mini Med School, Tufts’ Mini Dental School is a week-long program that offers high school students an immersive introduction to the field of dentistry. As a participant, you’ll be a part of interactive workshops, simulations, and lectures. You’ll also gain hands-on experience performing dental procedures like cavity fillings, plaque removal, and suturing, all guided by experienced dental professionals.
The curriculum also includes exposure to advanced dental technologies and real-life patient cases, providing a comprehensive look at both clinical practice and the broader impact of oral health on overall wellness. You will explore a range of dental specialties, connect with faculty and peers, and work on a capstone project, which you’ll present at the final Capstone gala.
12. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Location: Stanford campus
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; only 24 students are selected each summer
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: High school juniors in North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: None
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is an academic enrichment program designed for high-achieving, low-income, and first-generation high schoolers. You’ll take part in a Stanford Hospital internship, where you’ll shadow medical professionals, observe healthcare delivery, and participate in hands-on activities across different departments.
A core component of SMYSP is a collaborative public health research project that addresses real-world health disparities. You’ll work in teams to develop a research paper, presentation, and academic poster. Past topics include racial inequities in COVID-19 outcomes and language barriers in healthcare.
13. Penn Medicine Summer Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine
Acceptance Rate: 10-20%
Dates: June 29 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are 15 to 18 years old. Students must have completed a high school-level biology class before the program.
Cost: $10,875
The Penn Medicine Summer Program is a rigorous summer medical program for high school students who plan to pursue a future in medicine. The program is modeled after actual first-year med school classes, so you’ll get to participate in hands-on training like CPR, suturing, drawing blood, spinal taps, and surgical knot-tying, as well as labs in gross anatomy, microbiology, and pathology.
In addition, one of the highlights of the program is the opportunity to observe a live or simulated surgery! You’ll also attend lectures and workshops led by more than 20 physicians and clinicians across various specialties.
14. Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute
Location: Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 6 – 11 and July 20 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current 9th to 12th grade students
Cost: $3,400
Designed for students curious about life in the medical field, the Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute provides exposure to a range of healthcare disciplines and practical clinical skills. You’ll explore specialties like internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, ultrasound, cancer care, and surgery. You’ll also gain hands-on experience by practicing skills like taking blood pressure, conducting ultrasounds, suturing, and interviewing standardized patients.
Site visits and simulations are key features of the program—you’ll explore cutting-edge technology in hospital departments like the rehab center and cardiac cath lab, and participate in simulation labs to develop clinical insight.
15. UT Health BEAT (Biomedical Excellence and Academic Training) Academy
Location: UTHSA Lozano Long Campus
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; only 20 students are accepted
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; at least 16 years old
Cost: $1,000
At this summer camp for high school students interested in health and biomedical sciences, you’ll engage in several experiences, including visits to the human anatomy lab, simulated patient interactions, and exposure to cutting-edge biomolecular technology. Topics you’ll cover include anatomy, physiology, medicine, molecular biology, aging, and neurodegeneration. You’ll also participate in lab experiments, attend faculty-led lectures, and take part in leadership development and college preparation sessions.
Image source: CDC Museum Disease Detection Camp