top of page
Post: Blog2_Post
Writer's pictureStephen Turban

10 Medical Summer Programs for High School Students in Georgia


Exploring the medical field through summer programs can be a great experience for high school students, offering them a unique blend of academic learning and hands-on practice. 


These programs allow you to engage with the subject beyond the classroom and build advanced skills in the field! 


As a participant, you will not only gain a deeper understanding of healthcare professions but also develop critical skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy—qualities that are essential in the medical field.  


Early exposure to the medical field can enhance your college applications, showcasing their commitment, initiative, and genuine interest in pursuing a healthcare career. This proactive approach not only enriches your personal growth but also makes you stand out in the competitive college admissions process. 


For students in Georgia looking to jumpstart their journey into medicine, we’ve compiled a list of 10 exceptional medical summer programs. Each program offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse facets of healthcare, providing a solid foundation for those aspiring to make a difference in the world of medicine. 



The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a prestigious online research opportunity designed for high-achieving high school students interested in conducting original research.  In our flagship program, we pair talented high-school students with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1. This experience culminates in the production of an independent research project, offering a rare opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge scholarship while still in high school. 


Participants gain valuable insights into advanced research methodologies, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and tackle complex issues under expert guidance. Whether your interests lie in AI, biomedical engineering, or political science, the program equips you with the skills needed to excel in both college applications and future academic pursuits. You can apply here!


Location: Virtual

Cost: Need-based scholarship available.

  • Lumiere Individual Research Program – $2,990

  • Lumiere Premium Research and Publication Program – $5,900

  • Lumiere Research Fellowship – $8,900

Application Deadline: Rolling, cohort-based. Applications for the summer cohort are open till May. 

Program Dates: Varies based on the cohort. June for the summer cohort.

Eligibility: High school students



Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs geared toward high school students who want to build their foundations in computer science and AI. The AI + Medicine Deep Dive is an intensive 10-week program tailored for driven students keen on exploring the intersection of AI and medicine. Participants will interact with AI specialists, attend lectures, work with programming notebooks, and undertake a practical project focused on AI's role in healthcare and medicine.


This course offers a deep exploration of how AI is revolutionizing the medical field. You'll engage in projects that leverage AI and machine learning models to diagnose diseases, enhance medical imaging, and interpret results to support healthcare professionals and patients. The curriculum is crafted to provide insights into AI applications across various domains such as genomics, hospital management, drug development, neuroscience, and more. You can apply here!


Location: Virtual

Cost: $2,290. Need-based financial aid is available. 

Application Deadline: Varies based on the cohort. May for the summer cohort.

Program Dates: 2025 summer dates to be decided. Duration of the program is 25 hours over 10 weeks.

Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-12. Completion of AI Scholars or a background in coding is required.



Ladder Internship is a selective program, with an acceptance rate of 15-20%, for high school students to work with startups and nonprofits worldwide for meaningful virtual internships. Ladder Startups work in fields including healthcare and medicine. As part of their internship, each student works on a real-world project and presents it at the end of their internship. 


In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern also works with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship, the Ladder Coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board. Both mentors focus on guiding students through the internship and helping them navigate the startup environment. This dual support structure ensures that students receive comprehensive guidance as they navigate their internships, enhancing both their technical and soft skills. As a Ladder Intern, participants engage in a coaching+work-based model—a component that sets it apart from most internships. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Learn more about the program here!


Location: Virtual

Cost: Need-based financial aid is available.

  • 8-week Program: $1990

  • Research Internship: $4,800

  • Combined (program and internship): $5,900

Application Deadline: Varies based on the cohort. May - June for summer cohort.

Program Dates: Varies based on the cohort. June - July for summer cohort. 

Eligibility: High school students



Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. Note that Horizon is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. 


Once you select a particular subject track as well as the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a top university who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. The program culminates in the development of a 20-page research paper, which students can submit to prestigious journals for potential publication. 


This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. Horizon also provides detailed feedback on each project, along with a letter of recommendation, enhancing students' future academic and research opportunities. Apply here!


Location: Virtual 

Cost: Varies

Application Date: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort. 

Program Dates: 

  • Summer seminar: June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024

  • Fall seminar: October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025

  • Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.

Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.



The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center at Mercer University offers a week-long virtual medical camp that delves into pertinent health topics. Led by doctors, scientists, and medical students from Mercer University School of Medicine, this camp is designed to be both educational and interactive. Each day includes a teaching session followed by a hands-on activity, with all necessary supplies, including games, experiments, and a camp t-shirt, provided at no cost. 


This camp is an excellent opportunity for students to learn from medical professionals and engage in activities that bring health topics to life, all from the comfort of their homes. The camp is limited to 100 participants, ensuring a focused and interactive experience.


Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Program Dates: July 15 - 19, 2024

Application Deadline: 2025 TBA.

Eligibility: Georgia high school students



Grady’s Teen Experience and Leadership Program (TELP), sponsored by the Office of Health Equity, offers high school students aged 14-19 a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience in the healthcare field. Participants gain firsthand experience by shadowing professionals in the hospital during 4-hour shifts, with a minimum commitment of one shift every two weeks. This program is designed not only to provide teens with volunteer hours but also to expose them to various health professions while developing their leadership skills. 


The program allows teens to earn volunteer hours by offering them the chance to work within a healthcare system, gain exposure to various health professions, and develop leadership skills. Additionally, TELP aims to strengthen community partnerships, build a healthcare workforce pipeline, and provide employees with opportunities to serve as role models for students and enhance their community involvement.


Location: Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA

Cost: Free

Program Dates: June - July  each year

Application Deadline: 2024 applications are closed. Information on 2025 applications will be updated here.

Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14-19.



The PCOM Georgia Opportunities Academy offers Gwinnett County high school students the chance to explore healthcare careers and connect with mentors during a free summer STEM camp. This program is particularly aimed at students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in medicine, offering them a valuable opportunity to connect with mentors and gain hands-on experience in the medical field. 

Participants engage in clinical skills simulations, anatomy labs, CPR training, and gain insights into the college application process. The program also provides insights into the college application process, helping students understand the steps needed to pursue a career in healthcare. Additionally, the curriculum covers topics such as nutrition, heart and brain anatomy, and trauma simulation. Students will have the chance to shadow healthcare professionals and explore careers such as physicians and physician assistants. 


Location: PCOM Georgia, Suwanee, GA

Cost: Free

Program Dates: June of each year

Application Deadline: Applications are due in April of each year.

Eligibility: Gwinnett County high school students 



SGMC Health's annual Volunteen Summer Program offers high school students a unique opportunity to explore the daily operations of a healthcare environment while gaining valuable volunteer experience. Each student is placed in a specific department and is immersed in environments focused on patient-centered care and essential administrative support roles. 


The program runs from June to July each year, with students working two shifts per week, each lasting four hours. This hands-on experience allows participants to observe and contribute to the prioritization of patient care, providing a deeper understanding of the healthcare field. Additionally, the volunteer hours earned through this program can be beneficial for future academic and career opportunities. 


Location: Various SGMC Health campuses in Georgia 

Cost: Free

Program Dates: June 10 – July 26, 2024

Application Deadline: May each year.

Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders, with a B or higher GPA.



The Emergency Medicine program at Georgia Tech offers a comprehensive, hands-on experience in the medical and healthcare fields. This two-week program covers everything from emergency medicine to the medical school admissions process, providing a comprehensive introduction to the world of healthcare 


In the first week, students learn essential skills such as taking vital signs, performing CPR, and mastering wilderness medicine techniques. They also visit a simulation lab where medical students and faculty are trained and evaluated. The second week challenges students to apply these skills in a mass casualty incident simulation, where they must triage and stabilize victims. Through experiential learning, students quickly engage with medical topics, learning the underlying theories and concepts as they diagnose, support, and treat patients. 


The program includes training in basic medical skills and techniques for situations where immediate medical care is unavailable. Simulations provide hands-on practice in critical areas such as wound care, bleeding control, suturing, and the use of splints and slings. Working in small groups, students research patient histories, analyze symptoms, make diagnoses, and develop treatment plans, gaining invaluable practical experience in the process.


Location: Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA

Cost:

  • Residential: $5,498 tuition + $250 medicine course supplement

  • Commuter: $3,198 tuition + $250 medicine course supplement

Program Dates: June 16 -  June 28, 2024

Application Deadline: Enrollment for 2024 programs is closed. 2025 dates will be released by September 2024.

Eligibility: High school students 



The Emory Pre-College Program is a two-week immersive summer academic experience designed for high school sophomores and juniors. It provides a preview of the academic rigor and campus life at a prestigious national university. The program offers a range of courses in Pre-Health and STEM/Sciences, including Concepts in Biology, Human Genetic Diseases, Human Physiology, Medical Microbiology, Neuroscience, and many more. 


Participants have the option to live on campus, commute, or take courses online, making the program accessible to a wide range of students. Beyond the academic rigor, students experience the vibrant campus life at Emory University, interacting with peers from across the country and gaining insights into the college application process. The program is designed to help students explore their academic interests while developing the skills and confidence needed for future success in higher education. 


Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA or virtual

Cost: Need-based scholarships available.

  • Residential: $4,803

  • Commuter: $3,435

  • Online: $3,135

Program Dates:

  • Session A: June 16 - June 29, 2024

  • Session B: June 30 - July 13, 2024

  • Session C: July 14 - July 27, 2024 (On Campus)

  • Session C: July 15 - July 26, 2024 (Online)

Application Deadline: 2024 applications are closed. Sign up here to receive 2025 announcements.

Eligibility: High school students 


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.

bottom of page