Summer camps are not only a way to enjoy your school break. They can also help you explore future career paths in a practical, low-pressure way. Medical summer camps for high school students are designed to give you early insight into healthcare, helping you decide whether a medical career genuinely interests you before making long-term academic commitments.

If you are considering medicine, these programmes offer valuable early exposure to the field. You will explore topics such as anatomy, patient care, and medical ethics while learning from healthcare professionals, medical professors, and industry experts. Alongside subject knowledge, you gain a clearer understanding of the skills, responsibility, and dedication required to succeed in medicine.

What do medical summer camps for high school students involve?

In addition to hosting classroom-style sessions, medical summer camps typically offer various interactive activities that make learning even the most difficult concepts exciting and engaging. You will get to participate in hands-on simulations like performing dissections, practicing sutures, learning first aid, and trying out basic clinical skills. In some camps, you will also go on hospital visits where you shadow doctors and other healthcare professionals. This will give you the opportunity to interact with them while getting to observe and learn their day-to-day responsibilities.

Another big advantage of medical summer camps is the fact that they let you explore different career paths in a short period. Most camps will introduce you to a wide range of medical fields, including cardiology, veterinary medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and more. By gaining broad exposure, you can easily make an informed decision about which medical career to pursue in the future. Meanwhile, there are also focused camps if you are someone who is already aware of your interests and wants to dive deeper into a specific medical specialty. 

In addition to summer camps, you can also take a look at medical internships for high school students and medical summer programs for high school students.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 medical summer camps that give you meaningful exposure to the field without the burden of committing to a longer and more expensive full-scale medical program. 

15 Medical Summer Camps for High School Students

1. Mizzou Health Sciences Camp

Location: College of Health Sciences (University of Missouri), Columbia, MO
Cost/Stipend: $400 for commuting participants; $550 for overnight campers
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective with a small cohort
Dates: July 21-25
Application Deadline: July 1st
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in exploring healthcare careers; international students welcome

Catered towards students who want to test out which healthcare-related career will be suitable, this health sciences camp lets you know what it is like to work with patients or be involved in background work such as research, technology, or administration. For this, the camp will invite you to participate in different hands-on activities and interactive simulations.

These will include activities like investigating the source of an outbreak and containing it, identifying blood types, and more. You will also network with healthcare professionals and hear about real patient histories, thus gaining an in-depth understanding of the field. 

Why it stands out: The camp provides you with access to medical labs and clinical spaces where you can get real-world exposure to how doctors diagnose, treat, and support patient care.

2. Immerse Education: Medicine Summer School

Location: Toronto, Oxford, Sydney, Boston, Singapore, Tokyo, London, New York, and Cambridge
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Average of 7 participants per class
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students around the world aged 13-18 who are currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Medicine Academic Insights and Medicine Career Insights Programmes allow high school students to explore medicine through two distinct pathways at leading global institutions. 

The Academic Insights route focuses on undergraduate-level medical study, pairing you with academic tutors from universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in small classes of 4–10 students. You’ll attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with your tutor, developing scientific understanding, research skills, and academic confidence. 

The Career Insights route is industry-focused, connecting you with medical professionals to explore healthcare careers through applied projects and workplace exposure. Both pathways include practical medical experiences, with Academic Insights centred on theory, case-based learning, and academic projects, and Career Insights focused on real-world contexts, professional skills, and career exploration. 

By the programme’s end, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion.

Why it stands out: You will have the opportunity to be mentored by experienced medical professionals. 

3. MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare (M.A.S.H.) Camp

Location: Puget Sound region; exact locations TBA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year
Dates: July 13-17
Application Deadline: March 9th
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders who live in  Pierce, south King, Kitsap, or north Thurston counties; only students who have not previously participated in the camp can apply

The goal of the five-day M.A.S.H. Camp is to let high school students explore different careers in the medical field. These include nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, social work, pharmacy, audiology, ultrasound, lab or X-ray tech, and more.

You will spend the time gaining new skills. You will also learn more about different healthcare careers so that you can decide which medical profession to choose. This aids in planning your education and career path. 

Why it stands out: With the program being organized by MultiCare, the free camp allows you to shadow real health professionals and learn about their duties. 

4. Pathways SUPERNet Summer Medical Scholars Academy

Location: The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
Cost/Stipend: $400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 7-11
Application Deadline: December 19th – February 13th
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders; international students welcome

Students who want to discover the range of career opportunities available within healthcare can opt for this programme, which follows a survey-style model seen in many multi-disciplinary medical summer camps for high school students. Over five days, you are introduced to a wide variety of medical and healthcare careers through structured activities and guided exposure.

You will be involved in different activities, including hospital tours, medical procedures, simulations, shadowing, field trips, and more. These activities will help you make an informed decision in choosing the right career path for you. The camp will also give you tips on preparing for future medical careers. 

Why it stands out: Given that this is an overnight camp, participants stay in residence halls and gain an authentic medical school experience. 

5. Wellness in Houston Bright Future STEM Summer Day Camp

Location: HCC Coleman Campus, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students
Dates: June 9-12
Application Deadline: May 9th
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who are enrolled in a high school in the Greater Houston area

This summer day camp helps you build a more profound understanding of the different jobs you can take as a medical school graduate in the future. It equips you with the necessary skills that prepare you for college and careers. As a participant, you get to do some engaging activities and go on field trips.

You will also listen to speeches by industry experts who inspire you to pursue your dreams of becoming a healthcare professional. Given that this is also a STEM camp, students interested in other STEM fields can also benefit from the program. 

Why it stands out: This program is collectively organized by various organizations like TXRX Labs, the Cactus Jack Foundation, and more, thus giving participants access to various resources and an immersive experience. 

6. Camp Med

Location: Various locations in the Northwest region
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30 students per location
Dates: Five days in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders who live in one of the 17 counties in the Northwest AHEC Region 

This is a five-day camp that introduces you to the healthcare field through hands-on participation while you are in high school. The program, which will run for 20+ hours, will feature different interactive learning stations.

Students visit each booth in small groups and learn about nursing, labor and delivery, respiratory therapy, and more. The camp is also focused on teaching you the different clinical and non-clinical roles that exist. At the end of the camp, you will receive a certificate for your participation. 

Why it stands out: Campers usually form a lifelong connection with healthcare workers who can assist with career opportunities in the future.

7. SPARK Summer Program

Location: OU Health Campus, Oklahoma City, OK
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: July 22-26 (tentatively)
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Eligibility: High school students who are enrolled or recently graduated from a high school in Oklahoma; preference is given to upperclassmen and graduating seniors

Organized by the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, the SPARK Summer Program invites staff from about 12 departments to host discussions that teach you about different medical specialties. You will also participate in a series of activities that are led by medics who help you better understand the field.

By the end of the camp, you will know if working in the healthcare sector would be the right option for you, and if so, which particular medical area you should choose. 

Why it stands out: It connects you to both academics and practitioners in the medical field, thus giving you a deeper insight into studying and practicing medicine. 

8. Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Health Science Summer Camp

Location: Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center, Temple, TX
Cost/Stipend: Not publicly available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 15
Dates: Session I: June 15-19 (orientation on June 12th); or Session II: July 13-17 (orientation on July 10th)
Application Deadline: February 27th
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders; international students welcome

This camp is aimed at students following a healthcare science curriculum and focuses specifically on paediatric medicine, making it one of the most specialised medical summer camps for high school students. You gain direct insight into paediatric care by observing how different hospital departments support young patients.

While participating in the camp, you will learn what specialists do in departments like neonatal intensive care, physical therapy, radiology, oncology, and more. In other words, you get to shadow medical professionals, thus learning their different responsibilities 

Why it stands out: The camp allows you to observe different medical roles in person, helping you understand patient care better. 

9. DiscoverU Medical Skills Camp

Location: KSU Center, Kennesaw, GA
Cost/Stipend: $499
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 6-10 or July 20-24
Application Deadline: Registrations are open until full
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders; international students welcome

Kennesaw State University’s Community and Professional Education organizes various camps as part of its DiscoverU program, and the Medical Skills camp is one of them. In it, you gain practice in taking vital signs and doing first aid.

You will participate in patient care simulations that equip you with essential skills in patient assessments, vital sign monitoring, basic mock suturing and emergency responses. The camp also conducts interactive lectures that teach you about anatomy, medical terminology, laboratory techniques, and more.

Why it stands out: This is an immersive experience that is well suitable if you want to gain the skills and knowledge that will help you succeed in the medical industry.

10. Rural Health Explorers Summer Camp

Location: Umpqua Community College, Douglas County, OR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 21-24
Application Deadline: June 30th
Eligibility: 11th and 12th graders, and recent graduates from a Douglas County high school

This camp gives you firsthand experience in the medical field, thus letting you determine if a healthcare career is the right option for you. During your participation in the four-day camp, you will be taught various medical skills through demonstrations at labs.

As part of the program, students also master techniques in basic life support and earn the official Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Why it stands out: The camp will provide you with your own stethoscope, enabling you to practice its use. 

11. Gator Vet Camp

Location:  Gainesville, FL
Cost/Stipend: A non-refundable application fee of $25, and the camp fee is $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Session 1 (rising 10th and 11th): June 7-12; Session 2 (rising 12th): June 21-26
Application Deadline: January 5th – February 27th
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders who are Florida residents

If you are considering a career as a veterinarian, this camp is right up your alley. The camp gives you an insight into studying it as a major in college and pursuing it as a career. For this, you will be involved in different hands-on activities that allow you to gain clinical skills.

The syllabus will dive deep into different areas within the veterinary medicine line. This will include, but not be limited to, wildlife, large animals, and fish. Students get to take a look around the College of Veterinary Medicine and their various facilities.

Why it stands out: You will have the opportunity to collaborate on independent projects with Vet Med faculty, staff, and students 

12. Roberts Wesleyan University Academic Summer Camps

Location: Roberts Wesleyan University, Rochester, NY
Cost/Stipend: $375 per week for the day camp and $600 for the overnight camp (full scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 19-24 for the medical camp
Application Deadline: Typically a week before the camp’s start date
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders; international students welcome

With these Academic Summer Camps focusing on various subject areas, as someone who wants to enter the medical field, you can opt for the Pre-Medical camp. In this camp, you will learn about various medical careers and receive assistance in developing a career plan.

You will participate in hands-on simulations and have the opportunity to analyze case studies. Participants also conduct genetic experiments and learn how to do a basic suture. 

Why it stands out: You get to dissect a heart, lungs, kidney, and brain in this camp. 

13. Clinical Anatomy Summer Experience (CASE)

Location: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students
Dates: June
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders, and recent graduates; international students welcome

The human anatomy is one of the crucial aspects of the medical field, and this camp is designed to teach it to you. You will participate in engaging activities that are led by professors from WVSOM. The program also dives into osteopathic medicine and explains how it benefits one’s mind, body, and spirit.

Students also have the opportunity to interact with college students who are studying osteopathic medicine and get a taste of attending medical school. 

Why it stands out: You will be scheduled with lab activities where you perform tasks on a human cadaver every day of the camp. 

14. Oregon AHEC Healthcare Career Exploration Day Camp

Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: August 4th, 6th, or 11th
Application Deadline: Opens in Spring
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders from Oregon high schools who are interested in health care careers.

This is a schedule-packed one-day camp that consists of medical simulations and talks by industry experts, all aimed at piquing your interest in medical sciences. The camp also gives you the opportunity to learn about the different healthcare careers available, whether you are interested in medicine, research, or nursing.

You will discover the different paths you can take to achieve your dreams of becoming a physician, nurse, or any other medical professional. 

Why it stands out: With this camp scheduled for only one day, it is a fitting option for students who can’t commit to programs with a longer duration.

15. Henry Ford Summer Healthcare Camp

Location: Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, Jackson, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30
Dates: June 16-20
Application Deadline: May 12th
Eligibility: 6th to 9th graders from Jackson area

This one-week camp invites medical professionals across different healthcare fields so they can talk about their jobs to students. In the process, you will learn what the different daily duties of different professionals are.

These sessions will also include hands-on activities that help you gain practical knowledge of the different medical specialties. Over the course of the camp, you will explore a diverse range of topics, including respiratory therapy, surgical services, physical therapy, emergency care, and more.

Why it stands out: With the opportunity to learn about different medical jobs in detail, you will also get help coming up with a career pathway for them.

Begin Your Journey Into Medical Thinking

These summer experiences give you more than a preview of healthcare. They help you test your interests, build confidence, and understand what studying medicine really involves.

Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world exposure, Medical Summer Camps for High School Students give you a practical way to explore whether this demanding and rewarding field is right for you.

The most impactful experiences do not end when the programme finishes. How you reflect, stay curious, and continue learning matters just as much.

To keep building your understanding, explore our Medicine Top Books Guide, featuring carefully selected reads to deepen your knowledge, sharpen your thinking, and support your next steps in medicine.