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Extracurriculars for a Career as a Physician

Physicians diagnose and treat patients after years of medical training. Hospital volunteering, research programs, and pre-med camps help high schoolers explore medicine early.

48
programs
6
online or hybrid
3
open enrollment, no application
12
states with in-person programs

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Showing 48 of 48 programs

Programs for a Career as a Physician

National Student Leadership Conference
National Student Leadership Conference · Multiple · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Medicine track includes hands-on simulations and labs introducing medical career exploration.

Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Stanford University · Stanford, CA · In-Person
In-PersonHighly Selective

Why it fits: Program exposes students to real scientific research underlying modern medicine and encourages exploration of medical careers.

Emory Summer Science Academy
Emory School of Medicine · Atlanta, GA · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 10th

Why it fits: Program introduces medical fields and health careers through lectures and real-world applications with medical students.

Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences · Duarte, CA · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 9th - Undergraduate

Why it fits: Hands-on experience in research labs with physicians and biomedical science prepares for medical careers.

USA Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO)
American Chemical Society
Highly Selective

Why it fits: Strong chemistry foundation supports medical school prerequisites and biochemistry understanding.

USA Biolympiad (USABO)
Center for Excellence in Education · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: USABO provides rigorous biology education and research experience valuable for pre-medical students.

Student Research Internship Program
Scripps Research Translational Institute · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Immersive experience in translational medical research prepares students for careers at the forefront of personalized medicine.

Tufts Summer Study for High School Students
Tufts University · Medford, MA · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Mini Med School exposes students to medical education and healthcare practice fundamentals.

Boston Leadership Institute
Boston Leadership Institute · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 6th - 12th

Why it fits: Pre-med track programs offer suturing practice, emergency procedures, and anatomy research in competitive three-week settings.

National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program
National Institutes of Health · Bethesda, Maryland · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 12th

Why it fits: Hands-on research experience in biology and behavioral science builds foundational knowledge for medical careers.

Healthcare Experience in Research and Oncology (HERO)
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School · Austin, TX · Hybrid
HybridHighly SelectiveGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Program introduces breadth of oncology career and clinical care opportunities from physician leaders.

BOLT: Biomedical Engineering Opportunities & Leadership Training
University of Colorado Denver, Department of Biomedical Engineering · Denver, CO · In-Person
In-PersonOpen EnrollmentGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Camp emphasizes understanding patient needs, interacting with doctors, and applying engineering solutions to medical problems.

Voyage Seaward
Camp SEA Lab · Monterey Bay, CA · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 8th - 9th

Why it fits: Squid dissection and hands-on anatomical study provide direct exposure to biological specimen analysis and observation.

Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Los Angeles Pediatric Society · Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid
HybridGrades High School

Why it fits: Students shadow and learn directly from pediatricians and medical specialists across multiple disciplines.

Operation Smile Student Programs
Operation Smile · Virginia Beach, Virginia · In-Person
In-PersonOpen Enrollment

Why it fits: Students volunteer alongside medical professionals providing surgical care and learning about cleft conditions.

Summer Discovery
Musiker Discovery Programs, Inc. · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 6th - 12th

Why it fits: Medicine & Health Sciences programs include hospital lab practices and medical study experiences.

Broad Summer Scholars Program
Broad Institute · Cambridge, MA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades High school

Why it fits: Research focuses on disease understanding and treatment across multiple biomedical areas relevant to medical practice.

Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 10th - 11th

Why it fits: The program covers cancer biology and cell biology fundamentals relevant to medical research and practice.

Mayo Clinic CARES (Career Advancement, Research, and Education Summer Program)
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science · Phoenix, Arizona · Hybrid
HybridSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Students explore healthcare careers by meeting Mayo Clinic physicians and observing daily clinical activities across the hospital.

Barrett Summer Scholars
Arizona State University Educational Outreach and Student Services · Tempe, AZ · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Health-focused tracks cover neuroscience, genetics, and integrated care decision-making.

KEYS Research Internship
BIO5 Institute · Tucson, AZ · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Research internship builds foundational scientific literacy and lab skills relevant to medical training.

International Brain Bee
International Brain Bee · Multiple · Hybrid
HybridSelective

Why it fits: The competition builds foundational neuroscience knowledge and problem-solving skills relevant to medical practice and patient care.

Harvard Medical School Project Success
Harvard Medical School · Boston, MA · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Program provides high school students early insight into medical careers through hands-on research and mentorship from HMS faculty and staff.

Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · Palo Alto, CA · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Hands-on clinical experience with patient care, medical decision-making, and interdisciplinary health-care collaboration.

Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Seattle, WA
SelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Experience at a major cancer treatment center introduces students to clinical care, oncology, and patient-facing medical work.

High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research
The Wistar Institute · Philadelphia, PA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Exposure to biomedical research and cancer research careers helps students explore medicine-adjacent scientific pathways.

UTHealth Pathway Programs
UTHealth Houston · Houston, TX · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Students explore medical specialties, practice clinical skills, and network with physicians to understand the path to medical school.

Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship (RGVSSI)
UTHealth Houston, School of Public Health · Houston, TX · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Early exposure to scientific research and health-related projects supports pre-med pathways.

Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center · Houston, TX · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 12th

Why it fits: Introduces students to allied health careers and provides exposure to clinical research and biomedical sciences.

Summer Student Research Program
University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, CA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Program provides firsthand experience in clinical research and exposure to health care providers in clinical settings.

Georgetown University Medical Immersion Academy
Georgetown University · Washington, DC · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Students study first-year medical school curriculum and explore clinical specialties like emergency medicine and pediatrics.

ResearcHStart
UChicago Medicine · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Program explores cancer research and treatment, providing insight into clinical and research sides of medicine.

HOPP Summer Student Program
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · New York, NY · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Program bridges lab and clinical work through exposure to translational medicine and Memorial Hospital clinical departments.

Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center Summer Research
Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: DNA and genetic research foundation builds scientific literacy and lab skills relevant to medical training.

INSIGHT High School Program
Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center - University of Washington · Seattle, WA · In-Person
In-PersonSelective

Why it fits: Program introduces medicine and healthcare through research-based understanding of health outcomes and disease prevention.

AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Stanford University · Stanford, CA · Virtual
VirtualSelective

Why it fits: Program exposes students to clinical applications of AI through clinician-led discussions and healthcare case studies.

Medical Student Experience (Grades 10-12)
CU Science Discovery · Boulder, CO · In-Person
In-PersonOpen EnrollmentGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Students practice core clinical skills like physical exams, suturing, injections, and ultrasound under professional guidance.

Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford
Stanford Medicine · Stanford, CA · Hybrid
HybridSelectiveGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Students explore medicine and pediatrics through research projects with Stanford faculty and clinical exposure.

Neurocamp
UCLA Brain Research Institute · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Hands-on neuroanatomy dissection and neuroscience fundamentals provide foundational knowledge relevant to medical careers.

University of Florida Student Science Training Program
University of Florida · Gainesville, FL · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Program explicitly targets students considering medicine careers through research participation and science lecture series.

Penn Medicine Summer Program
University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Students learn clinical skills like suturing, blood draws, IV insertion, and observe live surgeries under physician mentorship.

The Burton Family Foundation Summer Health Institute
Arizona State University College of Health Solutions · Phoenix, AZ · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 11th

Why it fits: Students learn what it means to be a physician through immersive simulation activities like suturing, IVs, and intubation.

Summer Scrubs
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix · Phoenix, AZ · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Students explore physician specialties through lectures and hands-on lab experiences led by medical doctors.

Med-Start Health Careers Program
University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 11th

Why it fits: Program explicitly prepares students for health professions admissions with lectures, labs, and facility tours.

CURE Research Internship Program
University of California San Francisco · San Francisco, CA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Program immerses students in health careers and biomedical research to explore medicine as a career path.

High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Houston Methodist · Houston, TX · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Students gain exposure to research-driven medicine and healthcare careers through Houston Methodist's clinical research environment.

Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)
Rockefeller University · New York, NY · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Program introduces modern neuroscience research relevant to understanding brain function and medical applications.

Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE)
Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Program introduces students to biomedical research and medicine through intensive mentorship at a medical school campus.

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