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Extracurriculars for a Career in Physician

38 high school activities and programs that build real experience toward a career in physician.

Summer Science Academy
Emory University · Atlanta, GA · In-Person

Students explore medicine and healthcare through lectures, labs, and field experiences on Emory's campus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

USA Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO)
American Chemical Society

Strong chemistry foundation supports medical school prerequisites and biochemistry understanding.

USA Biolympiad (USABO)
Center for Excellence in Education · Multiple · In-Person

USABO provides rigorous biology education and research experience valuable for pre-medical students.

Student Research Internship Program
Scripps Research Translational Institute · In-Person

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

Mini Med School exposes students to medical education and healthcare practice fundamentals.

Boston Leadership Institute
Boston Leadership Institute · Multiple · In-Person

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

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

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

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

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

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

Voyage Seaward
Camp SEA Lab · Monterey Bay, CA · In-Person

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

Students shadow and learn directly from pediatricians and medical specialists across multiple disciplines.

Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford
Stanford Medicine · Stanford, CA · Hybrid

Students explore medicine and pediatrics through research projects with Stanford faculty and clinical exposure.

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

Students volunteer alongside medical professionals providing surgical care and learning about cleft conditions.

Summer Discovery
Musiker Discovery Programs, Inc. · Multiple · In-Person

Medicine & Health Sciences programs include hospital lab practices and medical study experiences.

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

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

Neurocamp
UCLA Brain Research Institute · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

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

Program explicitly targets students considering medicine careers through research participation and science lecture series.

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

The program covers cancer biology and cell biology fundamentals relevant to medical research and practice.

Penn Medicine Summer Program
University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA · In-Person

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

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

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

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

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

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

Health-focused tracks cover neuroscience, genetics, and integrated care decision-making.

Summer Scrubs
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix · Phoenix, AZ · In-Person

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

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

KEYS Research Internship
BIO5 Institute · Tucson, AZ · In-Person

Research internship builds foundational scientific literacy and lab skills relevant to medical training.

International Brain Bee
International Brain Bee · Multiple · Hybrid

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

CURE Research Internship Program
University of California San Francisco · San Francisco, CA · In-Person

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

Harvard Medical School Project Success
Harvard Medical School · Boston, MA · In-Person

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

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

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

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