Summer & Winter Break Experiences
Updated 6/2025
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Summer Pre-Health Programs
Summer Pre-Health Programs
There are many summer opportunities! Below are some we have highlighted but we encourage you to also explore your local hospitals and clinics to see if opportunities are offered in the summer.
Jefferson Abington Pre-Med Program
Abington Jefferson Health offers a Pre-Med Program that spans 8 weeks from June to July for students considering a career in medicine to gain first-hand experience in the health care field. Students are offered lectures and panels hosted by hospital staff, bonus “pop-up” lectures, and invitations to several hospital conferences and rounds. Altogether, students will work with physicians, physician assistants, residents, and various other advanced practice professionals and staff members of our hospital.
Some requirements include applicants must be freshmen, U.S. citizens, come from an economically disadvantaged background, and identifies with a group that's underrepresented in medicine
VCU's Summer Academic Enrichment Program is a 6-week program for rising juniors, seniors, and post-bacc students interested in Dentistry, Medical, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy schools. This program incorporates academic courses, case studies, presentations, socials, and community service, and preparation for your respective application season. Participants will receive a modest stipend.
VCU's Allied Health Career Exploration (AHCE) is open to any rising and current college freshmen, sophomores and juniors. This 2-week exploration program provides interactive experiences with patient counseling, medical laboratory sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, rehabilitation counseling, radiation sciences, health administration and gerontology as health careers. These 9 Careers that are part of a successful interdisciplinary team in any patient care setting.
Do you want to experience global healthcare abroad? Atlantis is a summer clinical shadowing program in Europe. Shadow doctors 20+ hours a week for up to 4 weeks, explore a new country, and build community with other pre-med students. Application.
While global shadowing experience is "nice to have" on your application, it should not substitute domestic shadowing experience when applying to American health professions schools. If you are an underclassmen without any prior healthcare experience, you should consider finding local experiences first. Please also consider the cost factor of these trips because they may range from $2000-$6000 and you can find shadowing opportunities locally without having to pay for the experience. If you are unable to afford this, you will need to fundraise. We encourage you to discuss global experiences with your pre-health advisor to determine whether these type of opportunities are a good fit for you and your career aspirations.
Summer Research Programs
Summer Research Programs
This list is not comprehensive of all the summer research programs out there and we encourage you to search for other opportunities that may align with your interests.
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE): Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences
The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA)'s Pre-Medical Research Opportunities
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine has several clinical and research undergraduate summer programs:
UAB Preparation for Graduate and Medical Education (PARAdiGM): An NIH/NHLBI R25 funded 8-week program to introduce outstanding undergraduates from diverse and underrepresented minority backgrounds to the exciting career options of being both a scientific investigator and a practicing physician.
UAB Summer in Biomedical Sciences (SIBS) Undergraduate Research Program: An 8-week program where undergraduate students are instructed in the techniques of modern biology while becoming integrated members of a vibrant clinical and scientific community.
UAB Kidney Undergraduate Research Program (KURE): An NIH/NIDDK R25, the KURE program gives you the opportunity to learn about advances in kidney research and be mentored as you work on your own research project in a lab within UAB's kidney community of investigators. This 8-week program allows you the unique opportunity to gain experience in the field of biomedical research.
AGA-Aman Armaan Ahmed Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
These fellowships support undergraduate students from groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research to perform 10 weeks of research related to digestive diseases under the mentorship of top investigators in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. The award provides a stipend, funding to offset travel and meal expenses, and opportunities to learn about future training and career options.
Nemours Summer Undergraduate Research Program (NSURP) through the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware provides funding for clinical, laboratory and translational research projects. Occasionally, projects are based at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
This program is for undergraduates interested in research motivated by problems in pediatric health and have at least a 3.2 GPA. NSURP scholars will receive a $6000 scholarship. Areas of study encompass a wide variety of medical specialties, including but not limited to: Neurology, Genetics, Muscoloskeletal Diseases, Orhthopedics, Pulmonology, Speech, Rheumatology, Hearing, Oncology, Balance, Cardiology, Medical Imaging, Immunology, Reproductive Biology, Metabolic Disease, Tissue Engineering
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN offers two summer programs that offer a stipend and housing:
Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program (UCRIP) gives pre-med students the opportunity to participate in both research and clinical patient care at an academic medical center. Participants will complete a research project under the directorship of a research mentor and also directly observe clinical patient care while spending time with residents and attending physicians.
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Summer Research Program offers undergraduate students with interests in pursuing MD/PhD dual degree training an opportunity to conduct summer research in the lab of a physician-scientist at Vanderbilt. In addition, participants will gain clinical experience by shadowing their physician-scientist mentor in the clinic. All participants in the MSTP Summer Research Program will be assigned MSTP student mentors, attend the weekly MSTP Data Club, attend program specific enrichment sessions, and be invited to participate in all of the VSSA enrichment seminars and social activities. At the completion of the MSTP Summer Research Program, the participants will present their research project at the annual VSSA Research Symposium.
UAB Short Term Research Experience for Under-Represented Persons (STEP-UP)
STEP-UP program is a biomedical research experience for undergraduate students. This program is coordinated at UAB and two other coordinating centers. Students are linked with experienced research mentors at the institution they choose for the summer experience, which may be their home institution or one near their hometown. It is open to students across the country who are interested in exploring research careers.
Bruins-In-Genomics (B.I.G.) Summer Research Program at UCLA is an 8-week full-time immersion program for undergraduates interested in learning how to read and analyze genes and genomes. Through this program students will have the opportunity to experience graduate-level coursework, and learn the latest cutting-edge research, tools and methods used by leading scientists to solve real-world problems. Must be a junior or senior with a 3.0+ GPA. Click for more info
The Undergraduate Student Scholars Program (USSP) in the NIH Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania, offers lectures and presentations combined with basic research experience in the laboratory of an expert investigator. This program is designed specifically for undergraduate students with an interest in biomedical research, with the eventual goal of MD, PhD, or MD-PhD degrees. Applications from women and members of underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged. Students receive a competitive stipend for their participation in the 10-week program, and on-campus housing is available.
Summer Undergraduate Program for Educating Radiation Scientists (SUPERS) @ Penn is a 10-week summer research program hosted by the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania. Students must have a GPA of 3.2 or higher following their sophomore or junior year, but exemplary freshman candidates will also be considered. Letters of recommendation from two faculty members who can attest to the student’s work ethic and genuine interest in pursuing post graduate studies leading to a career in research are required.
The Undergraduate Clinical Scholars Program (UCSP) is a 9-week rigorous summer research enrichment program that is open to undergraduate students with an interest in clinical/epidemiologic research, with an eventual goal of MD, PhD, or MD-PhD degrees. Preference will be given to non-graduating college students (not accepting graduate or post-baccalaureate students).
Summer Volunteer Opportunities
Summer Volunteer Opportunities
Camp Kydnie is a summer camp serving children with chronic kidney disease, including dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients, ages 6-18, who might otherwise be unable to attend camp. The goal of Camp Kydnie is to provide a normal summer camp experience, allowing for health and physical limitations, emphasizing positive self-image and independence.
Visit www.campkydnie.org to apply.
Medical Campus Outreach connects Christian allied healthcare students and professionals in the Greater Philadelphia region. Summer Medical Institute (SMI) is a unique three-week, urban immersion program where Christian students learn to address health needs of the largely low-income, urban community in Hispanic North Philadelphia while integrating their faith with medical practice. While providing the practical service of providing health screens and health education to the community, students are also discipled, develop their relationship with God and examine their role as Christians in healthcare. The program partners with Esperanza Health Center, a Christian, federally qualified low-income health center with three locations in North Philadelphia.
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