Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Practice clinical skills and create a research poster in this 3-week medicine program for high school students on UCLA’s campus.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 for classroom experience by students who took this course in 2026.
Course Description
A patient’s symptoms are only the starting point. Students learn how biology, evidence and clinical tools help medical professionals move from an unknown problem toward diagnosis and treatment.
The course examines cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, meningitis, genetics and causes of death. Simulations and labs make the science concrete: students use a stethoscope and pulse oximeter, take blood pressure, test lung function, explore blood typing and work through disease-detection, diabetes, kidney and concussion scenarios. They also practice suturing and complete Red Cross CPR certification.
Visits to a UCLA research lab and undergraduate anatomy lab show additional settings where medical knowledge is developed and applied. Alongside the clinical work, students compare the path to an MD with other careers in healthcare and research. For the capstone, each student investigates a disease’s symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, then presents the findings on a research poster. The finished work connects scientific research to clinical communication and career exploration.
This three-week course takes place at UCLA. The course is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic work with campus life, growing independence, and clearer direction about what students may want to study or pursue next. The program is developed by UCLA and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What Will You Do?
• Use a stethoscope, pulse oximeter and blood-pressure equipment
• Work through simulated diabetes, kidney, meningitis and disease-detection cases
• Conduct blood-typing, lung-function and concussion research activities
• Practice suturing and complete Red Cross CPR certification
• Visit UCLA research and undergraduate anatomy labs
• Research a disease and present its diagnosis, treatment and prevention on a poster
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain the basic pathology and diagnostic process for several common medical conditions
• Use selected clinical tools and apply evidence in simulated patient-care activities
• Research and present accurate information about a disease and its management
Students will leave with a course completion certificate, Red Cross CPR certification, a disease-research poster and greater clarity about medical study, patient care or health research.
Why Healthcare Skills Matter
Medical reasoning connects knowledge of the body with careful observation and evidence. A blood-pressure reading, lung-function result or pattern of symptoms has meaning only when it is gathered correctly and considered in context. Students practice that connection through clinical tools, simulations and research.
The course also builds communication. A medical professional must explain findings clearly, distinguish what is known from what still needs testing and consider how a condition affects the patient. Researching a disease and presenting a poster helps students organize complex information into an accurate, useful explanation.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for high school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and are interested in medicine, biology, patient care or medical research. It is especially relevant for students who want to compare the realities of clinical work with the education and career paths behind it.
Students should be ready to learn detailed health-science concepts, participate responsibly in simulations and practical activities, conduct research and present their findings. A prior high school biology course is recommended but not required. Careful, responsible participation matters throughout.
Recommended by More Than 4 out of 5 Students
Based on students surveyed in Summer Discovery’s 2026 UCLA high school program.
Why UCLA?
UCLA gives high-school students the opportunity to explore an academic interest while experiencing university life in Los Angeles, a city where entertainment, technology, business, science, and culture constantly intersect. The campus has its own community and rhythm while connecting students to a wider environment built around creativity and new ideas.
Students learn alongside peers, navigate a large campus, and gain independence through everyday choices and responsibilities. Time outside class expands the experience through friendships, campus life, and opportunities to notice which subjects and settings hold their attention. For families, UCLA offers a valuable combination of substantive academics, personal growth, and clearer direction about what a student may want to study, experience more deeply, or pursue next.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive
UCLA
UCLA
UCLA
UCLA