About

The Summer Medical Academy (SMA), run by Health Scholars in partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego, is a two-week healthcare immersion for high school students designed to introduce participants to clinical skills, medical careers, and interdisciplinary health systems. The 2026 program offers two sessions: Session 1 (June 15–26) and Session 2 (July 6–17). Enrollment is capacity-limited to 42 students per session. Applicants must demonstrate academic preparedness and genuine interest via essays, a teacher recommendation, a professional resume, and short-answer responses. To be eligible, students must be 15–19 years old by June 1, 2026, and have completed at least 9th grade.

Tuition for 2026 is $3,000 and covers course materials, scrub pants, daily lunch, and parking at Rady Children's. Transportation and housing are not provided or coordinated by the program.

Instruction blends interactive lectures, hands-on clinical skills labs, group projects, and career panels led by health professionals. Students gain experiential exposure to topics such as basic clinical assessment, suturing, and patient communication. A highlight of the 2026 curriculum is the integration of genomic medicine through the Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, showing how systems medicine and precision research are applied in a pediatric setting.

The curriculum also incorporates activities focused on self-care, teamwork, and professional networking. While not a research program, SMA offers substantive practical context for students considering careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or allied health. The program situates participants within a learning environment anchored to real hospital partners, including the UC San Diego School of Medicine and industry leaders like Illumina. For high school students exploring healthcare pathways, SMA provides a concentrated, professional introduction to clinical thinking and medical teamwork.