Health Science and Medical Career Pathway Programs For High School Students

Program Description:
The Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program offered by the MCW School of Pharmacy exposes high school and college students to pharmacy career opportunities. Beginning with a one-week boot camp (Monday, August 4 - Friday, August 8, 2025) on the Medical College of Wisconsin campus, students explore various pharmacy career pathways and engage in hands-on compounding and vitals collection activities.

Throughout the rest of the academic year, scholars meet quarterly for mentoring activities. Scholars are matched with two mentors — a pharmacist mentor and a pharmacy student mentor — who they will shadow at their practice site or in at community health screening events, respectively.

VISIT PRE-PHARMACY SCHOLARS SITE
Career Path:
Pharmacy

Stipend?:
No

Eligibility:

• The program is open to all Milwaukee-area high schoolers and college students who are interested in learning about pharmacy career pathways.
• Interested participants are required to apply and submit one of the following: a recommendation letter, transcript or a personal statement.
• Scholars are required to attend a one-week boot camp in person on the MCW Milwaukee campus in August. There is no cost to attend, and transportation assistance is available.
• Meals and snacks are provided.

Application:

• Applications for the upcoming academic year open on January 6
• Deadline to apply is May 30
• Acceptance to the program is announced the first week of June

Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Application
Term:
Quarterly meetings (August, October, January, April)

Contact Information:
pharmacy@mcw.edu

Program Description:
Students Understanding Principles of Research Education through Medicine, Engineering, and Science (SUPREMES)

Sponsored by the Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, the SUPREMES Program is an academic-year program that provides high school students with an educational experience in biomedical research, clinical research, and technology development in laboratories in the Greater Milwaukee Area.

The student will have the opportunity to:

• Participate as an active member of a research team
• Increase their scientific/health literacy and understanding
• Learn about career opportunities in research and health professions
• Conduct research; develop a manuscript, poster, and present findings on that research at the SUPREMES Symposium
• Gain some research independence
• Collaborate with science and health professionals to strengthen their reflective understanding of critical issues in basic science research
• In some cases, students may be included as authors on scientific publication(s) depending on their dedication as well as value and quality of gathered data

View SUPREMES Program Site
Career Path:
Research, Medicine, Engineering

Stipend?:
No

Eligibility:

• High school students in Milwaukee area
• Enrolled in 11th or 12th grade
• 3.5 or higher Cumulative GPA
• Successfully completed or currently enrolled in Biology, Chemistry, Algebra I & II, and two years of English/Composition

Application:

Contact Information:
Denise Perea
dperea@mcw.edu
SUPREMES@mcw.edu

Program Description:
STEP-UP High School

STEP-UP aims to provide exposure to a variety of health science careers to local high school students. Over a total of six Saturdays during the academic year, students participate in age-appropriate interactive sessions led by college pre-med students, MCW students, practicing physicians, and other health professionals.

Career Path:
Health Science Careers, Medicine, Research

Stipend?:
No

Eligibility:

• Enrolled in 9th-12th grade in Milwaukee Public Schools, or charter/private school in the Milwaukee Metropolitan area
• 2.5 or higher Cumulative GPA
• Program acceptance is not made on any single metric; applications are reviewed holistically

Application:

• Application opens August 1
• Application due September 30 

Program Description:
500 Stars

The 500 Stars Initiative is a ten-year, comprehensive, multi-institutional, and community-focused initiative, with the overarching objective of enrolling 500 students over ten years into the 500 Stars. We offer direct, hands-on, professional experiences in clinical and translational science settings at CTSI partner and collaborator sites, as well as in the community. The Initiative works with well-established regional partners and takes both direct and supportive roles in the educational experience.

Career Path:
Multi-Institutional, Multi-Career Path

Stipend?:
Yes

Eligibility:

• High school, college, and graduate students in Milwaukee Metro area
• 3.0 GPA

Application:

• Applications open November 1
• Applications due February 1

Term:
Program runs mid June through the end of July
 
Contact Information:
CTSI500stars@mcw.edu

Program Description:
Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM)

AIM provides carefully selected high school students the opportunity to stimulate their interest in careers in medicine, biomedical research-and allied health. AIM emphasizes academic preparation, achievement and career awareness.

During your six weeks, you will have the opportunity to:

• Benefit from a stimulating educational environment and mentoring by current medical students
• Participate in weekly clinical shadowing and a variety of clinical hands-on simulations
• Increase your knowledge about common, important medical problems impacting your community
• Explore career opportunities with health professionals and specialists
• Develop an abstract and deliver an oral presentation about a disease/condition of your choice

Career Path:
Medicine, healthcare careers

Stipend?:
Yes 

Eligibility:

• 2.75 High School science and math GPA
• Must be at least 16 years old, rising junior, senior or June graduate
• Attend high school in the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), Milwaukee charter school, Milwaukee area private school or surrounding suburban school district
• Program acceptance is not made on any single metric; applications are reviewed holistically

• Open: November 1
• Applications due March 1 every year
• Interviews conducted during MPS spring break

Program Description:
ACS: High School Program, part of the Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training (CICRT) is a virtual, multi-institutional, synchronous program for high school students. Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) are encouraged to apply.

Career Path:
Cancer science and clinical care; STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine)

Stipend?:

• $500 taxable stipend
• Lab kits for the experiments related to the program

Eligibility:

• Full-time high school student status at the time of application (rising sophomore, junior, or senior in Summer 2025)
• Strong interest in a career in scientific research, biomedicine, or another cancer-related field
• Ability to commit to the full two-week program (July 21–August 1, 2025, M–F, 4 hours per day)
• Resident of Wisconsin

Application:

Learn about the program and apply (PDF)

• Application opens Spring
• Application closes May 31
• Applications are is closed.