The Summer Medical Academy (SMA) is for students who have an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare. Highly motivated and enthusiastic students who will be between 15-19 years old in June of the program year AND have completed 9th grade (up until the summer after graduating 12th grade) are eligible to apply. Eligibility does not guarantee acceptance to the program.
SMA Students are accepted with the following key application criteria in mind:
- unique short answer responses
- enthusiasm for healthcare
- academic success
- extracurricular involvement and service
- teacher recommendation.
- Consideration will also be given to the following: geographic proximity to San Diego, last grade completed in school, and affiliation with RCHSD.
Details and payment instructions will be included in acceptance letters. Proceeds from the Medical Academy program can be used to benefit the FACES for the Future-San Diego program at Rady Children’s
Learning, Doing, Sharing-
Applications for the 2025 Summer Medical Academy are now open!
Apply Here!
The application will be available until February 21st, 2025 at 3 PM PST. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Please download and send the following recommendation form to your academic recommender. Forms must be returned to awood@rchsd.org directly from the recommender no later than TBD.
SMA Application_AcademicRecommendation2025
2025 PROGRAM DATES:
Session 1: June 16-27; Session 2: July 7-18, 2025
Cost covers all course, lab, and program materials; t-shirts and scrub pants; and daily lunch. Parking at Rady Children’s is included, but other locations are TBD.
*Please note transportation, accommodations, and visa applications are not provided or coordinated by our program.
Are there scholarships available?
Summer Medical Academy scholarships are only available through the generosity of donors to the RCHSD Foundation. We are actively seeking donations and currently have limited funding available.
Beginning with the 2019 Summer Medical Academy, only students who participate in a Health Career Pathway program from the following Title I San Diego County high schools (with their corresponding school district) are eligible to apply for the MA scholarships, when available.
San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Hoover High School
- Crawford High School
- Kearny High School
- Clairemont High School
- Mira Mesa High School
- San Diego Science and Technology School
Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD)
- Hilltop High School
- San Ysidro High School
- Southwest High School
Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD)
- El Cajon Valley High School
- El Capitan High School
- Granite Hills High School
- Monte Vista High School
- Grossmont High School
- Santana High School
- West Hills High School
Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD)
- Oceanside High School
Charter Schools
- Health Sciences High and Middle College
Students who do not attend one of the above-mentioned schools but are in financial need are welcome to apply for funds from private donors, foundations, or other organizations. Private scholarships will be accepted* and credited towards the tuition cost in the same way as a personal payment.
*Please note that secured financial assistance does not mean automatic acceptance into the RCHSD Summer Medical Academy.