The Jameel Clinic’s AI & Health Summer High School Bootcamp returned to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this month for its third edition, welcoming 52 outstanding high school students from across the United States and abroad for a week-long, hands-on introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in healthcare.
Hosted on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 7-11 July, the programme offered students in grades 10-12 an intensive curriculum of lectures and practical sessions on AI, machine learning and computer programming, tailored to both beginner and advanced levels.
Led by researchers from the Jameel Clinic, MIT’s epicentre for AI and health, the summer programme explores real-world uses of AI in clinical settings and drug discovery.
In addition to the sessions, students also participated in immersive field trips to Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Amgen and Johnson & Johnson, bridging academic theory with real-world healthcare innovation.
The programme culminated in a full-day hackathon, in collaboration with Azimuth Research Group, where student teams selected machine learning models to address key research questions. These were then presented to MIT faculty and staff, building the students’ technical and soft skills.
Ignacio Fuentes, executive director, MIT Jameel Clinic, said: “It’s incredible to see how much the students change after a week.
“They become so passionate about AI and health, that transformation is truly what makes hosting this bootcamp so exciting, year after year.”
Currently in its third year, the summer programme forms part of the Jameel Clinic’s wider mission to harness AI and equip youth with future-ready skills, while advancing innovative solutions to urgent health challenges.
Since its inception in 2023, the initiative has engaged more than 156 students in its efforts to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists and changemakers.