Applications for the 2025-2026 program will be open in the fall! 

Please fill out the Interest Form to be notified via email when applications for this year’s program are open.

Our Mission

International Health Leaders aims to inspire and empower high school students worldwide by providing a prestigious, application-based program to engage with leading experts in public health/medicine and compete in a research competition. Through this unique virtual program, culminating in late spring/early summer, we seek to cultivate the next generation of health leaders by offering unparalleled educational experiences, fostering meaningful professional connections, and promoting the sharing and collaboration of innovative research and ideas. Our mission is to nurture a global community of young scholars dedicated to advancing public health and medical sciences.

About the Program

  • If you're interested in IHL program, the first step you'll need to take to get involved is completing the application. Applications for the 2025-2026 program will be OPEN SOON! The link to the application can be found here.

    Requirements to Apply:

    • Must be a student in grades 9-12 during the 2025-2026 academic year

    • Working proficiency in English

    • US & International students are welcome and highly encouraged to apply!

    Application Components:

    • Basic Applicant Information

    • Program Eligibility

    • Academic Records

    • Extracurricular Activities

    • Short-Essay Questions

    The IHL program is looking for motivated, hard-working, and passionate students who are eager to learn and further their technical and professional skills. We look forward to reading your applications. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions!

  • Once the application cycle has closed, the IHLP Executive Board will evaluate each application. All applicants will receive an email regarding the status of their application in December. If you have been selected to partake in the IHLP you will receive further information regarding your participation.

    Program Format:

    1. The IHLP is currently a virtual program

    2. Selected students will be able to engage in the program from the comfort of their own home (no travel accommodations must be made)

    There are 3 key components to the IHL program:

    • Innovate & Educate Research Competition 

      • Accepted students will be tasked with creating a research project related to science, public health or medicine 

      • Specific project guidelines and deadlines will be provided once students are admitted to the program 

      • Each student can create an individual project and submit 3 key components in the order listed below

        • Abstract

        • Research Poster

        • Virtual Presentation

      • Once project components have been submitted, they will be evaluated and judged by a set panel of mentors & professionals

      • A select number of presentations will be chosen to be featured on the IHL Innovate & Educate Platform

      • From those selected projects, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be recognized awarded a certificate, and featured on our platform

    • Mentorship Opportunity

      • Accepted students will also be put into groups of 3-5 based on interests, career aspirations, and other indicators within their application

      • Each group of students will be paired with a medical student or graduate student mentor depending on the fields they are interested in

      • Student groups will meet with their mentors once a month during the span of the program and seek out guidance and advice on their research projects, career goals, academics, and extracurricular activities

    • Professional Networking

      • During the span of the program, IHL will also be hosting professional guest speakers within the fields of public health and medicine each month

      • All accepted students will have the opportunity to hear from and have an open-discussion with renowned professionals in various health fields

    All individuals partaking in the program will receive a certificate of completion, regardless of whether their projects were selected for further accolades!

  • This opportunity is required for students to partake in.

    General Information:

    • Research projects may be related to any area of science, public health, or medicine

    • The 3 key components include: an abstract, research poster, and a virtual presentation of the project

    • Presentations will be judged by a set of mentors & professionals within STEM fields from the program

    • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards will be given

    • Awarded projects will be featured on the IHL Innovate & Educate Platform online!

    For more details, and research project guidelines please visit the IHL Innovate & Educate tab linked here.

  • General Timeline:

    • Program applications open October 1st

    • Program applications close November 1st @ 11:59 PM EST

    • Application decisions will be released via email around mid December

    • IHL Innovate & Educate project guidelines and deadlines will be released by the end of December for admitted students

    • Program begins January 2026

    • Abstracts will be due at the beginning of March of 2026

    • Research Posters will be due at the end of April of 2026

    • Project presentations will be due mid May of 2026

    • IHL Innovate & Educate final projects will be evaluated by the end of May, results and awards will be sent out at that time

    It is important to note that all components of the research project will be submitted virtually according to the guidelines set by IHLP.

    Specific dates/deadlines will be released to admitted students in December of the programming year!