AI Summer School
Where high schoolers teach machines to see medicine.
A free, immersive one-week journey into artificial intelligence and computer vision for medical images, hosted by the Pitt HexAI Research Laboratory and the Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence.
Artificial intelligence, taught the way it should be learned.
Our AI Summer School organized by the Pitt HexAI Research Laboratory and Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE) aims to provide a stimulating and unique opportunity for high school students (grades 11 and 12) to dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its application in medical imaging informatics. This is a program designed for advanced high school students (grades 11–12). We launched the AI Summer School in the summer of 2023, and it has been conducted annually since its inception. This year, our AI Summer School will be held between Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12, 2026; 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT, at the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Computational Pathology & AI Center of Excellence (CPACE), the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and IEEE Computer Society in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Medical imaging informatics leverages AI-driven computer vision to analyze and interpret medical images for better diagnosis and treatment. A key area of focus is object detection and localization, where AI systems identify and locate relevant features within medical images. This summer school will dive into these techniques, teaching participants how to apply them using Python programming. Through lectures, hands-on exercises, and collaborative projects, attendees will gain practical skills in AI-powered medical image analysis, preparing them to tackle real-world challenges in the field.
Code in Python
Hands-on practice with Python and Google Colab, no setup headaches, just building.
Real AI models
From CNNs to YOLO and SSD object detection, applied directly to medical images.
Learn from experts
Daily faculty lectures plus guest talks from AI researchers in academia and industry.
Earn a certificate
Complete a team project and receive a certificate of participation at the closing ceremony.
The Program
The AI Summer School offers a comprehensive one week program designed to introduce high school and community college students to artificial intelligence and its applications in medical imaging.
The program begins with foundational concepts, including an introduction to AI, computer vision, and digital image operations, followed by hands-on practice with Python and Google Colab. As the week progresses, students explore advanced topics such as deep learning, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and object detection techniques like YOLO and SSD. Each day includes lectures from esteemed faculty, hands-on coding exercises, and guest talks from AI researchers in academia and industry.
Students will gain practical experience in medical image annotation, image filtering, and object localization, utilizing tools like PyTorch, ITK-SNAP, and Liner.ai. The program culminates in a collaborative team project, where participants apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, followed by team presentations.
The summer school concludes with a certificate ceremony, recognizing students' achievements and their participation in this immersive AI learning experience. Further information is available here!
Intro to AI and computer vision
The program opens with foundational concepts: an introduction to AI, computer vision, and digital image operations, followed by hands-on practice with Python and Google Colab.
Deep learning and CNNs
As the week progresses, students explore advanced topics such as deep learning and convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the engines behind modern image understanding.
Object detection: YOLO and SSD
Students learn object detection techniques like YOLO and SSD, practicing medical image annotation, image filtering, and object localization with tools like PyTorch, ITK-SNAP, and Liner.ai.
Team project and certificate ceremony
The program culminates in a collaborative team project applying everything to real-world challenges, followed by team presentations and a certificate ceremony recognizing each student's achievement.
Inside the classroom
Registration
We invite high school students in grades 11 and 12 with a strong interest in advanced technology, healthcare informatics, and artificial intelligence to apply. Students from all backgrounds and levels of experience are encouraged to join.
Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a certificate of participation, acknowledging their commitment and accomplishments in AI-powered medical imaging informatics.
Applications open each spring. Check back ahead of the next cohort, or follow Pitt HexAI for announcements.
Registration cycles
- Year 2026, closed Apr 30, 2026Closed
- Year 2025Closed
- Year 2024Closed
- Year 2023Closed
Students' Testimonials
Read what past participants have to say about their experience at the AI Summer School.
Our Team
Hover over anyone to reveal more about them. The faculty, staff, and speakers who make the AI Summer School possible.
Alumni
Students from four cohorts who have come through the AI Summer School (first names only).
By the Numbers
Number of students by year
Sex distribution by year
Organizers and Sponsors
Organizers
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know before applying. Tap a question to expand it.
High school students in grades 11 and 12. Students from all backgrounds and levels of experience are encouraged to apply, no prior AI background required.
Nothing. The AI Summer School is completely free, and lunch is provided at no cost each day.
The only prerequisite is basic Python programming, and a beginner-friendly tutorial is shared beforehand. Everything else is taught from the ground up.
The 2026 school runs Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm EDT, in person at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Admitted students receive additional location details.
Foundations of AI and computer vision, deep learning and convolutional neural networks, and object detection with YOLO and SSD, all hands-on in Python and Google Colab. You will practice medical image annotation and finish with a collaborative team project, plus daily guest talks.
A laptop and charger (and a mouse if you prefer one). Lunch is provided free each day.
Yes. Students who successfully complete the program receive a certificate of participation in AI-powered medical imaging informatics.
Applications open each spring, right here on this website. The 2026 cohort is now closed, so check back ahead of the next cycle.
The Pitt HexAI Research Laboratory and the Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE) at the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the IEEE Computer Society.