UPEI to host 2026 summer program for high school students about AI in health care
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is again collaborating with the University of Toronto’s Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM) to offer a one-week summer program that will introduce 30 high school students to artificial intelligence (AI) in health care.
The program, which will take place from August 24–28, 2026, is titled “Health Care of the Future Summer Program: Introducing Artificial Intelligence to Tomorrow’s Health-care Practitioners and Coders.” It will be delivered in person at UPEI to students in grades 10–12 who are interested in health care, AI policy, or computer science.
“Last year’s event was a tremendous opportunity for students from all over PEI getting the opportunity to engage in artificial intelligence in a way that provokes their curiosity about how this technology can be applied to solve complex problems like the health and well-being of Islanders and Canadians,” said Dr. Chris Power, associate dean, Graduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Science. “UPEI is fortunate to have such great partners offering this program here on campus.”
“The enthusiasm and curiosity from students in the first iteration of this program made it clear that there is a strong appetite among young learners to better understand artificial intelligence and its role in healthcare and society,” said Gemma Postill, student co-education lead at T-CAIREM. “By running the program again, we hope to continue creating opportunities for students to engage critically and creatively with emerging technologies, while also fostering local talent and AI literacy within PEI. Investing in these kinds of educational experiences helps empower the next generation of innovators, researchers, and community leaders here on the Island.”
During the camp, students will gain an understanding and receive hands-on experience developing AI models. The program has been designed for students interested in careers in medicine and those who want to develop AI tools in health care.
The one-week program consists of seminars and presentations from local and national AI experts, social/breakout activities with other students, and group projects. At the end of the camp, students will present their projects to UPEI faculty.
By the end of the program, they will be able to explain fundamental concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML); write basic code in Python to implement simple ML tasks; describe and apply the steps involved in developing an ML model; analyze real-world applications of AI in health-care settings; critically evaluate the broader implications of AI in health care, including sustainability and One Health perspectives; and explore and reflect on potential career pathways at the intersection of health care, technology, and innovation. Those who finish the program will receive a certificate of completion.
Students can apply online before the deadline of August 12. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should only apply if they can attend the full five-day boot camp. Coding experience is not required.
The program is made possible by an interdisciplinary collaboration between T-CAIREM and UPEI’s Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Science (Department of Applied Human Sciences and the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences), and Teaching and Learning Centre.
