15 Medical Internships for High School Students in Texas
For high school students with a genuine interest in healthcare, internships can be an incredible way to gain early exposure to the realities of the field. Hosted by medical institutions, these experiences allow you to develop relevant skills, shadow professionals, and understand how hospitals, research centers, and clinics operate daily. By working under the mentorship of physicians, researchers, and medical staff, you can build practical knowledge and make valuable connections that can shape your future academic and career path.
Why should you apply for an internship in Texas?
Texas is home to world-renowned medical centers, hospitals, and research universities that open their doors to young learners through structured, high-impact internship programs. These medical internships allow participants to experience real clinical and research environments while developing teamwork, communication, and scientific reasoning skills. Both local and out-of-state students can take advantage of the strong medical community and leading healthcare systems in Texas.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 medical internships for high school students in Texas that provide meaningful learning, mentorship, and experience.
If you are looking for research programs in Texas, check out our blog here.
1. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center – Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program
Location: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $7,200 for 10 weeks; $6,480 for nine weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Current Texas public, private, or charter high school seniors | At least 18 years old by the program start | U.S. citizen or permanent resident
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center introduces you to the realities of biomedical research through a full-time, 10-week commitment. Under the mentorship of MD Anderson faculty, you’ll engage in hands-on laboratory work while learning about the scientific methods behind cancer research. The program combines daily lab experience with faculty-led seminars on emerging topics in science and medicine. You’ll also take part in abstract and poster competitions, which help you strengthen your ability to communicate scientific findings. The medical internship for high school students in Texas concludes with a presentation of your work and a closing luncheon celebrating participants’ contributions.
2. Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
The Veritas AI + Medicine Deep Dive introduces high school students to how artificial intelligence is transforming modern healthcare. Designed by Harvard graduate students, the program blends technical learning in machine learning, Python, and neural networks with direct applications to medical data. Over 10–15 weeks, you’ll work remotely on projects like training diagnostic AI models, analyzing medical scans, or predicting disease outcomes. The curriculum connects coding and data science concepts with healthcare innovation, helping you understand how algorithms can improve diagnosis and treatment. The experience concludes with a project presentation that showcases your work in medical technology. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
3. Houston Methodist’s High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | Minimum 3.5 GPA | At least 16 years old by the start of the program
Houston Methodist’s High School Emerging Researcher Experience immerses academically strong juniors and seniors in translational medical research. Over the summer, you’ll collaborate with faculty mentors and undergraduate interns to complete a research project aligned with your mentor’s area of expertise. This prestigious medical internship for high school students in Texas includes training in lab techniques, scientific methods, and professional development, preparing you for future research environments. Beyond lab work, you’ll attend seminars, lectures, and professional events that build your communication and presentation skills. The internship concludes with a research symposium, where participants present posters summarizing their findings.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program (up to 100% financial aid available) | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; you can apply here
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program allows high school students to gain remote, project-based experience with startups and nonprofits, including those in healthcare and medical technology. Over the course of eight weeks, you’ll be matched with a company based on your interests and work on meaningful assignments that contribute to real organizational goals. Each intern is guided by a company mentor and a Ladder-assigned coach who provides professional feedback and skill development. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project to company leaders and receive feedback on your performance.
5. MD Anderson – Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $7,200 for the 10-week program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, by nomination only
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Current high school seniors who are at least 18 years old by the program start date (applicants must be nominated by their school) | U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
The PCCSM Summer Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center introduces motivated high school students to cancer research and related health sciences. After an orientation and HotStart training in lab safety, ethics, and techniques, you’ll begin a research project guided by faculty mentors. The projects may focus on basic, translational, computational, or epidemiological research areas, providing a broad understanding of the field. You’ll also participate in seminars and workshops focused on scientific communication and professional growth. The summer culminates with the MD Anderson Summer Experience Final Event, where you’ll present your research to faculty and peers.
6. MohanLab High School Summer Internship Program
Location: MohanLab, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (who have completed 11th grade of high school)
The MohanLab High School Summer Internship Program is a rigorous, research-driven experience for students interested in biomedical science and engineering. During the eight-week internship, you’ll begin with intensive lab training before advancing to an independent bench research project under faculty and graduate mentorship. Projects may involve biomedical sciences, neuroscience, big data analytics, or AI-based image analysis. You’ll collect and analyze data, present your findings during lab meetings, and potentially contribute to peer-reviewed publications. Students who demonstrate strong engagement may continue collaborating with MohanLab beyond the summer through manuscript writing or extended research involvement.
7. MD Anderson Cancer Center UPWARDS Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $7,200 for the 10-week program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective / 10 students
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer (July – September)
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Under-represented incoming high school seniors | 18 or older by the start of the program
The UPWARDS Summer Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center supports high school students from underserved communities through hands-on research training in cancer science. Over 10 weeks, you’ll work full-time in a lab under faculty mentorship, contributing to ongoing biomedical research. Alongside lab work, the medical internship for high school students in Texas integrates professional development sessions, scientific lectures, and mentoring to prepare you for academic and STEM careers. You’ll also take part in outreach activities that encourage other students to explore science. The paid program concludes with participation in the CATALYST poster symposium, where you’ll present your project findings to the broader MD Anderson community.
8. MD Anderson – DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost |High school students and college students are part-time and will receive a $3,600 stipend (pre-tax)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: All high school students | 18 years or older by the program start date
The DACCPM Summer Research Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center provides a 10-week research experience under the mentorship of faculty members specializing in areas like cancer recurrence, pain management, or opioid use. Before the research begins, you’ll participate in a Cancer Biology boot camp based on The Biology of Cancer by Robert Weinberg to establish a solid foundation in biomedical science. Throughout the program, you’ll attend academic lectures, engage in literature reviews, and join professional development workshops focused on graduate school preparation and scientific careers. Your assigned project will allow you to apply lab skills and research methods to real clinical or basic science challenges. The program concludes with a poster symposium and abstract submission as part of the CATALYST Summer Program.
9. Harris Health Junior Volunteer Program
Location: Various locations throughout Harris County, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18
The Harris Health Junior Volunteer Program introduces high school students to healthcare operations through volunteer work across the system’s hospitals and pavilions. As a junior volunteer, you might assist with patient navigation, medical records, specialty clinics, or administrative support, contributing to both patient care and hospital efficiency. In this unpaid medical internship for high school students in Texas, you’ll have access to internal systems like the Harris Health email and read-only Epic to perform assigned duties effectively. Optional field trips and educational events broaden your understanding of healthcare delivery beyond day-to-day volunteer tasks. Each facility has a dedicated volunteer manager who oversees placements and provides guidance throughout the summer.
10. UT Health San Antonio Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy (VBRA)
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: 7 weeks during the summer for 3 years
Application deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores who are at least 15 years of age by June 15 and meet the grade criteria (90% or above in Math, Science, and English; 85% if in Pre-AP, AP, or Dual Credit courses) can apply
The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy at UT Health San Antonio is a three-year program designed to build long-term research experience for high school students. During the first year, you’ll participate in a seven-week summer session introducing laboratory research, scientific writing, and data analysis under faculty mentorship. The following years deepen your involvement with ongoing biomedical projects, allowing you to continue your research during the academic year. At the conclusion of this medical internship for high school students in Texas, you’ll get to present findings through poster sessions and short research talks, building scientific communication skills over time.
11. Baylor College of Medicine - DocPrep Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 60 students
Dates: Typically runs one week in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically spring (March-May)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors interested in medicine and healthcare careers
Baylor College of Medicine’s DocPrep Program is a week-long academic enrichment experience for rising seniors from South Texas high schools. The program combines lectures on health professions with hands-on simulations in the Texas Medical Center, including suturing, diagnostic exercises, and medical simulations. Participants attend sessions on medical ethics, communication, and clinical reasoning, taught by Baylor faculty and Rice University graduate instructors. You’ll also receive college and medical school preparation guidance through workshops and mentoring sessions. The program encourages collaboration with peers and allows you to interact closely with Baylor medical students serving as counselors.
12. Memorial Hermann Health System High School Summer Internship
Location: Houston, TX, and Greater Houston Metro
Stipend: Select roles are paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive / Not specified
Dates: 10 weeks, early June to late July/early August
Application deadline: Typically, March
Eligibility: Houston-area high school students
Memorial Hermann’s High School Summer Internship provides exposure to the operational and administrative side of healthcare. Rather than focusing solely on clinical practice, the program helps you understand how governance, finance, risk management, and technology shape hospital systems. For 10 weeks, interns participate in workshops, bi-weekly learning sessions, and team projects that address real healthcare management challenges. You’ll have opportunities to shadow professionals across departments and build leadership and communication skills through guided seminars. The experience broadens your understanding of healthcare careers beyond traditional medicine, including business and information management roles.
13. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (financial aid is available for both fees)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and will be 14 years or older by the program's start
This two-week virtual program introduces high school students to how artificial intelligence contributes to medical imaging and clinical decision-making. Participants take part in daily sessions covering foundational AI topics, practical machine-learning workflows, and the use of real healthcare datasets, all while collaborating on team projects supported by Stanford mentors. The schedule also features virtual “Career Lunch and Learn” events with guests from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors, offering a broad overview of career paths involving AI in medicine. Those who finish all components earn a certificate, and those interested in deeper involvement can apply for extended, faculty-supervised research.
14. sci-MI Neuroscience Mentorship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (preference is given to underprivileged students in neuroscience or without any prior research experience)
This free, five-week online program guides high school students through the essentials of conducting independent neuroscience research using publicly available scientific tools. Each week includes an instructional lecture and a journal club discussion where students and volunteer mentors examine and interpret published neuroscience articles. Participants in the live, synchronous track receive tailored feedback as they craft a research question, run their analysis, and prepare their final project. The program wraps up with a 10–15-minute presentation and a written paper, both of which can be expanded or submitted to student research journals.
15. Columbia Brain Seminar for Teens and Opportunities for Research Mentorship (BrainSTORM)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 25 students for the mentorship program
Dates: Seminar Series: November – June (Monthly); Mentorship Program: June – May (one-year duration)
Application deadline: January 1
Eligibility: All high school students
High school students can explore multiple branches of neuroscience, such as neuropsychology, neurology, neuropathology, and neuroimaging, through a combination of monthly seminars and an optional research mentorship. The virtual seminar series features expert speakers who address topics such as epilepsy, sports-related concussion, Alzheimer’s disease, and the design of cognitive experiments, giving students exposure to current research and interdisciplinary perspectives. Those who opt into the mentorship track work individually with a mentor, either virtually or in a hybrid format, to design and complete an original research project aligned with their interests. The experience culminates in a poster symposium where participants share their findings with peers involved in neuroscience studies.
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