15 Medical Summer Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in medicine, a summer internship can be a solid way to explore the field. Summer internships give you a closer look at how hospitals, clinics, and research labs operate, helping you develop a better understanding of the field. As an intern, you can learn practical clinical skills, conduct independent research in laboratories with professionals, and present your findings to the community.
Many top universities, labs, and clinics host internships during the summer and expose you to the professional responsibilities of the field. They also allow you to receive mentorship from medical researchers and professionals, helping you build your network. This early exposure can help you better prepare for future academic and career opportunities in the field.
With that, here is a list of 15 medical summer internships for high school students!
Note: Some of the items are not traditional internships but instead are work-learn programs that help you develop similar professional skills.
1. Summer Child Health Research Internship
Location: Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students
The Summer Child Health Research Internship is a nine-week summer research internship hosted by the University of Colorado and the Children's Hospital Colorado. You’ll work in the lab with members of the Department of Pediatrics faculty at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus. You’ll participate in a weekly lecture research series and finally, present your research findings through an oral/written presentation.
2. Veritas AI (AI + Medicine)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, you will learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You will also get a chance to work on projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
3. Wistar’s High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research
Location: The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $1500
Dates: July 7 – 31
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age by the program start date
The High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research at the Wistar Institute is a rigorous research program for high school students interested in biomedical science. You’ll contribute to ongoing research projects at the Wistar Institute and learn foundational laboratory techniques. You’ll learn to read scientific literature, explore careers in biomedical research, and present your work at the end of the program.
4. Ladder Internships' Medicine Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you will work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. In the program, you will work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on projects and present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
5. The Young Scientist Program (YSP) Summer Focus
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $4,500
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Summer Focus at Washington University in St. Louis is an eight-week summer research internship for high school students. You’ll complete an independent research project in a WashU Medicine lab, guided by graduate students, post-doctoral associates, and laboratory staff, who serve as mentors and tutors. You’ll participate in a college preparation and a science communication course. Cohorts are small, 15-18 students working together in the lab. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your research findings to the community at the closing Symposium. Past projects have been completed in Genetics, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, Microbiology, and Planetary Sciences.
6. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center’s Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Centre, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Financial award given on completion, amount unspecified
Dates: June 24 – August 16
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) is an eight-week paid internship designed specifically for high school students from underserved research backgrounds. You’ll start with lab safety training sessions in the first two weeks. For the remaining six weeks, you’ll participate in paired and mentored research activities. Additionally, you’ll attend research seminars and professional development workshops, and network with peers. The program culminates in a reflection presentation of your learning experience to the Fred Hutch community.
7. MD Anderson Cancer Center - High School Summer Program in the Biomedical Sciences
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school seniors in a Texas public, private, charter, or home high school who are 18 or older by the first day of the program. For full details, check here.
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program is a ten-week summer program for high school students interested in biomedical science. During the program, you’ll work at MD Anderson Cancer Centre, which is recognized as one of the top cancer research and treatment institutions in the country. You’ll learn the foundational principles of scientific investigation, working in the laboratory five days a week. In addition to lab work, you’ll attend seminars on research topics and participate in poster, abstract, and elevator speech competitions. Finally, you’ll share your experiences at the end of the program presentation.
8. Harvard Medical School (HMS) Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stipend: Amount not specified
Dates: TBA, 6-7 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Applications open late fall/early winter
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who reside in Boston or Cambridge, MA
Project Success is a summer research program by Harvard Medical School for high school juniors and seniors. As part of the program, you’ll be placed in mentored internships at either Harvard Medical School (HMS) or an HMS-affiliated science laboratory. The program follows a three-component structure: Summer Internship, Educational Opportunities, and Student Support. You’ll attend seminars by researchers and physicians, go for site visits to hospitals and biotechnology organizations, receive computer training, and develop writing and speaking skills. You’ll be supervised throughout by your assigned mentors and research advisors, and network with peers. You’ll complete the program with a project presentation in front of lab members, Principal Investigators, and family.
9. KP LAUNCH Summer High School Program
Location: Kaiser Permanente headquarters, hospitals, and medical offices across Northern California.
Stipend: $24/hour
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: Current high school students
The KP Launch Summer High School Program is a seven-week paid summer work experience for high school students interested in administrative and supporting careers in healthcare environments. You’ll attend weekly workshops and network with peers and senior leaders through community service projects. You’ll work full-time, eight hours a day, with a maximum of 40 hours each week. Departments in the past have included nursing, administration, and patient care services.
10. The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) Internship Program
Location: The J. Craig Venter Institute offices in La Jolla, CA, and Rockville, MD
Stipend: $17.50/hour
Dates: 10-15 weeks, May – August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old upon the start of the internship
The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) Summer Internship Program is a highly selective summer internship opportunity for high school students interested in structured research. You’ll work a full-time (40-hour) work week, participate in ongoing research projects under the supervision of practicing scientists at JCVI. You’ll attend career development workshops and multi-disciplinary science seminars. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your research through a poster presentation.
11. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Dates: June 17 – July 26
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school
The MPFI Summer Research Internship is a six-week laboratory research experience in neuroscience for interested high school students. You’ll choose from three tracks: Neuroscience, Scientific Programming, and Mechanical Engineering. You’ll participate in research projects with MPFI scientists over a period of 40 hours each week. You’ll prepare a written scientific abstract, and at the end of the program, you’ll present your project findings.
12. NHLBI’s Summer Internship Program
Location: NIH laboratories in Bethesda, Maryland, and Framingham, Massachusetts
Cost: No cost
Dates: Interns can start at one of the three dates- May 19, May 27, or June 2. Poster day- August 7 and 8
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: High school students who are 18 years of age
The Summer Internship Program by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is an eight-week research experience for high school students. You’ll conduct intramural research in NIH laboratories in Bethesda, Maryland, and Framingham, Massachusetts. You’ll be mentored by an NHLBI principal investigator during the course of the program, where you’ll work in both basic and clinical research areas. The program concludes on the poster presentation day. You’ll also participate in professional development events and mentorship opportunities.
13. The High School Summer Internship Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $13/hour
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Cincinnati
The High School Summer Internship Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre is an eight-week part-time program for graduating high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in biomedical science. You’ll work 20 hours each week, shadow your primary mentor in the clinic, and participate in clinical or research projects. Past work opportunities included the Emergency Department, Hospital Medicine, and the Intensive Care Unit. You’ll attend guest lectures and weekly group luncheons with peers, and participate in computerized simulated training sessions. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your learnings at the graduation party.
14. Brown University Health Summer Employment: The Seacole Scholars Program
Location: Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: Not available
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: Applications open in November
Eligibility: High school students with a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license
The Seacole Scholars Program, part of the Brown University Health Summer Employment Program, is a seven-week summer employment opportunity for high school students with a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license. You’ll work four days in the nursing units and one day each week attending training in the Health Workforce and Youth Development. You’ll join a team of 80 Brown University Health youth employees, network with professionals, and explore career options in healthcare.
15. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Application fee - $95, Program fee - $6,380
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Stanford CSI is a fast-paced two-week internship opportunity for high school students. You’ll conduct physical examinations in Stanford labs under the mentorship of practicing doctors and specialists from Stanford Medicine and Stanford Health Care. You’ll learn to suture, administer injections, take vital signs, interview standardized patients, and work on simulated trauma scenarios. Additionally, you’ll attend talks by medical specialists and get a glimpse of campus life at Stanford. After the program, you can apply for the position of Program Manager Assistant and further enhance your leadership skills.
Image Source - Stanford University Logo