Top 50 medical internships for high school students
Habiba Elfass
February 6, 2024
Are you a high school student looking to pursue a career in medicine? You should consider a medical internship for high school students. Many of the most esteemed and successful medical professionals started their journey as interns in the healthcare field, and so can you. During their time as interns they refined their patient care skills, expanded their clinical expertise, and acquired real-world experience. Internships provided them with intense training and supervision, which helped to mold them into the capable and caring doctors they are today. Internships can provide you with the same benefits by bridging the gap between medical education and real-world practice.
Why consider medical internships for high school students
Medical internships give you a unique chance to gain experience, build your network, boost your college applications and resume, develop critical skills, and gain practical knowledge. They increase your exposure to the medical field, helping you gain a deeper understanding of the healthcare system and specialties, which will enable you to make a more informed decision about your college major and future career goals. This hands-on experience will help you develop analytical skills, learn to think on your feet, and make the right decisions under pressure.
Medical internship for high school students help strengthen college applications because admission officers value real world experience, and a medical internship demonstrates a student’s passion, commitment, and drive to pursue a career in healthcare. Medical internships can also offer you the chance to build relationships with health care professionals including doctors, nurses, and medical researchers that can write recommendation letters for college applications or future job opportunities.
Further benefits of a medical internship
During their time as interns, students benefit through invaluable experience that enriches their academic learning and prepares them for future careers in healthcare. Engaging in medical internships can bolster a person’s resume and elevate their competitiveness in the job market – both for future internships while completing pre-med requirements in college, and even after college as you prepare for medical school applications. Employers prioritize practical experience, and internships offer an opportunity to demonstrate one’s skills, commitment, and ability to adapt in a clinical environment. Because you are a high school student, there will be low expectations for you to know a lot and the program will understand that you will need more mentorship and guidance – both things you want. Interns frequently rotate through different departments like emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and internal medicine, acquiring exposure to various specialties along the way that can inform future career decisions.
Moreover, internships serve as a pipeline for identifying and nurturing future talent in the medical field. Hospitals have the opportunity to mentor promising individuals, potentially recruiting them as interns again next summer or full-time employees upon graduation. Interns also contribute to research projects, quality improvement initiatives, and community outreach programs, all good things that can strengthen your resume and improve your prospects for securing further work opportunities. Finally, the more competitive medical internship opportunities often offer stipends or hourly wage during your time interning.
The top 50 medical internships for high school students
In this section, we’ll share 50 research opportunities and the key details related to each internship one. While certain internships provide compensation such as hourly wages or stipends, others can entail tuition fees or associated costs. Pay special attention to the “Pay” or “Cost” line under each internship.
About:The NIH High School Student Internship Program, renowned for its competitiveness, immerses students in real-world research alongside medical professionals engaged in full-time biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health.
About: Students engage in practical techniques like genetic engineering, microbiology preparations, histological staining, and microscopy, students acquire valuable hands-on experience.
About: Participants get to shadow a mentor in the clinic and choose from clinical projects, research projects, or a hybrid of both. Interns can also apply to work with specific mentors.
About: Participants have the opportunity to work in the lab with faculty from the Department of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Pay: This is a paid internship but amount unspecified
Application deadline: February 2
About: The program assigns students to work with mentors in Harvard research labs. Students get to participate in seminars and carry out site visits to hospitals and biotech firms. This program even offers access to college counseling and computer training.
About: Participants get to carry out research involving laboratory experiments, clinical work, and medical data analysis. Students apply what they learn about research methodology to a capstone research project which is presented to the group.
About: This program offers two tracks. AIM is an intensive 6-week program in which students learn anatomy and physiology, and participate in suture clinics and heart dissections. The Research Opportunity for Academic Development in Science (ROADS) a 7-week program that pairs students with a principal investigator who serves as a mentor on a project.
When: 5-Week residential program from June to July
Pay: $1250 clinical research stipend
Application deadline: March 15
About: Complete intensive coursework in medicine and health science, take part in professional development workshops, network with health professionals, and receive college admissions guidance and mentoring. Students will also complete a college-level research project on public health disparities and gain insight into navigating a career in medicine.
About: This program focuses on reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant care. Interns work on individual research projects under the tutelage of a staff hospital investigator, carrying out translational or clinical research that culminates with a final project and group presentation.
Cost: $5700; Penn Summer Scholarship is available for students at local public and charter schools
Application deadline: N/A
About: Offers two programs in medicine. The Biomedical Research Academy introduces participants to the experimental basis of cellular, molecular, and genetic aspects of biology. The Neuroscience Research Academy explores the biological foundations of the brain.
Cost: $3000 (Scholarships are available, but on a limited basis)
Application deadline: February 23
About: Prospective participants are admitted based on their interest in a health career, participation in extracurricular activities, and scholastic achievement.
When: Several 8-day residential programs at each location throughout the summer
Cost: $3795 – $3995
Application deadline: N/A
About: Offered in multiple locations. Students in this program perform clinical rounds, learn medical examination and surgical techniques, and participate in diagnosis and treatment. Participants learn about today’s healthcare challenges and explore advanced scientific research in areas such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.
When: 5-day program in June (Tampa Bay) and July (Fort Lauderdale)
Cost: $1900
Application Deadline: N/A
About: Participants gain hands-on medical experience with a focus on the use of technology in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Students can obtain CPR certification.
When: 3 separate one-week residential sessions in June and July
Cost: $3549
Application Deadline: N/A
About: Students study topics ranging from human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and infectious disease to surgery, cancer, and biomedical ethics. The program includes hands-on labs, a patient simulator, and dissection exercises.
Cost: $1400 and a $50 non-refundable application fee.
About: Students learn about healthcare through hands-on clinical training in crucial skills (like suturing, providing CPR, splinting, and taking vitals) and mentorship opportunities.
About: Participants attend daily interactive sessions presented by a range of medical professionals, including surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, ophthalmologists, radiologists, and therapists.
About: Provides deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades 10 through 12 the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of important issues in healthcare and prepare for a potential career in the field.
About: The program is aimed at students who are low-income or from backgrounds underrepresented in healthcare, and serves to introduce them to careers in the field by building practical job skills and gaining real-world work experience.
About: The first two weeks of the program are focused on training participants in laboratory safety skills and techniques, then for the following six weeks participants are immersed in mentoring activities.
Pay: Free program, but students with financial need can receive a $3,000 stipend for participating.
About: Participants will learn how research is performed and conduct their own research projects while working with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, researchers, and students.
Pay: Stipend provided (students are responsible for travel and housing)
About: Interns participate in training on biomedical research projects related to underlying causes of human genetic disease. They also attend the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Seminar Series and present work at the NIH Summer Research Program Poster Day.
About: Offers opportunities for 12 students to take part in research projects in cancer biology, vaccine development, and infectious diseases while contributing to Wistar’s projects.
About: Provides opportunities to network with world-class scientists, work on a unique mentored project, use state-of-the-art equipment, and participate in a final poster presentation.
About: Students learn from experts currently working to prevent, treat, and cure cancer. Research areas include cell-to-cell interactions, tumor immunotherapy, human cancer genetics, drug development, and clinical practice.
About: 9-month internship where Scripps Research Institute offers hands-on research experience to Florida high school students interested in contemporary biomedical research issues.
About: This program introduces up to 7-qualified students to cancer research. Students do hands-on work in MD Anderson laboratories, attend faculty seminars, and prepare a final presentation.
About: Provides students with mentors (graduate students, postdoctoral associates, laboratory staff, and principal investigators at Washington University).
About: Mentored by TGen scientists, interns research genetic components of diabetes, cancer, and neurological diseases. Interns attend seminars to boost their professional skills, learn about career options, practice scientific writing, and more.
About: Provides opportunities for high school students to gain real-life experience with scientific research while developing professional skills for STEM careers.
About: Provide practical meaning to academic coursework and encourage students to pursue careers in biosciences, especially related to cancer research, while also making real contributions to the DF/HCC research mission.
About: Students are paired with mentors as they learn laboratory techniques and participate in research projects. Interns attend weekly presentations in areas such as oral health research, immunology, and microbiology, with final poster presentations to conclude the program.
Cost: $4,500 (includes snacks, lunches, and educational supplies, though not housing)
About: Provides exposure to technical skills related to cardiothoracic surgery, including knot-tying, dissection, suturing, coronary artery bypass graft, and cardiac valve replacement. Lectures and labs are led by Stanford faculty, surgical residents, and staff.
About: Pre-college participants seize the opportunity to venture into intellectual frontiers, delve deeper into their chosen fields, and engage in thought-provoking discussions that transcend the confines of traditional high school curriculum.
About: Students will learn essential CPR techniques, surgical skills like suturing and tying knots, and diagnostic abilities including identifying lung and heart sounds. Delve into diverse medical procedures such as skin biopsies, blood drawing, and spinal taps while mastering minimally invasive surgical techniques.With guidance from over 20 doctors and clinicians across various specialties, students gain invaluable hands-on experience and insight into the world of healthcare.
About: For students considering a career in medical and health related field such as medicine, surgery, dentistry, EMT/paramedics, nursing, biomedical engineering, occupational and physical therapy, sports medicine and medical education.
About: Offers four different STEM programs, MEDscience@HMS, MEDscienceLAB, MEDscienceLAB Forensics, MEDscience Moonshot. Each program offers different goals and skills for students.
Application deadline: varies for online or in person program
When: June 23 – Aug. 9
Cost: N/A
About: Offers accredited, advanced online and on-campus courses, personalized instruction, and a vibrant community of like-minded peers, CTY empowers advanced students to excel academically and explore their passions in a supportive environment.
About: The goals of the program include increasing interest in biological sciences and medicine in high schoolers, helping students understand how scientific research is performed, and increasing diversity of students and researchers in STEM.
About: A four-day conference at Loma Mar’s Redwood Glen Camp & Conference Center, LDC provides opportunities for youth ages 13-18 to develop and cultivate core leadership skills and to participate in workshops on topics such as disaster preparedness, international services and more.
About: Four-week intensive training program is designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques currently used in research labs.
When: 3 session in person, 1 session remote, dates vary
Cost: N/A
About: Immersive journey into the realms of Biomedical & Surgical Research, Cardiology & Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Veterinary Medicine, Pediatrics & Neonatal Medicine. With sessions held in Boston and Greater Wellesley, along with remote options, students can explore their passion for medical sciences while gaining hands-on experience in a variety of specialties.
About: Opportunity to learn about internal medicine, cardiovascular physiology and pathology, neurology, ultrasound, cancer care, medical research, and COVID-19 in a hands-on environment.
About: Immersive experience that allows high school students to shadow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Interns gain exposure to various medical specialties, witnessing real medical procedures and patient interactions.
Cost: Free but stipends available to offset costs for transportation and meals
About: In-person programs led by PhD-level scientists and educators. Students learn how to work in a research laboratory environment and learn about topics including biochemistry, immunotherapy, gene editing, and infectious diseases.
This list does not contain every internship, so it’s important to conduct research on programs in your vicinity as well. To do so, begin with local hospitals, prioritizing programs offering hands-on involvement and potential perks such as college credit.
We hope that this list gives you some valuable medical internships for high school students that you are excited about. Many doctors and medical practitioners trace their success back to the experience gained from internships. The skills acquired through such experiences empower students like you to adeptly navigate intricate medical situations, make informed decisions, and provide exceptional patient care. Remember, your dreams are achievable, and the first step towards realizing them begins with seizing the opportunities presented before you.
