When you’re in high school, it can be hard to know what working in medicine actually looks like. You might enjoy biology classes, but also know that textbooks can only show you so much. Medical internships for high school students provide a practical way to experience medicine as a hands-on, people-centered field by stepping into real healthcare environments.

Imagine observing actual patient care alongside experienced healthcare professionals. Or spending your afternoons collaborating on basic clinical tasks with like-minded peers. Through medical internships for high school students, you can move beyond theory to gain firsthand experience in hospitals, clinics, and research labs.

This is why pursuing a medical internship can be really helpful. When you are present in a real healthcare environment and directly learning from professionals in the field, so many of your questions find an answer naturally.

What are the medical internships for high school students?

We understand that not all medical internships offer the same level of learning or mentorship. Some could be more observational, while others focus on structured training and meaningful responsibilities. That’s why getting the right information is crucial, so you can identify the medical internships best suited to your interests.

Various medical internships will help you gain hands-on experience, work on research projects on the latest concepts in healthcare, and develop the skills and techniques required for a successful career in medicine. There are both in-person and virtual options that you can choose from. Some of these internships also offer a stipend on completion.

You’ll get to work in research laboratories, attend lectures led by renowned medical professionals, participate in social events, and even get to tour different medical facilities. These programs will help you build confidence, strengthen your resume, and help you identify if a career in medicine is the right path for you.

Irrespective of the internship, you’ll have to work hard once you join. But we’ve saved you some work for now. To guide you with the right decision, we’ve drawn up a list of 15 medical internships for high school students. They’ve been picked for their educational value, hands-on exposure, and opportunities to learn from professionals.

15 Medical Internships for High School Students

1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) Program

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free program ($50 application fee); Minimum $500 stipend for all; $2,500 or above need-based stipend
Dates: June 9th – July 31st
Application Deadline: February 21st
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, 16 years or older, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and attending high school in the U.S.

If you are a high school student looking for an on-campus experience in the field of medicine, then the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) can be a good option to pursue. You will get to spend eight weeks gaining hands-on research experience under the guidance of a research mentor. You will work in the top medical laboratories at the Stanford Institute.

You will get to choose from eight different areas of research, including immunology, cardiovascular biology, and cancer biology. bioengineering, bioinformatics, stem cell and regenerative medicine, and genetics and genomics. You will be assigned a specific Institute based on your chosen research area. In the last week of the program, you will prepare a poster for the poster session.

Why it stands out: Its deep connections to Silicon Valley make it easier to transition to interdisciplinary courses such as biomedical entrepreneurship or AI-driven health research.

2. Immerse’s Career Insights Medicine Summer School

Location: Singapore, Sydney, New York, London, and Cambridge
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: High school students across the globe aged 15-18 

Immerse’s Medicine Career Insights Program lets high school students explore careers in major global industry hubs. You’ll participate in hands-on medical simulations, attend engaging classes, and critical discussions. You’ll receive guidance from experienced medical professionals and gain both clinical and critical thinking skills. You’ll not only gain theoretical knowledge about a medical career but also understand the development of treatment plans. 

Participants engage in project-based learning with established companies, attend interactive workshops, and visit offices, factories, and headquarters. The program also includes in-person weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions where you will receive personalized feedback on your resume and overall profile. You’ll also present your findings to industry experts at the end of the program. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll receive a certificate. You can find more details about the application here!

Why it stands out: You’ll explore university-level concepts in fields like medicine and psychology, giving you early exposure to the academic pathways behind real careers.

3. UCSF’s CURE Research Internship Program

Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Cost/Stipend: Free program; a stipend is paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15th – August 7th
Application Deadline: February 8th
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade high school students or current community college students at CCSF, minimum GPA- 2.5, must have completed Biology or Chemistry with an A, B, or above

University of San Francisco’s CURE Research Internship Program will allow you to spend eight weeks at UCSF and conduct scientific research. You will explore career opportunities in a broad range of medical science areas, including basic, clinical, population, and behavioral. You’ll be exposed to an environment enriched with the exploration of scientific, health, and medical careers.

You’ll be mentored by the UCSF graduate students, faculty, and post-docs, and also receive career and college application support. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll present your research project and findings at the CURE research symposium.

Why it stands out: It places you in translational research projects, helping you understand how lab discoveries move toward clinical impact.

4. Boston Medical Center – Junior Summer Volunteer Program

Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70 students
Dates: June 29th – August 21st
Application Deadline: April 3 or once 100 applications are received (whichever comes first)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; Boston residents prioritized

Boston Medical Center offers a Junior Summer Volunteer Program where you’ll gain knowledge and insights into patient care. You’ll actively be a part of consultations and interactive engagements with the hospital and clinical professionals. You’ll begin the program with a volunteer orientation, followed by a minimum of one shift of on-campus volunteering. Each shift will be 3 hours in duration.

You’ll also be attending a weekly lecture series led by the Boston Medical Center Health Systems professionals, including surgeons, social workers, healthcare administrators, nurses, and physicians. If you’re interested in learning closely about the hospital and healthcare settings, then this program can be a good option for you.

Why it stands out: It gives you front-line exposure to patient care and hospital operations, helping you clarify your interest in healthcare professions.

5. Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program

Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston/Cambridge/Somerville, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free program; A stipend is paid
Dates: June 30th – August 8th
Application Deadline: January 31st
Eligibility: Current high school seniors or recent graduates attending school or residing in Massachusetts

The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program offers research and educational opportunities to Massachusetts high school and undergraduate students. You’ll participate in research activities mentored by leading Neurologists and Neuroscientists. You’ll spend the first few days of the internship in a Bootcamp.

You’ll complete your research and clinical training, engage in interactive skill-building sessions in a laboratory setting,  begin with one-on-one mentorship, and focus on growing your peer and professional network. You’ll learn in-depth about neurology through weekly didactic sessions, go on field trips, and attend social lunches. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll share your research experiences with mentors, family, peers, and the MGH Neurology Department through presentations.

Why it stands out: It offers research and learning experiences in neurological science, helping you build early expertise in brain research.

6. Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)

Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, Manhattan, NY.
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 stipend
Dates: June 29th  – August 21st
Application Deadline: February 6th
Eligibility: High school juniors legally authorized to work in the U.S. must be 14 years or older, have a 3.5 grade point average, and must live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of the Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side in Manhattan

If you’re a high school student interested in independent biomedical research, the Summer Student Program is one of the most research-focused medical internships for high school students in the United States. You’ll be paired with a mentor and participate in an 8-week biomedical or computational lab-based internship. The areas of research will include cancer biology, structural biology, immunology, pharmacology, engineering, optics, and more.

You’ll be introduced to different professionals while working in the laboratory, work on a self-directed project, and gain exposure to translational medicine and research through events. Along with the opportunity to engage in independent research in a stimulating learning environment, the program is helpful in contributing to personal and professional development.

Why it stands out: It immerses you in cancer research under active faculty mentorship, helping you gain lab skills rarely available to high schoolers.

7. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Summer Internship Program 

Location: Bethesda, Maryland, and Framingham, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Free; $5,400 stipend paid in two installments
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: February 19th
Eligibility: High school students 18 years or older, must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school. 

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Summer Internship Program will allow you to conduct intramural research in NIH laboratories.

You’ll receive mentorship opportunities, participate in professional development events, and work in different research areas, including basic and clinical. Your research work will be mentored by an NHLBI principal investigator. 

Why it stands out: You’ll work alongside federally funded researchers, gaining firsthand experience with biomedical experiments and public-health–driven science.

8. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship

Location: Max Planck Florida Institute of Neuroscience (MPFI), Jupiter, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $13/hour stipend
Dates: June 16th – July 25th
Application Deadline: March 4th
Eligibility: High school students who attend and reside in Palm Beach or Martin Counties

The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship offers an immersive lab experience. You’ll participate in research projects, write a scientific abstract, and prepare and present a short presentation as the program concludes. You’ll do your research work alongside MPFI researchers. You can pick between the Neuroscience, Scientific Programming, and Mechanical Engineering Internship tracks.

In the Neuroscience track, you will focus on brain structure, function, and development, along with advanced imaging techniques and neuroscience technologies. You’ll gain hands-on experience in wet-lab techniques, including genetic engineering, preparations, histological staining, microbiology, and microscopy.

Why it stands out: It introduces you to international research in biomedical and ecological science, helping you explore cutting-edge scientific inquiry.

9. Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Centre Future Scientist Program

Location: IU School of Medicine’s downtown Indianapolis campus
Cost: Free
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February 28th
Eligibility: High school juniors from Marion County public schools

The Future Scientist Program at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center exposes high school students to cancer research. You’ll work on a cancer research project, receive mentorship from a university researcher, and also receive a stipend.

You’ll work in different research areas, including basic, clinical, and translational studies. The program not only gives you extracurricular educational opportunities but also serves as an active employment experience.

Why it stands out: You’ll learn how cancer research is conducted in modern labs, giving you insight into molecular biology, oncology, and data analysis.

10. UT Southwestern: Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship

Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 1-5; June 8-12
Application Deadline: February 2nd
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th-grade high school students from the U.S.

The UT Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship offers a two-week summer experience in different careers in mental health. You’ll learn from different mental health care professionals, including psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers, physician assistants, and neuropsychologists. Before the online sessions, you’ll engage in topical readings.

These readings will include different sources, including mass media and journal articles. You’ll gain knowledge about work areas in the mental health field, including psychotherapy, neuroscience, community psychiatry, and more.

Why it stands out: It gives insight into clinical and research aspects of mental health, helping you better understand behavioral science fields.

11. ResearcHStart at the University of Chicago

Location: Multiple locations in Chicago and Urbana-Champaign
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: June 15th –  August 7th
Application Deadline: January 19th
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (minimum age: 16 years), residents of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana

ResearchHStart at the University of Chicago invites high school students to explore careers in cancer research. You’ll attend a cancer-focused lecture series led by faculty, work full-time in cancer research laboratories, and also attend skill and career development workshops. You’ll gain hands-on experience in cancer research, including cancer immunology, cancer disparities, experimental cancer therapeutics, and bioengineering.

You’ll receive intensive research training, gain exposure to the top universities in Illinois, and receive a taxable stipend. At the conclusion of the program, there will be a research symposium for your family, friends, and the scientific community.

Why it stands out: It offers structured research engagement with medical faculty, helping you see how clinical research questions are formulated and pursued.

12. Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Youth Summer Program

Location: BWH campus
Cost/Stipend: Yet to be announced
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not available publicly
Eligibility: High school students residing in Boston (minimum age: 16 years)

If you’re a high school student looking for hands-on exposure in a hospital setting, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Youth Summer Program is one of the most practical medical internships for high school students in Boston. You’ll work on campus in different departments, including radiology, research labs, materials management, transportation, and more.

You’ll gain exposure to healthcare careers, understand community health, and focus on providing the best care to all patients. The program will allow you to gain the most important skills in healthcare careers and form meaningful connections with other participants and professionals.

Why it stands out: It provides healthcare system exposure and professional development, helping you build confidence in hospital and clinical environments.

13. UChicago’s EYES on Cancer Program

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 stipend is paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates:  June 15th –  August 7th
Application Deadline: December 1st
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, and sophomores residing in  Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties (minimum age- 16 years)

Chicago EYES (Educators and Youth Enjoy Science) on Cancer offers research training to students interested in careers in biomedicine. Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the program will give a full-time work experience for two consecutive summers. You’ll work in research labs, undergo rigorous research training, and attend a cancer-based summer lecture series.

You’ll engage in skill and career development workshops, receive mentorship from research professionals, program personnel, and the university faculty. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll present your work in basic, translational, clinical, or population-based cancer research at a symposium.

Why it stands out: It focuses on experiential learning in medicine, helping you gain early insights into medical careers and patient interaction.

14. High School Internship Program at Kaiser Permanente

Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or the business office nearest your location
Cost/Stipend: $24/hour stipend
Dates: June 15th – July 31st
Application Deadline: January 9th
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students or graduating in the present academic year, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and must be between 16 and 19 years old

The High School Internship Program at Kaiser Permanente offers a seven-week paid summer experience to high school students. You’ll be exposed to administrative and supporting careers in healthcare. You’ll attend weekly workshops, develop personal and professional skills, and engage in work-based activities.

You’ll participate in community service projects and gain valuable insights from your supervisors on preparing for a healthcare career. You will have the opportunity to network with peers and senior leaders through work-based activities, community service projects, and social events.

Why it stands out: It exposes you to integrated healthcare delivery, helping you develop foundational knowledge of medical teamwork and public health.

15. Massachusetts Life Science Center – High School Apprenticeship Challenge

Location: Multiple life‑science workplaces across MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend of $4,080 per intern ($17/hour)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: May 1st – April 30th
Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school students (minimum age – 16 years), the high school must meet one of these requirements

The Massachusetts Life Science Center High School Apprenticeship Challenge offers paid internship opportunities to underrepresented and low-income high school students. You’ll be offered pre-internship training programs to help you develop professional skills in biotechnology and biomedical science.

The program aims to build a diverse STEM workforce by offering about 150 internship opportunities every year. You can enrol in the internship either as a full-time or a part-time participant. Through this internship, you’ll explore life science careers and develop workplace skills. 

Why it stands out: It pairs you with real scientific employers, helping you gain hands-on lab or biotech work experience as a precursor to college STEM careers.

Strengthening Your Path Toward Medicine

Early exposure helps you understand what working in medicine really involves. Real healthcare settings reveal the pace, responsibility, and human side of the profession.

Through these medical internships for high school students, you build confidence, discipline, and practical awareness. You learn how professionals think, communicate, and make decisions under pressure.

These experiences help you test your interest before committing to a demanding academic route and clarify whether medicine feels right for you.

To continue building that understanding, our Medicine Top Books Guide offers thoughtful reading to support your next academic steps.