If you’re a high school student interested in medicine, medical shadowing opportunities for high school students can help you see what healthcare looks like beyond textbooks and science classes. You may already be fascinated by the human body, patient care, or medical research, but understanding the day-to-day reality of working in medicine is something entirely different.

Shadowing can help bridge that gap. Imagine observing physicians during patient consultations, watching healthcare teams collaborate in hospitals or clinics, or seeing how doctors make decisions under pressure in real clinical environments. These experiences give you an inside look at the medical profession and help transform a general interest in healthcare into a clearer understanding of what a future in medicine might involve.

What kinds of medical shadowing opportunities for high school students are available?

For high school students, shadowing can also be an opportunity to explore different specialties and career paths within healthcare. Some programs expose students to surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, or oncology, while others focus on broader healthcare systems, medical ethics, or patient communication. 

Of course, not all shadowing opportunities provide the same level of access or mentorship. Some are observational experiences lasting only a few days, while others include structured learning, physician mentorship, workshops, or clinical discussions that help students engage more deeply with what they observe. Finding the right opportunity can make a major difference in how much you learn from the experience.

Across hospitals, universities, clinics, and healthcare organizations, there are growing opportunities designed specifically to help high school students explore medicine through supervised shadowing experiences. You’ll gain exposure to real medical settings, learn directly from healthcare professionals, and build insights that can help shape your future academic and career decisions.

To help you explore the best options, we’ve compiled a list of 15 Medical Shadowing Opportunities for High School Students. They’ve been selected for their mentorship, clinical exposure, and meaningful introduction to the world of healthcare.

For adjacent opportunities, consider the online medicine program and the biology program.

15 Medical Shadowing Opportunities for High School Students

1. Hunterdon Health Shadowing Program

Location: Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by the availability of the department
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort; Spring: February 28th; Summer: May 29th; Fall: August 31st; Winter: November 29th
Dates: Spring: March 10th – April 30th; Summer: June 10th – August 15th; Fall: September 10th – October 31st; Winter: December 10th – January 31st
Eligibility: Local high school students who are 16 years or older

At Hunterdon Medical Center, high school and college students can take part in one of the more competitive medical shadowing opportunities for high school students, with short observational experiences across both clinical and non-clinical departments within the hospital system. Depending on availability, you may be assigned to areas such as inpatient nursing, medical imaging, home health services, inpatient physical therapy, or other departments.

During your placement, you will observe healthcare professionals in their work environment, learn how different teams contribute to patient care and hospital operations, and gain exposure to a range of medical and healthcare-related career paths. 

Why it stands out: The program offers direct exposure to multiple healthcare environments, helping you understand how different hospital departments function in practice.

2. Immerse Education’s Medicine Summer School

Location: New York, London, Cambridge, Sydney, and Singapore
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; small cohorts of around 7 participants per class
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

As one of the more career-focused medical shadowing opportunities for high school students, Immerse’s Medicine Career Insights Program lets you explore medical careers in major industry hubs. You’ll participate in hands-on medical simulations, attend engaging classes, and join 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 study under expert academics, be guided daily by a university student mentor, complete a project you can show in future applications, and experience genuine university college life ,  with other campuses worldwide as alternatives.

3. San Antonio Regional Hospital – Clinical Shadowing Program

Location: San Antonio Regional Hospital, Upland, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; ~55 Students
Application Deadline: March 8th
Dates: 4 weeks in the Summer
Eligibility: Local high school juniors

The Clinical Shadowing Program introduces you to different areas of healthcare through structured observation within a hospital setting. As part of the program, you may spend time in departments such as surgery, cardiology, maternity care, pharmacy, medical laboratories, and emergency medicine, where you will observe healthcare professionals during their daily work.

In addition to departmental shadowing, the program includes sessions focused on topics such as medical ethics, college preparation, and professional communication. Although you may observe procedures and treatments, your role remains observational throughout the experience, and you will not participate in patient care or clinical tasks.

Why it stands out: The program combines hospital shadowing with professional development sessions, giving you insight into both clinical environments and broader healthcare career preparation.

4. Ringgold County Hospital Job Shadowing Program

Location: Ringgold County Hospital, Mount Ayr, IA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather than a group program
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: Flexible; year–round
Eligibility: 11th and 12th-grade students who are at least 16 years old; students below 18 years of age need to get a consent form signed by their parent or guardian; international student eligibility not specified

The Ringgold County Hospital Job Shadowing Program allows you to observe how healthcare services are delivered within a rural hospital environment. You may spend time with professionals from different departments to understand the responsibilities of nurses, technicians, and medical providers working in a community-based setting. 

You will observe clinical workflows, provider-patient communication, and the coordination involved in patient care and treatment planning. The experience also introduces you to the operational structure of a Critical Access Hospital and the role such facilities play in serving rural populations.

Why it stands out: The program provides exposure to rural healthcare systems and the day-to-day functioning of a Critical Access Hospital.

5. High School Veterinary Shadowing Program

Location: Ashworth Road Animal Hospital, West Des Moines, IA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: Flexible; year–round
Eligibility: All high school students

The Ashworth Road Animal Hospital High School Veterinary Shadowing Program gives you the opportunity to observe veterinarians and clinic staff in a small animal practice setting. During the program, you may watch procedures such as blood collection, fecal testing, microscopic sample analysis, and digital X-ray imaging as part of the clinic’s diagnostic process.

You will also have the chance to observe routine wellness appointments and visits involving sick or injured animals, helping you understand the day-to-day responsibilities involved in veterinary care.

Why it stands out: The program introduces you to diagnostic and clinical processes commonly used in a working veterinary practice.

6. Shadowing at MEDIQ Physical Therapy

Location: MEDIQ Physical Therapy, Holly Springs, NC
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather than a group program
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort; Spring: November 1st; Summer: March 1st; Fall: July 1st; Winter: September 1st
Dates: Multiple cohorts available in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Eligibility: All high school students; a parent or guardian must approve participation for candidates under 18 years of age

The MEDIQ Physical Therapy shadowing program gives you the opportunity to observe the day-to-day work of a licensed physical therapist within a rehabilitation setting. Participants are assigned to a scheduled rotation and typically work alongside one therapist throughout the program, allowing for continuity in observation and mentorship.

During your time there, you may observe patient evaluations, rehabilitation exercises, manual therapy techniques, and treatment planning for individuals recovering from injuries or mobility-related conditions. The program also includes structured learning discussions that help explain the clinical reasoning behind different therapeutic approaches and patient care decisions.

Why it stands out: The program combines consistent therapist mentorship with guided explanations of rehabilitation and treatment planning processes.

7. SGMC Health Student Shadowing Program

Location: SGMC Health, Valdosta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: Flexible; year-round
Eligibility: Local high school students who are at least 16 years old

The SGMC Health Student Shadowing Program gives you the opportunity to observe healthcare professionals within a hospital setting and learn more about different medical careers. Depending on placement availability, you may shadow staff members in departments such as nursing, radiology, or pharmacy to understand their daily responsibilities and workflows.

During the program, you may observe clinical procedures, visit specialized hospital units, and see how different healthcare teams work together to support patient care. The experience also introduces you to professional expectations and communication practices commonly used in healthcare environments.

Why it stands out: The program provides exposure to multiple hospital departments while helping you understand how coordinated patient care functions in practice.

8. Observer Program @ Baptist Health

Location: Baptist Health hospitals and clinics in South Florida
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Rolling; applications accepted year-round
Dates: Year-round; duration ranges from one day to four weeks (dates set by sponsoring clinician)
Eligibility: Students and professionals worldwide, ages 16 and up, who have secured sponsoring clinicians

The Baptist Health Observer Program allows you to observe healthcare professionals in clinical settings and learn how patient care is managed across different specialties. During the experience, you may shadow physicians, nurses, and other staff members as they carry out routine responsibilities related to patient treatment, care coordination, and hospital operations.

The program focuses on observation and professional awareness, giving you insight into clinical communication, workplace expectations, patient privacy practices, and the structure of healthcare teams. Because placements may vary in length and are offered throughout the year, you can explore specific departments or medical fields based on your interests and availability.

Why it stands out: The program offers flexible shadowing opportunities across different specialties while emphasizing the professional and operational aspects of healthcare environments.

9. Job Shadowing Program @ MultiCare Health System

Location: MultiCare facilities in the Puget Sound Region and the Inland Northwest, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Rolling; contingent on completion of volunteer hours
Dates: Year-round; scheduled individually after eligibility requirements are met
Eligibility: Active MultiCare volunteers who have completed at least 60 hours of volunteer service; typically, high school students and older (age requirements vary by site) are eligible

The MultiCare Health System job shadowing program gives you the opportunity to observe professionals working in both clinical and non-clinical hospital departments. To participate, you must first complete the organization’s required volunteer hours before arranging a shadowing placement with a staff mentor through the regional volunteer office.

Once approved, you may spend time observing workplace routines, departmental operations, and interactions between healthcare teams within the hospital environment. The experience is observation-based only, limited to a maximum of 12 hours, and does not include direct patient care or participation in medical procedures.

Why it stands out: The program combines volunteer experience with short-term shadowing, allowing you to explore different healthcare roles within a large hospital system.

10. Mayo Clinic’s Medical Experience (MedEx) Program

Location: Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, WI
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: April 30th
Dates: June – August (dates vary based on availability)
Eligibility: High school students worldwide, ages 16 and up, who have volunteered for 30 hours or more at the Mayo Clinic Health System

The Mayo Clinic MedEx Program is available to high school and college students interested in healthcare careers such as nursing, medicine, or physician assistant studies. The program focuses on clinical observation and professional exposure rather than hands-on training, allowing you to shadow healthcare professionals across different specialties within a clinical environment.

Participation begins with a required orientation session, followed by a series of scheduled shadowing shifts held during the summer. Eligibility is limited to students who have completed at least 30 hours of volunteer service with Mayo Clinic, after which qualified volunteers receive application information for the program.

Why it stands out: The program combines volunteer service with structured clinical shadowing across multiple healthcare specialties.

11. UMass Chan High School Health Careers Program (HSHCP)

Location: UMass Chan Medical School (with overnight dormitories at Worcester State University), Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Cost: Free (participants actually earn 1 $600 stipend, and the program covers housing, breakfast, and dinner, plus a daily $15 lunch ticket)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: March 2nd
Dates: June 28th – July 24th (4 weeks)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in Massachusetts who are at least 16 years old by June 15th, and hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency; international students cannot apply

The UMass Chan Medical School high school program is a four-week residential experience where you stay in university housing and take part in daily academic and career-focused activities on a medical school campus. During the program, you attend structured sessions in subjects such as biology, mathematics, and communication, and work in groups on a research project related to health disparities.

Your project concludes with a presentation in which you explain your findings to a review panel. The program also includes evening sessions featuring guest speakers and guidance related to college and standardized test preparation.

Why it stands out: The program combines residential campus life with academic study, research work, and exposure to clinical healthcare settings.

12. MAHEC Project PROMISE Internships

Location: Local clinics and healthcare settings across 4 counties (Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yancey), North Carolina, USA
Cost: Free (students earn high school course credit for their participation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Specific dates vary by high school, so students must ask their local advisor to apply before the spring semester begins
Dates: 135 hours during the spring semester (students work every afternoon)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who maintain a 3.0 weighted GPA or higher, have reliable transportation, and attend public school in Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, or Yancey counties; international students living outside these 4 specific North Carolina counties are not eligible to apply

The MAHEC Project PROMISE program places you in local clinical settings during the spring semester, where you complete at least 135 hours of scheduled afternoon shadowing. You rotate through different healthcare specialties, which may include pediatrics, physical therapy, dentistry, and surgical care, allowing you to observe how various departments function within a healthcare system.

In addition to shadowing, you receive introductory training in topics such as basic research methods, patient confidentiality, and workplace safety. Medical students from the University of North Carolina also provide guidance related to college planning and academic pathways in healthcare. The program is integrated into the school schedule, so you complete your hours alongside your regular coursework and may receive academic credit depending on your school’s policies.

Why it stands out: The program integrates clinical shadowing with structured training and is scheduled during the school semester for academic credit.

13. MAHEC Medical Mentoring Program (MMMP)

Location: Asheville, North Carolina, USA (with rotations at Mission Health and the Western Carolina Medical Society)
Cost: Free (participants earn 135 high school credit hours for 1 honors-level course)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: March 20th
Dates: 1 semester (runs during Fall or Spring, from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM daily)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who maintain a minimum 3.0 weighted GPA and attend specific local schools in Asheville, Buncombe County, or Henderson County; international students living outside these local school districts are not eligible to apply

The MAHEC Medical Mentoring Program takes place during the school year and places you in clinical and community healthcare settings for afternoon shadowing experiences. Over the course of the program, you complete about 135 hours observing healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff working across different specialties.

The program also includes scheduled talks from healthcare professionals and time dedicated to college and career planning, along with community-based activities. The structure is designed to fit within the school day so you can participate while continuing your regular academic schedule.

Why it stands out: The program combines semester-based clinical shadowing with exposure to multiple healthcare settings and career planning activities.

14. Parkview Health – FutureREADY Internship

Location: Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN; some virtual options available
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance Rate: Selective, varies by track
Application Deadline: Applications accepted October – March
Dates: Year-round (Fall participation available)
Eligibility: Open to domestic high school students

The Parkview Health FutureREADY internship is one of the more selective medical shadowing opportunities for high school students, giving you time in both clinical and non-clinical departments. Depending on your placement, you may rotate through areas such as nursing, laboratory services, rehabilitation therapies, or administrative units within the hospital system.

The program includes structured job shadowing and short rotations, along with activities like journaling or group discussions to help you reflect on what you observe. Since the program is offered throughout the year, you may participate during different academic seasons, including fall and summer, depending on availability.

Why it stands out: The program provides year-round access to multiple hospital departments along with structured reflection activities to support career exploration.

15. Pre-Health Shadowing

Location: Remote (online)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate: Open-access
Application Deadline: None
Dates: Year-round (Fall participation available)
Eligibility: Open to all high school, college, and pre-med students

Pre-Health Shadowing is an online program that lets you observe healthcare professionals through scheduled virtual sessions. Each week, physicians and other clinicians from different specialties present their work, discuss real clinical cases, and respond to student questions about their fields and career paths.

You can join sessions from any location, and the program is offered year-round, allowing you to participate during the school year at your own pace. The format is designed for ongoing exposure to a range of medical specialties without requiring in-person attendance or a fixed internship placement.

Why it stands out: The program provides regular virtual access to healthcare professionals across multiple specialties throughout the year.

Your Next Step After Medical Shadowing

Watching medicine up close can change the way you think about healthcare, especially when you see how doctors listen, decide, and respond.

The medical shadowing opportunities for high school students listed here can help you move from interest to insight through real clinical observation.

After that first glimpse, reading becomes more meaningful because you can connect medical ideas to the people, choices, and challenges behind them.

Turn to our Medicine Top Books Guide next for reads that make your shadowing experience richer, clearer, and harder to forget.