11 Medical Internships for High School Students
In the context of medicine and medical research, early exposure through internships can set a student apart in the competitive college application process. It demonstrates a proactive approach to learning and a genuine passion for the field. Admissions committees look favorably upon applicants who have sought out opportunities to engage with their chosen discipline outside the classroom, showcasing a commitment to personal and professional growth. Furthermore, internships in medicine provide students with a glimpse into the realities of the profession, helping them confirm their career aspirations or adjust their path accordingly.
In this blog, we cover 11 of the best medical internships for high school students.
This six-week paid medical internship for high school students, designed for juniors and seniors in Palm Beach or Martin County high schools, dives into the intricacies of brain structure, function, and development while providing hands-on experience with advanced imaging techniques and technologies. Interns can choose from three specialized tracks: neuroscience, scientific programming, and mechanical engineering.
As a participant in this paid medical internship for high school students, you will have the opportunity to engage deeply in your chosen field.The program culminates with students writing a scientific abstract and delivering a concise presentation- see past intern presentations here. This full-time opportunity requires 40 hours a week and offers compensation at a rate of $12.00 per hour.
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
Cost: Interns are paid $12 an hour.
Eligibility: Juniors or seniors attending a high school in Palm Beach or Martin County.
Application deadline: January 9th - March 1st 2024.
Dates/duration: June 17 – July 26, 2024
Available to rising high school seniors, undergraduates, and first-year medical students, this paid medical internship for high school students offers an immersive experience in child healthcare research. Participants will collaborate with faculty members from the Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus.
The program concludes with students submitting a written summary of their research experience, contributions and accomplishments. In addition, all students will provide an oral or poster/PowerPoint summary of their research. While, as a high school participant you must be a resident of Colorado, you will receive a $3,500 stipend.
Location: The Children’s Hospital of Colorado.
Cost: There is no cost, students are provided a stipend of $3,500 to assist with travel and housing costs.
Eligibility: High school seniors living in Colorado.
Application deadline: December 1st 2023 - February 1st 2024.
Dates/duration: June 3rd - August 2, 2024.
Ladder Internships is a selective program equipping students with virtual internship experiences at startups and nonprofits around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, and each student can select which field they would most love to deep dive into. This is also a great opportunity for students to explore areas they think they might be interested in, and better understand professional career opportunities in those areas. The startups are based all across the world, with the majority being in the United States, Asia and then Europe and the UK.
You can explore all the options here on their application form. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship - the Ladder Coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding you through the internship and helping you navigate the startup environment.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: $1490 (Financial Aid Available)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates and gap year students!
Application deadline: April 16 and May 14
Program dates: 8 weeks, June to August
The KP Launch program, offered by Kaiser Permanente, provides a range of paid medical internships for high school students at its Oakland headquarters and medical offices throughout Northern California. KP Launch is an internship perfect for students interested in the aspects of health care that don’t require a medical background, such as administration or infrastructure. Geared towards students from underrepresented backgrounds in healthcare and those with limited financial means, the program aims to familiarize its participants with potential careers in the medical field.
Simultaneously, it helps students develop practical job skills and gain valuable real-world work experience. Preference is given to high school juniors and seniors, but accepted participants receive hourly minimum wage, ranging from $15 to $17 per hour. As an intern, you will work with health care professionals and leaders that will give you the support you need to explore the many non-medical careers that are available in health care.
Location: You are eligible to work in a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business offices closest to your home address. If you’re unsure of where your closest location is, you can find out online here.
Cost: There is no cost for this internship, KP Launch interns will be paid minimum wage based on the State of California and city’s standards depending on where your local program is located.
Eligibility: Must be 16 - 19 years old.
Application deadline: November 20th, 2023 - January 2nd, 2024.
Dates/duration: June 17th - August 2nd, 2024.
The Seacole Scholars Program, named for pioneering nurse Mary Seacole, provides its interns with a seven-week paid summer employment journey with Lifespan Hospital, Rhode Island’s largest private employer. Participants must apply with a valid CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) license in order to join 80 other fellow interns in engaging in hands-on experience by working four days a week on nursing units.
Additionally, one day a week is dedicated to Lifespan Workforce and Youth Development training. The Seacole Scholars Program is designed to push its interns to pursue a future career in medicine and provides daily career counseling, and a possible offer of employment upon completing your summer internship!
Location: Providence, Rhode Island.
Cost: N/A.
Eligibility: Must be 16-19 years old and have a CNA.
Application deadline: January 8th, 2024.
Dates/duration: 7 weeks (June-August)
The High School Summer Internship Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is an engaging eight-week initiative for graduating high school seniors. Participants dedicate 20 hours per week to working with a mentor in various pediatric specialties. Exclusively available to graduating high school seniors in the Cincinnati area, this paid, part-time position is a competitive opportunity for driven students with a keen interest in pursuing a higher education within the Biomedical Sciences field.
Interns engage in on-site part-time work, earning $13 per hour and must be residents of the Cincinnati area. All Summer interns will shadow their primary mentor in the clinic and are required to participate in clinical & research projects, ensuring that each intern has their own unique experience.
Location: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Cost: There is no cost.
Eligibility: High school seniors.
Application deadline: February 1st, 2024.
Dates/duration: 8 Weeks following orientation day on June 4th, 2024.
The JCVI Summer Internship Program is a highly coveted opportunity, meticulously crafted to guide and ignite the aspirations of the next generation of scientists. JCVI’s official program is exclusively conducted during the summer months and offers a comprehensive and structured research experience for motivated high-school students (18 and older), undergraduates, and graduate students.
Key elements of the program include dedicated mentorship, collaboration and networking with renowned scientists, and hands-on involvement in tailored research projects aligned with your mentor’s academic background. See here for openings as JCVI’s internship program is on a rolling application and admission basis.
Location: Washington D.C. and San Diego.
Cost: There is no cost.
Eligibility: Must be 18 years of age.
Application deadline: Rolling admissions.
Dates/duration: 10 - 15 weeks (from June to August).
At the 64th annual MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program, only up to 10 young Texans will receive this hands-on experience in biomedical disciplines as paid medical internships for high school students. As a Biomedical Research intern, you will work with faculty members, explore varied career opportunities, and build a solid foundation in scientific investigation principles.
Selected participants will work in MD Anderson labs five days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., gaining practical experience on a real research project. These paid medical internships for high school students provide an excellent opportunity to enhance your resume and academic profile. Seminars by faculty cover diverse research topics while exclusive activities, like abstract and poster competitions, add extra excitement. Interns conclude the program by sharing their journey in a presentation and celebrating with a full staff luncheon, a great opportunity to network for future job opportunities.
Location: Houston, Texas.
Cost: Stipend provided ($6,000).
Eligibility: Must be a high school senior living in Texas.
Application deadline: January 17th, 2024.
Dates/duration: June 3rd - August 9th 2024.
Washington University’s Young Scientist Program (or YSP), aims to increase the participation of students from historically-excluded groups in science. This mission includes diversity-focused paid summer research internships, hands-on scientific demonstrations in local classrooms, field trips to the Washington University campuses, dissemination of teaching kits containing pre-planned lessons, individual and personalized mentoring, and loaning or donating laboratory equipment to classrooms in need.
The Young Scientist Program aims to boost science literacy in high school students, inspire interest in STEM careers through exposure to diverse scientific fields, offer dependable personal and academic mentorship, and enhance participants' laboratory and critical thinking skills. These paid summer research internships provide students with valuable experience and insights into various scientific disciplines, preparing them for future careers in STEM fields.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri.
Cost: Stipend provided.
Eligibility: Junior high school students from St. Louis area schools can apply.
Application deadline: April 1st, 2024.
Dates/duration: June 9th - July 13th 2024.
NHLBI, a division of NIH, holds this biomedical research internship in which interns conduct research under award-winning scientists and enjoy an array of professional development opportunities. The NHLBI Summer Internship Program offers high school, college, medical, and graduate students the chance to engage in intramural research at NIH laboratories in Bethesda, Maryland, and Framingham, Massachusetts.
Over a period of six to eight weeks, interns delve into basic and clinical research fields, guided by an NHLBI principal investigator. This program places an emphasis on professional development events and opportunities for mentorship.
Location: Bethesda, Maryland, and Framingham, Massachusetts.
Cost: No cost.
Eligibility: Seniors in high school.
Application deadline: March 1st, 2024.
Dates/duration: Dates vary, see here.
In the Helios Scholars program, participants not only engage in hands-on research but also attend educational seminars to enhance professional skills, explore bioscience career paths, and refine scientific writing. This program is particularly beneficial for students seeking paid medical internships for high school students, as you will get the chance to showcase your research through presentations and scientific posters at social networking events. The program culminates in a formal research symposium, where interns present their project results, reflecting on your achievements at TGen.
This 8-week paid internship program is available to incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students with ties to Arizona high schools, colleges, or universities. Guided by TGen scientists, interns will learn about researching genetic aspects of diabetes, cancer, and neurological diseases. The program includes seminars to enhance professional skills, provide insights into career options, and practice scientific writing, among other valuable experiences.
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona.
Cost: No cost.
Eligibility: High school seniors in Arizona.
Application deadline: February 7th, 2024.
Dates/duration: June 10th - August 2nd 2024.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you find yourself taking on academically rigorous opportunities often, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Mandy Brenner is a current junior at Harvard University. She is concentrating in History and Literature and loves to read and write in her free time.
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