10 Medical Internships for High School Students in San Diego, CA
Internships can significantly enhance your high school experience by offering practical, on-field opportunities that help you explore potential career paths and boost your college application. This is especially true in the fields of medicine and healthcare, where early exposure allows you to explore various medical specialties, narrow down your area of interest, and make informed decisions about your future. These experiences build confidence, provide a competitive edge for college applications, and showcase your commitment to a career in healthcare.
If you're a high school student in San Diego looking for internships in the medical field, we’ve compiled this list of 10 medical internships. These programs offer a range of experiences, from hands-on patient care to cutting-edge research, helping you find the perfect fit for your interests and career aspirations.
Note: The institute offers two internships under this program: one focused on translational science (I - Student Research Internship Program) and the other on precision medicine (II - Medical Student Research Internship Program). Both programs cover similar subjects with some overlap.
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA (about 20 minutes away from San Diego). The institute provides resources to help students find housing.
Cost/Stipend: For Program I, information on funding is yet to be updated. For Program II, a stipend is provided, and travel and housing expenses are covered.
Dates:
Internship I: June 3 – August 9, 2024 OR June 17 - August 23, 2024
Internship II: May 20 - July 29, 2024
If these dates do not work for you, the institute recommends you note your specific available dates in your application (You are required to give 10 weeks for I, and 8 weeks for II).
Application Deadline: March 30, 2024 (Program I) and February 29, 2024 (Program II)
Eligibility: Highly motivated students in high school who will be at least 16 years old before the internship begins can apply.
The Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) offers two competitive internship programs that bring together talented students from across the country for an immersive, college-level research experience in translational medical research. During this 10-week program, you will explore topics such as digital health, clinical genomics, and community engagement, with a focus on precision medicine.
Participants are assigned a primary mentor based on their interests, who will guide them through research design, analysis procedures, and clinical trials. You will also study design and analysis procedures relevant to translational research, including genomic/genetic association studies. You will observe the steps of proposing, designing, undertaking, and analyzing clinical trials. At the end of the program, you will present a scientific concept to your peers and mentors in the intern poster symposium.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starts at $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
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 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 AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies, on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. This dual support structure ensures that students receive comprehensive guidance as they navigate their internships, enhancing both their technical and soft skills.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other valuable skills, and they 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: Palomar Medical Centers in Escondido, CA (30 minutes away from San Diego) and Poway, CA (25 minutes from San Diego)
Cost: $150 onboarding fee (upon acceptance)
Dates: Interns are accepted and onboarded every three months, with start dates of March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 (6-month commitment).
Application Deadline: Rolling applications open from October 1, 2024
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and can commit 96 hours (6 months) are eligible to apply (Level I interns).
The Pathmaker internship offered by Palomar Health aims to provide hands-on experience to high school and college-level students interested in pursuing careers in all fields of the healthcare industry. As a Pathmaker intern, you will serve alongside healthcare professionals in many facets of the industry, working together to provide patient support under the guidance of staff in the provision of a safe, comfortable, and confidential environment.
This internship offers an immersive experience where you’ll participate in patient interactions, assist with daily rehabilitation exercises, and provide administrative support. Interns are required to complete 16 hours of training and orientation and commit to a minimum of 96 service hours over six months, working four hours per week.
You will attend shifts and gain practical experience in different departments, such as acute care, imaging, rehabilitation, intensive care, and emergency. You can check the details of the upcoming recruitment cycle here and apply through their website.
Location: Banfield Pet Hospital, San Diego, CA
Stipend: Minimum $15 per hour (exact rate may vary)
Dates: 6-10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Applications are closed for 2024; they will reopen in early 2025
Eligibility: High school students aged at least 16 and can carry at least 50 pounds can apply. Specific internship criteria may vary.
If you have a passion for animals and are interested in exploring a career in veterinary medicine, the NextVet Internship at Banfield Pet Hospital could be a great opportunity for you. Banfield Pet Hospital is a renowned veterinary care provider with branches all over the country. This program is designed to give high school students hands-on experience in a veterinary setting, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to work in animal care.
As a NextVet intern, you'll observe and shadow veterinarians and veterinary technicians, participate in group sessions exploring different aspects of the veterinary industry, and receive guidance from experienced professionals. The program is highly competitive, with only around 30 students selected from over 500 applicants. This internship not only provides practical experience but also helps you build a network of contacts within the veterinary field.
Location: In-person, remote, or hybrid options available.
Cost: There is a $25 application fee, which can be waived based on financial need.
Dates: June 18 - August 9, 2024 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: The applications typically close at the beginning of February.
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old by June 18, 2024 can apply. Interns for “wet lab” or hybrid internships should be at least 16 years old.
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) offers several internship opportunities that allow students to work one-on-one with faculty researchers at the university, who will act as mentors, as well as its collaborating institutions. Interns work on projects in various fields, including proteomics, molecular medicine, bioengineering, neuroscience, and more.
Participants will have access to advanced technology and software to conduct their research and will develop skills in scientific writing and communication. The internship also provides project opportunities in numerous fields such as drug discovery, biology, disease diagnostics, infectious disease and epidemiology, tissue repair and regeneration, women's health issues, and more. You can apply for the program through their website.
6. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Experience
Location: In-person and Virtual options are offered.
Stipend: Hourly wage/transportation funds (In-person); $500 stipend (virtual)
Dates: July - August (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by March 1 every year.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations anywhere in the United States can participate in the 5-week virtual summer research experience.
The John Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a highly prestigious opportunity for high school students interested in biology and neurological science. This five-week program offers students the opportunity to engage in brain science research through educational presentations, basic laboratory experiments, professional development training, and mentorship.
As part of the five-week virtual internship, you will participate in activities like educational presentations, basic laboratory experiments and techniques, mentorship training, professional development training, and networking with professionals in the healthcare industry. You will work collaboratively on projects, receive guidance from experts in the field, and present your findings at the end of the program. You can check out the past projects here.
Location: Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA
Stipend: Information about a stipend is currently not available.
Dates: 3-year program, from sophomore year to senior year of high school.
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2024 cohort are closed. The details for the 2025 cohorts will be announced on their website.
Eligibility: High school sophomores who reside in the City Heights area of San Diego are eligible to apply.
FACES for the Future San Diego at Rady Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive health careers pathway program designed to prepare high school students from underserved areas for careers in science and health. Starting in their sophomore year, students participate in a three-year program that includes work-based internships, mentoring from health professionals, and exposure to real-world healthcare environments.
The program also offers academic tutoring, college advising, and various enrichment activities such as field trips, healthcare industry panels, and skills workshops. FACES for the Future emphasizes professional development and community advocacy, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to pursue successful careers in the healthcare field.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (Financial aid is available)
Dates: June 17 - August 9, 2024 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: The applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors at the time of application and at least 14 years old by June 17.
Hosted by Stanford University, this prestigious virtual summer internship offers valuable insight into several fields. Themes will span and combine the science of information and communication, engineering, the arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design, among other areas.
This prestigious program is designed to expose students to research in a top-tier academic environment, providing hands-on experience and mentorship from Stanford faculty. Interns will participate in projects that span a wide range of topics, including computer science, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, linguistics, psychology, and more. You may expect 30-40 hours of work a week.
The program emphasizes collaborative work, allowing students to contribute to ongoing research while developing their own skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. At the end of the program, you will present your projects as part of your teams. You can find more information on their website and fill out this form to be notified when applications for Summer 2025 open!
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA (about 20 minutes from San Diego)
Stipend: $17 per hour
Dates: June 17 - August 9, 2024 | 30-40 hours per week
Application Deadline: April 5, 2024
Eligibility: Students must:
Be San Diego County residents who are at least 16 years old on or before June 17, 2024
Have completed their most recent semester of high school at a public or private high school within San Diego County
Have completed at least one year of high school chemistry and biology, with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (exceptions will be considered).
Check their website for all the program requirements.
The Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program is a prestigious 8-week, paid internship designed for high school students in San Diego County eager to gain practical experience in conducting research. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in STEM.
During the internship, you'll work side-by-side with Salk scientists on cutting-edge research projects, learning essential laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, data analysis, and science communication. Apart from conducting research, the program focuses on guidance and is designed to be a supportive and passionate learning environment for its scholars.
The program includes a one-week boot camp, where you’ll receive training on basic lab equipment and skills, followed by seven weeks of intensive research work. This means you will have the opportunity to gain real-life laboratory and research experience, which will help you sharpen the mental tools needed for both an academic and professional STEM career. By the end of the program, you'll have the opportunity to present your research findings at the Summer Scholars Research Symposium.
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA (20 minutes from San Diego)
Stipend: $17 per hour
Dates: Internships typically run from May to August, lasting around 10-15 weeks.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, as received once the position is posted.
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and above can apply. Applicants must have a 3.0/B average.
The JCVI Summer Internship Program offers motivated high-school, undergraduate, and graduate students a highly competitive and enriching summer research experience in STEM. This internship provides students with a structured research experience in cutting-edge fields like genomic medicine, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics.
As an intern, you'll work closely with a dedicated mentor, collaborate with world-class scientists, work on exciting projects tailored to your academic experience, and gain access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology. You will also participate in workshops and seminars aimed at enhancing both your scientific knowledge and professional skills, these include journal clubs, career development sessions, and multi-disciplinary scientific seminars. To apply, you must submit your resume, a cover letter, your school transcript, and a 500-word statement of interest. You can check out the rest of the requirements on their website.
One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs 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.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.