10 Paid Hospital Internships for High School Students
For high school students interested in medicine, a hospital internship can provide hands-on experience, exposure to professional settings, and valuable networking opportunities. These internships allow you to work alongside healthcare professionals, gaining insight into patient care and hospital operations. Additionally, they can help you develop practical skills, such as data collection, lab techniques, and patient communication.
If you plan to be a pre-med student in college, a hospital internship can strengthen your application. To make these programs even more appealing, the internships in this list offer a stipend, ensuring that you are compensated for your time and effort. Whether you’re interested in shadowing doctors, assisting with clinical tasks, or conducting research, these programs provide valuable experience. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 10 paid hospital internships for high school students.
If you're looking for more prestigious research programs, internships, and region-specific programs in medicine, check out this set of blogs!
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Provided
Dates: June-August (summer research) + yearlong college prep
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors who identify as an underrepresented minority in medicine and science (Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino/a/x, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander). Applicants must have a Social Security Number or DACA Number.
This yearlong internship provides students from underrepresented backgrounds with hands-on experience in biomedical research. You’ll conduct laboratory-based experiments under faculty mentorship at The Saban Research Institute. You will gain exposure to regenerative medicine, neuroscience, and cancer research. The program also includes intensive college preparation, such as SAT prep, college counseling, and application workshops. You will present your research at a Science Symposium and participate in professional development activities throughout the year.
Location: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, OH
Stipend: $13 per hour
Dates: June-August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Open to graduating high school seniors in the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
This is an eight-week internship for graduating high school seniors in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. You will work 20 hours per week under the mentorship of faculty members in various pediatric specialties, including critical care, neonatology, human genetics, and molecular cardiovascular biology. You will gain experience through shadowing, research projects, and clinical observations, with opportunities to explore additional specialties. The program includes networking luncheons, simulation training with computerized pediatric patients, and group community service activities. At the end of the internship, you will present a summary of your experience at a graduation event.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 30 - August 22
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors who live within 25 miles of MSK’s main campus in Manhattan, have a minimum 3.5 GPA in science subjects, and are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Summer Student Program at MSK is an eight-week, lab-based internship for high school juniors interested in biomedical sciences and cancer research. You will be paired with a mentor in MSK research labs, where you will develop technical skills and contribute to self-directed projects that align with ongoing research. In addition to laboratory work, you will attend professional development events, seminars, and networking sessions focused on translational medicine. The program covers a range of research areas, including cancer biology, computational biology, immunology, and pharmacology. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Stipend: Provided (amount not specified)
Dates: High school internships: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors and recent graduates living or studying in Massachusetts. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and available full-time.
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is a full-time summer internship for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in neurology. You will work 40 hours per week on mentored research projects under the guidance of the MGH Neurology faculty. The program begins with a boot camp introducing you to clinical and research skills, followed by lab work, weekly educational sessions with neurologists, and networking opportunities. You will also participate in final presentations to showcase your research findings. Interns receive financial compensation and long-term career support after program completion.
Location: Children's Hospital Colorado & University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Dates: June 2 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors (18+) who are Colorado residents and available for the entire nine-week program.
This internship, hosted by the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado Child Health Research Institute, provides experience in pediatric research. You will work with faculty at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Anschutz Medical Campus to contribute to ongoing research projects in child health. The program includes a weekly seminar series, networking opportunities, and a final presentation where you will summarize your research. Additionally, interns whose research is accepted at a scientific meeting may receive funding for travel and registration to present their work.
Location: Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Stipend: Provided (amount not specified)
Dates: July 7 - August 15
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors (current 11th graders) attending NYC public or charter schools. Students must be from underrepresented minority groups or meet economic criteria and have a minimum GPA of 85 (strongly preferred).
The CEYE High School Summer Program – Internship Track at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine is a hospital internship for NYC high school students from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. You will be placed in hospital departments, where you will gain experience, interact with medical professionals, and learn about career pathways in healthcare. The program includes weekly seminars, library research, and discussions on health disparities to enhance your understanding of medical fields. Interns are required to complete oral and written progress reports and a final research presentation.
Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Stipend: Provided (amount not specified)
Dates: Year-round, after-school internship (7-10 hours per week)
Application Deadline: Varies by school; check with the PIC Career Specialist
Eligibility: Open to sophomores and juniors from Boston Latin Academy, Community Academy of Science and Health, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, Fenway High School, John D. O'Bryant School of Math and Science, Madison Park Technical and Vocational High School, and New Mission High School.
SSJP at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is a year-round, paid internship designed to introduce Boston high school students to careers in healthcare, science, and research. You will work 7-10 hours weekly after school in hospital departments, gaining experience and mentorship from medical professionals. The program includes college guidance, SAT prep, tutoring in math and science, and monthly public health seminars to support your academic and career goals. SSJP also provides summer internships for alumni, workforce development training, and college scholarship opportunities.
Location: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
Stipend: Provided (amount not specified)
Dates: June 23 - August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors (age 16+ by June 24). Students must be local or regional to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
The Dartmouth Health High School Summer Internship Program is a seven-week internship designed to introduce high school students to careers in healthcare. You will rotate through 2-3 hospital departments, such as perioperative services, radiology, medical laboratories, and pharmacy. In addition to gaining work experience, you will attend professional development workshops, mentorship sessions, and networking events to build essential workplace skills. The program requires a full-time commitment (30-40 hours per week).
Location: Children’s Hospital Colorado (multiple locations) & Denver Health, CO
Stipend: Paid at Colorado minimum wage (internship hours only)
Dates: Winter internship: 12 weeks (after school, weekends, and school breaks); Summer internship: 6 weeks (weekday and some weekend hours)
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Open to current high school sophomores in the Denver metro and Colorado Springs areas. Students must commit to the two-year program and be eligible to work in the U.S.
The Medical Career Collaborative (MC²) Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health is a two-year healthcare career pathway program. You will begin the program as a junior and participate in field trips, workshops, certifications, and a paid internship (100-120 hours) in a hospital department. You will be paired with mentors and participate in weekly seminars on medical topics, gaining exposure to careers such as nursing, public health, and medical research. Seniors receive college application support, financial aid guidance, and career coaching, with continued professional development available for program alumni.
Location: Hawaii Pacific Health medical centers (O‘ahu & Kaua‘i, HI)
Stipend: Provided
Dates: O‘ahu: June 16 - July 25; Kaua‘i: June 16 - July 24
Application Deadline: February 21, 3:00 p.m.
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors, seniors, and college students. High school applicants must provide transcripts, a resume, and an essay as part of the application.
This is a six-week, full-time internship for high school juniors, seniors, and college students interested in healthcare careers. As an intern, you will be placed in patient care and non-patient care departments across Hawaii Pacific Health’s network of medical centers, including Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Benioff Medical Center, and Wilcox Medical Center. You will interact with healthcare professionals and explore career pathways in medicine, nursing, imaging, rehabilitation services, and more. The program includes mentorship and professional development.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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 4,000 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.
Image Source - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Logo