9 Medical Internships for High School Students in Chicago, IL
Exploring medical internships as a high school student can be a solid step toward a future career in healthcare. Internships provide valuable hands-on experience, allowing you to explore the medical field and gain practical skills that go beyond classroom learning. Whether you're interested in becoming a doctor, nurse, researcher, or any other healthcare professional, participating in an internship demonstrates your dedication to the field. It provides you with experiences that can be highlighted in college applications, personal statements, and interviews.
Moreover, medical internships provide mentorship and networking opportunities that can open doors to future educational pathways and career prospects. By working alongside professionals in real-world settings, you can make informed decisions about your career interests and develop a deeper understanding of the healthcare industry.
In this blog, we’ll explore 9 medical internships for high school students in Chicago, IL. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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 and 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. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: University of Chicago campus, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $500 taxable stipend provided.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior
Application Deadline: Admission to SHE is based on teacher nominations from participating Chicago high schools. For more information, please contact SHE@bsd.uchicago.edu.
Dates/Duration: Two-week, part-time program that typically runs the second half of July.
The "SHE in Oncology" program at UChicago Medicine is a virtual initiative for Chicago high school students. This program provides an exploration of oncology, allowing you to engage in genetics-based research projects and patient case studies. Throughout the program, you will attend daily faculty lectures, participate in panel discussions, and engage in skill-building workshops. The curriculum covers critical aspects of cancer science and care. By collaborating with peers and mentors, you will gain valuable insights into the challenges and innovations in cancer research and treatment.
Location: University of Chicago campus, Chicago, IL
Stipend: A taxable stipend of $3,000 is provided.
Eligibility: High school junior or senior at the time of application, at least 16 years of age at the start of the program
Application Deadline: January 22
Dates/Duration: Generally from the second full week of June through the first week of August.
ResearcHStart is an exceptional summer program for high school students interested in cancer research. This full-time program offers laboratory experience in advanced fields like cancer immunology, bioengineering, experimental cancer therapeutics, and cancer disparities. You'll receive guidance from university faculty, research professionals, program staff, and peers. Furthermore, ResearcHStart includes career development and skill-building workshops to give you the tools and knowledge for a future in cancer research.
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus
Stipend: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin.
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates/Duration: June 20 - August 2
The High School Summer STEMM Research Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign allows high school students to explore a variety of fields, including cancer immunology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, physics, quantum mechanics, bioengineering, electrical engineering, and more. You will engage in over 35 hours per week of research, working with researchers from the university's engineering, computer science, and medical faculties. The program culminates in a symposium where you will present your research findings. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: The Discovery Program offers six chapters: Cook County (City of Chicago and North Suburban Cook), Lake County, McHenry County, DeKalb, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee and Ogle counties, DuPage County and Kane County, Will County and South Suburban Cook County
Stipend: Varies based on internship
Eligibility: First-year applicants must be at least 15 years of age, be entering sophomore or junior year of high school, and have an academic GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
Application Deadline: September 29.
Dates/Duration: The session is expected to begin in November.
The Northwestern Medicine Governor's Summer Medical Discovery (GSM) Program is an excellent opportunity for high school students who want to explore careers in healthcare. This program offers insights into various medical fields and professions through a series of activities and educational sessions. You will job shadow healthcare professionals, participate in clinical skills workshops, and attend seminars on different medical specialties and healthcare topics. You will also receive mentorship from Northwestern Medicine professionals, helping you develop a deeper understanding of the healthcare industry and the career paths available.
Location: University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost. You will receive a stipend (amount not specified)
Eligibility: Illinois high school students who are at least 16 years old.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates/Duration: June 10 - August 2
The University of Illinois’ College of Medicine Rockford offers a highly regarded summer science internship that allows high school students to explore the medical research process. During the program, you will join a research team and receive mentorship from professional scientists and faculty. The internship focuses on key areas of medical research, such as vaccine development, drug discovery, and cancer research. You will receive career-building and professional development training. The program concludes with a science forum where you will deliver oral presentations and display scientific posters. Only five students are accepted for this internship.
Location: Northwestern University campus
Cost/Stipend: No cost; interns must arrange their own housing and transportation. Interns are paid a competitive stipend (amount not specified)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (juniors at the time of application) who are at least 16 years old.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February
Dates/Duration: Early June through the end of July every year (8 weeks)
The Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program at Northwestern University offers a research experience for high school students interested in pulmonary and critical care medicine. This program allows you to engage in hypothesis-driven or hypothesis-generating research projects under the guidance of Northwestern faculty. You will be involved in meaningful lung disease research within a laboratory setting, learning essential research skills and techniques that are critical for scientific inquiry. In addition to lab work, you will participate in workshops and activities designed to enhance your college applications. The summer culminates in the Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium, where you will present your research findings.
Location: Two locations for the program: Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.
Cost: For details on costs or stipends, refer to the official program website
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students.
Application Deadline: Applications will open in the fall.
Dates: Chicago: June 10 - June 14 | D.C.: June 24 - June 28
The Pathways program at the American Academy of Dermatology Association offers high school seniors an introduction to dermatology. This program is designed to foster inclusivity within the field, focusing on Black, Latino, and Indigenous students. During the five-day program, you will engage in activities that provide a comprehensive view of a career in dermatology. This includes practicing common dermatological procedures, attending interactive sessions with dermatologists, and learning about the realities of working in the field from residents and medical students. The program also offers guidance on successfully applying to medical school and building a career in medicine.
Location: Northwestern University campus, Evanston, IL
Cost: $6,795 (Residential Program); Scholarships are available.
Eligibility: Students must be between the ages of 14-18 and have completed at least one year of high school.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.
Program Dates: Multiple sessions are available: June 23 - July 10 | July 17 - August 3
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Medicine Intensive High School Summer Program at Northwestern University offers opportunities for students interested in the medical field to explore their interests. This program provides interactive lectures, workshops, and realistic simulations that mirror real-life medical challenges. You will work with professional medical practitioners, gaining insights into the complexities of healthcare. You will learn advanced clinical diagnostics, develop treatment plans, and handle critical medical situations. You will also learn essential techniques such as suturing, surgical knot tying, and even treating injuries in wilderness settings using natural resources.
One other option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to participate in a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you should 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.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
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.