14 Doctor Shadowing Opportunities for High School Students
Doctor shadowing programs give high school students firsthand exposure to healthcare by allowing them to observe physicians and medical staff in clinical settings. These opportunities can strengthen your resume and academic profile while helping you understand how hospitals, clinics, and patient care systems operate. Through direct observation, you gain practical insight into medical careers, clinical responsibilities, and the realities of working in healthcare while also building professional connections and exploring whether medicine is the right fit for you.
For other healthcare-related internships, check out a list of summer-specific internships here, and find a list of virtual healthcare internships here.
Why should you doctor shadow in high school?
For students considering careers in pre-med, nursing, biomedical sciences, or related fields, shadowing experiences can also support future college and internship applications by showing sustained interest and active exploration of healthcare pathways. Many programs introduce students to a variety of specialties and medical settings, helping you learn more about the range of careers available within healthcare and how different professionals work together in patient care.
To help you find strong opportunities, we narrowed this list down to 14 Doctor Shadowing Programs for high school students. These programs are offered by respected hospitals, universities, and healthcare organizations that provide structured learning, meaningful clinical exposure, mentorship, and opportunities for career exploration.
Key takeaways
This list covers 14 doctor shadowing programs for high school students spanning children's hospitals, orthopedic clinics, and university research labs, with standout hosts including Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Florida, and Stanford University.
Nearly all of these are free to participate in, with one program offering a $1,000 award and a couple of others charging a small application fee, so cost is rarely a barrier here.
One program's eligibility actually requires being 18 or older, excluding most high schoolers despite its inclusion on this list, and a few others are extremely narrow, limited to students at specific named high schools or living in a handful of designated counties.
Nearly every program here requires being local to a specific city, county, or hospital system since shadowing requires in-person presence, with Ladder as the only fully virtual, location-independent option.
A couple of the earliest deadlines fall in mid-January and mid-February for two of the hospital-based programs, so it's worth reaching out early if a specific health system's shadowing program interests you.
1. MAHEC Project PROMISE Internships
Location: Local clinics and healthcare settings across 4 counties (Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yancey), North Carolina, USA
Cost: Free
Dates: 135 hours during the spring semester
Application Deadline: Specific dates vary by high school
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
MAHEC’s Project PROMISE is a structured health careers program where high school students, especially from rural areas, spend at least 135 hours in local clinics during the spring semester shadowing healthcare professionals. You will rotate through multiple medical specialties such as pediatrics, dentistry, surgery, and physical therapy, gaining firsthand exposure to how different healthcare fields operate. Alongside clinical observation, you receive training in research fundamentals, patient privacy, and workplace safety, while also being mentored by University of North Carolina medical students who help guide your academic and career planning. The program is integrated into the school schedule, allowing you to earn academic credit while gaining real-world experience in healthcare settings.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
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. Here is the application form.
3. CARTI Discover
Location: CARTI Cancer Center, Little Rock, AR
Stipend: $1,000 Award
Dates: June 1 – 5
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Rising freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior attending Jacksonville, Maumelle, or Mills High School, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and demonstrate an interest in healthcare careers.
CARTI Discover is a one-week summer healthcare job shadowing program for high school students that provides direct exposure to cancer care careers through observation and mentorship. You will explore different fields such as nursing, pharmacy, surgery, imaging, engineering, and other oncology-related roles while learning how each contributes to patient care within a clinical setting. The program also includes guidance from healthcare professionals and a capstone project based on your experience, helping you reflect on what you learn.
4. MedQuest
Location: Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR
Cost: Free with a $25 application fee
Dates: June 16 – 21
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Grades 9 to 12 students
MedQuest is a week-long residential health career exploration camp held in June that introduces high school students to a variety of healthcare professions through hands-on exposure and immersive learning experiences. During the program, you will live in college dorms, shadow healthcare professionals, attend presentations and medical panels, and explore different medical career pathways in a structured setting. The camp helps you gain a clearer understanding of healthcare fields while building connections with professionals and peers who share similar interests. Because the experience takes place over a full week in a residential environment, it provides more in-depth exposure to healthcare careers than shorter workshops or single-day programs.
5. Shadowing Program by Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Location: Multiple Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine locations across the Greater Cincinnati region in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana
Cost: Free
Dates: Offered year-round based on provider availability (1–2 days)
Application Deadline: Applications must generally be submitted at least 4 weeks before the requested shadowing start date.
Eligibility: High school and college students 18 years or older
Beacon’s Shadowing Program is a selective observation experience for high school and undergraduate students interested in healthcare, orthopedics, and sports medicine. In this program, you can shadow professionals in clinical settings or surgery centers, working alongside physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or physical therapists to observe patient care and medical workflows firsthand. Through direct exposure to orthopedic and sports medicine environments, you gain a better understanding of different clinical roles and how healthcare providers collaborate within a treatment team while exploring potential career paths in medicine and rehabilitation.
6. Discovery by Loma Linda University
Location: Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Cost: $30
Dates: July 12 – 24
Application Deadline: April 12
Eligibility: Grade 9 to 12 students; optional Shadowing Week for students ages 17.5+
The Discovery program at Loma Linda University is a two-week summer experience that helps high school students explore a variety of careers in the health sciences. You will learn about fields such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, public health, behavioral health, and allied health through academic sessions, collaborative activities, and service experiences. The program also includes team-building exercises that encourage communication and leadership skills while giving you a broader understanding of healthcare professions. Students who are at least 17 and a half years old may also have the opportunity to participate in an optional third week of shadowing at local healthcare facilities for additional clinical exposure.
7. Los Angeles Pediatric Society (LAPS) Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Various medical facilities across Los Angeles County and adjacent counties, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: 2 to 4 weeks during July and August
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The LAPS program introduces high school students to a wide range of medical specialties through a combination of virtual sessions and in-person experiences led by healthcare professionals. You will attend interactive sessions covering areas such as pediatric surgery, radiology, infectious disease, and emergency medicine, often through discussions of real clinical cases and procedures that make the learning experience more practical and engaging. The program also encourages direct interaction with physicians and specialists, allowing you to ask questions about their career paths and day-to-day responsibilities. Through these experiences, you gain a broader understanding of how different specialties work together within healthcare systems while exploring potential medical careers before college.
8. Denver Health Medical Career Collaborative (MC2)
Location: Denver Health and Children’s Hospital Colorado locations (Denver Metro or Colorado Springs area), CO
Cost: Free
Dates: 100 to 120 hours during the junior year (the program spans the junior and senior years of high school)
Application Deadline: Open in mid january
Eligibility: High school sophomores who attend school in the Denver Metro or Colorado Springs area
The program introduces high school sophomores to healthcare careers through hands-on learning, professional mentorship, and exposure to different medical specialties within clinical environments. You will interact with healthcare professionals, participate in career exploration activities, and gain insight into how hospitals and healthcare systems operate through workshops, discussions, and observational experiences. The program also helps you build communication, teamwork, and professional development skills while learning about potential education and career pathways in medicine and allied health fields. Through direct engagement with medical professionals and healthcare settings, you gain a clearer understanding of the responsibilities and collaboration involved in patient care.
9. Apollo Program Shadowing
Location: Primarily hosted in healthcare facilities and partner hospitals in Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: Offered during the school year and summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students interested in healthcare and medicine, particularly students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds
The Apollo Program Shadowing experience introduces students to healthcare environments through observational learning and career exploration opportunities in clinical settings. You will observe healthcare professionals across different specialties, learn how medical teams collaborate in patient care, and gain exposure to hospital workflows and healthcare operations through guided shadowing experiences. The program helps students build a clearer understanding of clinical roles, professional responsibilities, and potential career pathways in medicine and allied health while offering firsthand insight into real healthcare environments.
10. M.O.O.N. (Medical Observation Opportunity Network) Program
Location: St. Elizabeth Healthcare facilities in Northern Kentucky
Cost: Free
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: High school students interested in healthcare careers, particularly students from the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region
In this program, you will get an inside look at healthcare through hospital-based observation and career exploration activities at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. You will visit different clinical departments, observe healthcare professionals in action, and participate in interactive sessions that introduce medical procedures, patient care, and hospital operations. You will also have opportunities to speak with physicians and medical staff about their training, experiences, and career paths in healthcare. Through these experiences, you can gain broader exposure to medical careers, a stronger understanding of how healthcare teams work together, and insight into life within a clinical environment.
11. Anderson Orthopedic Clinic Shadowing Program
Location: Anderson Orthopedic Clinic locations across Northern Virginia
Cost: Free
Dates: June 1 (Start date)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: College students and rising high school juniors and seniors interested in orthopedics; exceptional high school sophomores may also apply.
The Anderson Orthopedic Clinic Shadowing Program provides high school and college students with firsthand exposure to orthopedics, sports medicine, and clinical patient care through direct observation of healthcare professionals in medical settings. You may shadow physicians in outpatient clinics, hospitals, and operating rooms while learning how orthopedic specialists diagnose injuries, perform procedures, and guide patients through treatment and recovery. The program also introduces you to the collaborative nature of healthcare by showing how surgeons, physicians, and rehabilitation teams work together in patient care. Through these experiences, you gain practical insight into orthopedic medicine and a stronger understanding of careers in healthcare and sports medicine.
12. Career Shadowing Program– Cleveland Clinic Florida
Location: Cleveland Clinic Florida locations, including hospitals and outpatient facilities in Weston, FL
Cost: Free
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school and college students interested in healthcare careers
The Career Shadowing Program at Cleveland Clinic Florida gives high school and college students the opportunity to observe healthcare professionals in real clinical environments while learning about different medical careers. You may shadow caregivers across various specialties, attend observational experiences in hospitals or clinics, and gain insight into how healthcare teams coordinate patient care and daily medical operations. The program is designed to help students explore career interests through direct exposure to healthcare settings while developing a clearer understanding of clinical responsibilities, professional pathways, and the collaborative nature of medicine.
13. Mayo Clinic High School Student Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Mayo Clinic campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ.
Cost: Free
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Open to students who are 15–18 years old, not yet enrolled in college, and can commit to the full nine-week program, including mandatory interviews and orientation sessions.
The High School Student Summer Volunteer Program at Mayo Clinic allows high school students to explore healthcare environments through hands-on volunteer experiences across hospital departments and patient support services. Over the course of nine weeks, you work alongside staff members, assist with non-clinical tasks, and interact with patients and visitors while gaining insight into how a large medical center functions on a daily basis. The program also helps you strengthen communication, teamwork, professionalism, and leadership skills while introducing you to the collaborative nature of healthcare and a wide range of potential medical career pathways.
14. Inspiring Future Scientists Shadowing (IFSS) Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 5 – 26
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students, particularly those from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds who are interested in chemistry, scientific research, and STEM fields.
The Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) Program at Stanford University introduces high school students to chemistry research through a two-week laboratory shadowing experience with graduate student mentors. You will observe researchers working on different scientific topics and techniques, gaining exposure to how academic research is conducted in university labs. The program also allows you to interact with graduate students, learn about scientific careers, and develop a broader understanding of chemistry and STEM research pathways.
Questions students often ask about these programs
1. Do I need to already know I want to become a doctor to apply to these shadowing programs?
No, these programs are designed for exploration, so genuine curiosity about healthcare careers is enough to get started. Many students use shadowing specifically to figure out whether medicine is the right fit before committing further.
2. A few of these programs are limited to students at specific schools or counties. How do I know if I qualify?
Check the eligibility section closely, since a handful of these are restricted to a particular school district or set of counties. The rest are open more broadly to any interested high schooler in the region or beyond.
3. Most of these require being local to a specific hospital or clinic. Are any of these open to students who can't relocate?
Not really, since shadowing inherently requires being physically present to observe clinical work. Ladder is the only fully remote option on this list if relocating or commuting isn't feasible for your situation.