Top 15 Paid Medical Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student passionate about medicine, an internship can serve as a stepping stone toward a future in healthcare. These real-world experiences help you develop practical skills and build valuable connections without the high costs of pre-med programs.
Numerous universities, hospitals, and research organizations offer paid medical internships for high school students. These opportunities allow you to shadow professionals, assist in research, work in labs, and explore various medical fields before committing to a college major. Moreover, paid internships provide financial support while helping you gain valuable industry exposure.
To help you, we’ve put together a list of the top 15 paid medical internships for high school students. Let’s dive in!
1. CYCE Science Summer Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations. Check here
Stipend: Paid
Eligibility: Students must be:
A current freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior
At least 15 years of age by June 1
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
Be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or legal permanent resident
Live and attend school in one of the following Northeast Ohio counties: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Stark, or Summit
Application deadline: February 7
Program dates: June 9 – July 25
The CYCE Science Summer Internship program provides high school students in Northeast Ohio with an opportunity to gain real-world experience in clinical-focused areas of healthcare. Internships are available in applied medicine, behavioral health, laboratory medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, occupational/physical therapy, and respiratory care.
You’ll collaborate with world-renowned caregivers who will help manage your learning experiences and work responsibilities, provide practical applications for your academic knowledge, and support your workforce readiness and career preparedness. You’ll also develop project management, digital literacy, academic writing, presentation, professional communication, and teamwork skills.
2. Harvard Medical School’s Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid
Eligibility: High school students who:
Reside in Boston or Cambridge, MA
Have completed junior or senior year
Have a racial or ethnic background underrepresented in medicine and/or from a disadvantaged background
Are at least 16 years old at the start of the internship
Have maintained a GPA of 2.7
Completed biology, algebra, and chemistry
Application deadline: February 3
Program dates: June 30 – August 15
Harvard Medical School’s Project Success is a paid summer research internship for high school students interested in assessing their interest and aptitude for biomedical careers. During the six-week program, you’ll be appointed in the school’s research lab, visit hospitals and biotech organizations, attend seminars, develop writing and speaking skills, and receive computer training. The assigned mentors and research advisors will offer career guidance and help build the required technical skills and scientific knowledge.
3. Cincinnati Children's Hospital - High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $13/hour
Eligibility: Cincinnati-area graduating high school seniors
Application deadline: February 1
Program dates: 8-week program after orientation day on June 3
The High School Summer Internship Program is an 8-week paid opportunity for graduating seniors in the Cincinnati area interested in exploring pediatrics. You will spend 20 hours each week shadowing a mentor in the clinic while participating in clinical or research projects in pediatric specialties such as Critical Care, Endocrinology, and Human Genetics. The program also provides weekly group luncheons, hands-on training sessions with computerized simulated pediatric patients, group community service opportunities, and seminars with speakers from various specialties.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, East Baltimore, MD
Stipend: In-person interns will receive $15/hr as a stipend. Virtual interns do not receive a stipend but receive a certificate of completion.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Baltimore City
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: 8 weeks, June – August (in-person); 5 weeks, July – August (virtual)
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences offers 8 high school students an opportunity to intern at the Department of Neurology. During the 8-week internship, you’ll participate in a research project under the guidance of faculty, staff, and student mentors and partake in clinical rotations with neurologists.
The program also includes scientific seminars, meetings with faculty, and weekly educational and professional development sessions. It culminates in a final oral or poster presentation where you’ll describe your work during the internship.
5. NYU High School Medical Ethics Internship
Location: Virtual, with optional opportunities to visit the Division of Medical Ethics in person for students in the New York City area.
Stipend: $640
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors. Students from under-resourced schools or underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply
Application deadline: January 26?
Program dates: March 24 – May 16
The NYU High School Medical Ethics Internship introduces rising juniors and seniors to the central concepts of bioethics. As an intern, you’ll research and write content for the High School bioethics website and interact with professionals from different fields, including bioethics, public health, healthcare, pharmaceutical, patient advocacy, law, and more. You’ll get a chance to develop mentor relationships that continue after the internship is over.
6. J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) Summer Internship Program
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
Stipend: $17-$18.50/hour, depending on the education level completed
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old with a 3.0/B average
Application deadline: On a rolling basis from when the application is posted
Program dates: June 23 – August 22
JCVI aims to mentor and inspire the next generation of great scientists through its summer internship program for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. The selected students participate in research projects in genomic medicine, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics using state-of-the-art equipment and technology. You’ll also interact with world-class scientists, attend science seminars, and take part in workshops to develop professional and scientific skills.
7. University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Child Health Research Internship
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Eligibility: High school seniors who reside in Colorado and are 18 years old at the start of the internship
Application deadline: First week of February
Program dates: June 2 – August 1
Spend your summer working on a research project related to child health with this internship program hosted by the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine. You’ll also attend weekly research seminars every Friday. At the end of the program, you’ll present a written summary and an oral or poster presentation of your research experience, contributions, and accomplishments. If your research is accepted for a scientific meeting, the internship will cover your funding for travel expenses.
8. NextVet Internship at Banfield Pet Hospital
Location: Multiple cities. Check here.
Stipend: Minimum $15/hour
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
Application deadline: Applications typically open at the start of the year
Program dates: 6-10 weeks during the summer
If you’re passionate about veterinary medicine, the NextVet internship at Banfield Pet Hospital could be a great opportunity. The paid part-time summer internship offers the opportunity to get behind the scenes in one of their veterinary hospitals. You’ll observe the veterinary hospital team in action, shadow veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians, gain valuable insights from industry leaders and experts, and attend virtual group sessions.
9. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre’s Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Eligibility: High school juniors who:
- Live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of the Main Campus of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side in Manhattan
- Have a 3.5 GPA in science subjects
- Are at least 14 years old at the start of the internship
Application deadline: February 7
Program dates: June 30 – August 22
The Summer Student Program is an 8-week biomedical or computational lab-based internship for high school juniors at the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) research laboratory. You will be paired with a mentor who will assist you in completing a self-directed project, supervise your activities, and help you develop appropriate technical skills.
There are numerous areas of research, including cancer biology, structural biology, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, chemical biology, and more. Outside of your lab, you will participate in events designed to provide insight into translational medicine and research.
10. Alabama Colon & Gastro, PC Summer Internship Program
Location: Alabama Colon & Gastro, PC, Huntsville, AL
Stipend: Paid
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 17 years old and reside in the state of Alabama
Application deadline: February 15
Program dates: May – August
Started in 2017, Alabama Colon & Gastro, PC’s summer internship program aims to encourage high school students to pursue a medical degree and stay in the state to provide healthcare to the community. You’ll spend 15 hours per week gaining experience in a medical office setting, shadowing providers, and gaining knowledge in medicine and gastroenterology.
11. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Location: Interns will be placed in local clinics and basic science labs in the San Francisco Bay Area
Stipend: $3,000 – $4,300
Eligibility: Students who are:
High school juniors or seniors with at least one completed year in math and biology
At least 16 years old by June 1
From a background considered underrepresented in the sciences
Application deadline: February
Program dates: Early June – early August
The UCSF Summer Student Research Program places high school and college students from underrepresented backgrounds into local clinics and basic science labs for active biomedical research projects. You’ll be paired with a mentor who will guide you through the projects.
As an intern, you’ll also attend unique workshops, seminars, trainings, journal clubs, and more. The program concludes with a research symposium where you’ll present your findings to the scientific community.
12. Magee-Womens Research Institute High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Stipend: $1,800 if your household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program and reside in local southwest Pennsylvania region
Application deadline: February 7
Program dates: 6 weeks after the internship starts on June 16
Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI), which focuses on reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant health, offers an internship for high school students interested in biomedical research. Throughout the 6-week program, you will work on a basic, translational, or clinical scientific research project under the mentorship of an investigator and the institute’s staff.
The program also includes informal lunch-and-learn sessions where you will hear personal stories from investigators about their careers in biomedical science. At the end of the program, you will present your research findings to fellow interns, MWRI faculty and staff, and other invited guests.
Location: The University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
Stipend: $1,000
Eligibility: Students must be:
High school juniors
U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
Belong to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group as defined by the National Institutes of Health Criteria (limited to African American, Hispanic, Native American, Native Alaskan, or Native Pacific Islander) OR Must be in the first generation of their family, intending to pursue college
Application deadline: Second week of February
Program dates: June 9 – August 1
The UAB Department of Surgery’s Pre-College Research Internship for Students from Minority Backgrounds (PRISM) is a highly selective program that offers hands-on research experience to high school students interested in healthcare and medicine. The knowledge and skills gained from the program will help you explore medical careers, especially in surgery, and provide an opportunity that enhances your competitiveness during college admissions.
The five selected students will spend eight weeks completing a research project under the mentorship of surgeons and their peers. You will also participate in learning experiences, including seminars, workshops, and clinical shadowing, to explore clinical practice and surgical careers. You’ll be required to present your research at the end of the program.
14. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Eligibility: Students who are:
Rising juniors or seniors in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school
Reside in Palm Beach or Martin Counties
At least 16 years old at the start of the internship
Legally authorized to work in the United States
Application deadline: March 4
Program dates: June 16 – July 25
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) offers a six-week research internship for students interested in brain structure, function, development, and the advanced imaging techniques and technologies used in neuroscience. During the six-week internship, you’ll participate in research projects alongside MPFI scientists, prepare a written scientific abstract, and give a short presentation at the end of the program. The program offers experience in hands-on “wet lab” techniques such as genetic engineering, microbiology preparations, histological staining, and microscopy.
15. Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Application deadline: March 31
Program dates: June 23 – August 15
The Summer High School Internship Program at Fred Hutch Cancer Center is an eight-week paid program for students underrepresented in biomedical science. As an intern, you’ll spend the first two weeks receiving hands-on training in laboratory safety techniques and skills.
For the remaining six weeks, you’ll work in pairs within a research group under the guidance of a mentor. Weekly activities include research seminars, professional development workshops, and other social activities. The program ends with a presentation to the Fred Hutch community, family, and friends.