14 Healthcare Internships for High School Students in Alaska

Interning in high school is a great way to build your resume, develop new skills, and figure out if a career path is right for you. Internships look great on college applications and help you build a network of professionals in your field, who can guide your future academic and career decisions. If you're a high school student interested in healthcare, an internship is a great way to learn more about the field. You can shadow doctors, help out in a clinic, or get involved in research.  

What healthcare internships are available for high school students in Alaska?

There are quite a few options out there for high schoolers in Alaska, from job shadowing and clinical support to research roles at hospitals, tribal health organizations, and community clinics. You can expect to observe professionals, help with basic medical tasks, and learn about patient care and medical ethics. Many programs even offer certifications or course credits, giving you a head start on a future in medicine, nursing, or allied health. A lot of these programs are designed with Alaska Native and American Indian students in mind, but are open to all, with placements in Anchorage and rural areas.

We’ve put together this list of the 14 best healthcare internships in Alaska for high schoolers!

1. Ladder Internships 

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies by program; financial aid available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students per session
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks

Ladder Internships enable you to work remotely with startups in the health tech sector, collaborating on real-world projects under the guidance of a manager and a Ladder Coach. Tasks may include researching healthcare trends, developing content for health apps, or analyzing data for public health initiatives. You present your work to the company at the end, receiving feedback to refine your approach. The program emphasizes mentorship, with regular check-ins to build skills in problem-solving and remote teamwork. You can choose projects aligned with healthcare, such as telemedicine or wellness tools, to gain insight into innovative aspects of the field. Community involvement comes through virtual networking with peers and professionals. Apply now!

2. Providence Ready High School Internships - Providence, Alaska 

Location: Providence facilities (Anchorage, AK, and other Alaska sites)
Stipend: Paid; amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; small cohorts
Dates: Summer; late June to early August
Application Deadline: Mid-February to March
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–17; must pass Alaska state background check and meet immunization requirements (TB, flu, etc.)

ProvidenceReady (managed by Providence Alaska Medical Center) offers high school career exploration and internship opportunities for students in Alaska. In this program, you participate in paid non-clinical summer roles at Providence facilities, supporting administrative or support tasks in healthcare settings. The program includes mentorship and exposure to various departments along with projects in data entry or community outreach. Unique aspects include potential for school credit and networking with staff, and at the end, you present your work.

3. ANTHC Internship - Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium 

Location: ANTHC (Anchorage, AK)
Stipend: Paid; amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 4–10 interns
Dates: 10 weeks between late May and late July
Application Deadline: Mid-March to early May
Eligibility: High school students who are Alaska Native or American Indian permanent Alaska residents

In this program, you complete a nine-week placement in medical professions or support services like health records or maintenance at ANTHC facilities. You will assist staff with daily operations, learn about tribal health systems, and participate in projects. You gain exposure to fields such as finance, human resources, or engineering in a healthcare context. Mentorship focuses on professional development and cultural competency. You may collaborate on community initiatives or attend training sessions. The program offers insight into Alaska Native health priorities through practical involvement.

4. Della Keats Health Sciences Summer Program - University of Alaska Anchorage 

Location: UAA Anchorage campus (Anchorage, AK)
Stipend: Paid; amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 20–25 students
Dates: July 6 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Current juniors, seniors, or GED-completing students

In this program, you live on the UAA Anchorage campus for four weeks, taking pre-college coursework in health sciences and conducting health-related research projects. The program includes four job shadowing experiences with medical or healthcare professionals. You experience university life, including dorm living and group activities, while focusing on biomedical topics. Skills development covers research methods, data analysis, and professional communication through presentations. Mentorship from faculty and peers supports your exploration of health careers, with emphasis on cultural relevance for Alaska communities. You may participate in initiatives like community health discussions or site visits to local clinics.

5. Student Worker Program - Norton Sound Health Corporation 

Location: Norton Sound Health Corporation (Nome, AK)
Stipend: Paid hourly; rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size depends on departmental needs
Dates: Typically summer (June – August); some roles continue part-time during the school year
Application Deadline: Summer: generally mid-April to early May
Eligibility: High school students; age 16+; residents of the Bering Strait region

The Student Worker Program at Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC) is a workforce development initiative designed to give high school students in the Bering Strait region practical, paid work experience within a healthcare environment. In this program, you will work in departments and participate in training, providing basic support in healthcare settings and learning about regional health needs. Mentorship introduces you to careers in medicine or administration, and you may engage in projects such as community health events. The program builds foundational skills like reliability and teamwork and is a stepping stone for further education in health fields.

6. Clinical Student Services - Tanana Chiefs Conference 

Location: TCC clinics (Interior Alaska)
Stipend: Paid; amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; no fixed cohort
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Ongoing, year-round
Eligibility: High school students age 16+; Alaska Native or American Indian

The Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) provides a flexible, year-round framework for career exploration, dual credit, and job shadowing. In this program, you observe professionals in disciplines like family medicine or pharmacy for up to 15 days. The experience focuses on watching workflows without hands-on tasks, where you prepare learning goals and questions beforehand. Mentorship offered by the program encourages discussions on career paths. TCC GO provides full scholarships for University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) courses, allowing you to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.

7. Tribal Health Scholars - Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium 

Location: ANTHC sites (Alaska)
Stipend: $700 for the 10-hour online curriculum + $600 for the 10-hour shadowing completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; often 10–15 students per regional cohort
Dates: 10–11 weeks between late spring and early summer; Online Program & Orientation: March 2 – May 11
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who are Alaska Native or American Indian; must reside in a partner tribal community or the Pacific Northwest region

The Tribal Health Scholars (THS) program, often facilitated in partnership with the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACoE) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), is a specialized career exploration track for Indigenous high school students. In this program, you will join a paid internship to shadow professionals and assist in tribal health projects. You learn about cultural aspects of healthcare through workshops, and mentorship inspires the pursuit of medical fields. You may present your experiences at the end. The program focuses on serving Pacific Northwest tribes.

8. Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) - Foundation Health Partners 

Location: Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Denali Center, or Tanana Valley Clinic (Fairbanks, AK)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not explicitly stated
Dates: 5 weeks in summer; usually start between late May and August
Application Deadline: Mid-March
Eligibility: Rising sophomores through current year graduates

In this program, you participate in a structured placement at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Denali Center, or Tanana Valley Clinic, working up to 15 hours per week in one department. The program includes optional weekly exploration activities in areas like the operating room, medical laboratory, and radiology to broaden your exposure to healthcare operations. You will observe and assist professionals in daily tasks, learning about patient interaction, safety protocols, and departmental workflows. Mentorship from staff helps you develop professional skills, such as time management and collaboration in a team environment. You may engage in small projects, like organizing supplies or documenting processes, to apply what you learn in a practical setting.

9. Raise Program - Southcentral Foundation 

Location: Southcentral Foundation (Anchorage, AK)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by session
Dates: Summer: June 2 – August 1; Winter and Graduate sessions occur throughout the year
Application Deadline: Summer: April 29
Eligibility: Students ages 14–17, enrolled in or entering 9th grade or higher, with a 2.0 GPA

This program enables you to engage in meaningful worksite experiences at Southcentral Foundation facilities, exploring healthcare, administrative, or cultural tracks. Activities include cultural events, skill-building workshops, and assisting in patient support roles under supervision. You learn about Alaska Native culture and its integration into health services through group discussions and projects. Mentorship helps you develop life skills like responsibility, time management, and community involvement. You may collaborate with professionals on initiatives like health education or administrative tasks. The program prepares you for life after high school by focusing on workforce readiness and career planning.

10. Ethel Lund Village Health Occupations Program (VHOP) - SEARHC 

Location: Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center (Sitka, AK)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 10–12 students
Dates: July 12–17
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or graduates/GED recipients who are Alaska Native/American Indian

In this program, you spend six days at Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center immersed in healthcare activities, including hands-on simulations and job shadows. The program covers various health occupations through workshops, site visits, and interactions with professionals. You participate in group projects focused on community health issues relevant to Southeast Alaska. Mentorship emphasizes career exploration and skill-building in areas like patient care and medical terminology. Unique elements include cultural integration and discussions on tribal health systems. You present your learnings to peers at the end of the program.

11. Summer High School Internships at Bartlett Regional Hospital

Location: Bartlett Regional Hospital (Juneau, AK)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; small cohorts
Dates: Session 1: June 1–26; Session 2: July 6–31
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: High school students ages 16+

The Summer High School Internships at Bartlett Regional Hospital (BRH) are immersive, short-term educational programs designed to introduce Juneau’s "rising adults" to the healthcare field. In this program, you will complete up to four shifts in clinical or non-clinical units, assisting with tasks and observing healthcare operations. The program provides hands-on learning in areas such as patient support and administrative functions. You explore health career options through interactions with staff in various departments. Time in specialized areas may depend on availability, offering glimpses into real workflows. The program focuses on inspiring interest in healthcare and related support roles.

12. Southeast Alaska Area Health Education Center K-12 Programs 

Location: Southeast Alaska sites
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 15–25 students per session
Dates: Typically late May or June
Application Deadline: Early to mid-spring
Eligibility: High school students; Alaska residents

The Southeast Alaska Area Health Education Center K-12 program is a residential camp designed to introduce you to the healthcare industry. During the session, you will explore diverse topics covering general medical professions, behavioral health, and essential workplace principles. You will tour local hospitals, practice dressing wounds, check patient vital signs, and complete safety training courses. The camp features an inclusive structure, offering specialized cohorts for students with disabilities while providing opportunities to earn dual college credit. Ultimately, you will walk away with practical clinical abilities, an official CPR certification, and critical career preparation skills like resume building and interviewing.

13. Alaska AHEC Youth Exploration & Career Camps

Location: Various locations across Alaska (hosted by regional AHEC centers)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by regional center
Dates: Typically one-week summer sessions
Application deadline: Varies by regional AHEC center
Eligibility: High school students ages 15 to 19

The Alaska AHEC Youth Exploration Camps give you a hands-on introduction to the healthcare field. During this week-long program, you will cover topics such as allied health, behavioral health, medicine, anatomy, ethics, confidentiality, and professional behavior. You will engage in activities such as practicing CPR compressions, operating an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and applying medical slings. The program enables you to earn two to three college credits and secure industry-recognized credentials before graduating high school. Ultimately, you will build life-saving skills, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), and emergency trauma response.

14. Rural Health Career & Technical Pathways - Alaska AHEC 

Location: Virtual, local rural communities, and the UAA Anchorage campus
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by participating school district
Dates: Fall and Spring semesters (aligns with the academic year)
Application deadline: Varies by participating school district
Eligibility: High school students in participating rural Alaska school districts

In this program, you will explore essential topics like healthcare occupations, human services, behavioral health, and workplace professionalism. Throughout the program, you will shadow clinical professionals, practice emergency response scenarios, complete online modules, and engage in training intensives. The pathway delivers university-level instruction directly to your rural community, allowing you to simultaneously earn high school and college credits. By completing the courses, you will master vital, industry-ready skills, including Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR, Mental Health First Aid, and Mandt de-escalation techniques.

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