15 Healthcare Internships for High School Students in Kansas
Doing an internship while you’re still in high school helps you build a stronger resume, gain experience, and show colleges that you’ve explored your interests beyond the classroom. If you’re interested in medicine, public health, or the life sciences, healthcare internships are especially valuable because they expose you to systems, patients, and research environments early on. These opportunities help you test your interest in healthcare early, build professional skills such as communication, and, in some cases, produce tangible outcomes such as poster presentations.
If you’re based in or around Kansas, a local internship is a super accessible way to gain experience without too much expense.
For internships in Kansas beyond healthcare, feel free to check out our other blogs here & for those interested in business-specific internships, have a look here.
What healthcare internships are available for high school students in Kansas?
Kansas offers a solid mix of programs tied to various medical centers, universities, and community organizations. Healthcare internships in Kansas can range from paid medical research programs at major academic hospitals to volunteer-based clinical exposure and short-term career exploration camps. Some programs let you work on research projects with faculty, while others focus on shadowing healthcare professionals and understanding how hospitals operate day-to-day.
How have we shortlisted the best healthcare internships for high school students in Kansas?
To make your search easier, we’ve narrowed this list down to 15 healthcare internships for high school students in Kansas, prioritizing value, selectivity, and exposure offered.
1. Accelerate Cancer Education (ACE) High School Summer Research Program
Location: University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS
Stipend: $2,940
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (16+) from Wyandotte County, KS, or Jackson County, MO; Must have a 3.0+ GPA and be eligible to work in the U.S.
The Accelerate Cancer Education (ACE) program is a research-intensive and selective healthcare internship that places you in an oncology research environment where you’ll work on a focused project in a lab, clinical, or office-based setting. You’ll be paired with faculty mentors who will guide you through cancer-related research questions and methods. Beyond research, the program includes structured learning around biomedical careers and workforce diversity in healthcare. You’ll spend the summer building technical skills, understanding how cancer research actually works, and learning how professionals collaborate across disciplines. The program ends with a formal poster presentation, which gives you a concrete research outcome to talk about in college applications.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students able to work 10-20 hours/week
Ladder offers a very different kind of internship experience. Instead of hospitals or labs, you’ll work remotely with high-growth startups, including health tech and digital healthcare companies. Your work will be project-based, meaning you’ll contribute to real deliverables over simulations, while also getting the chance to build professional communication skills by presenting to the company at the end of the project. You will be supported by both a startup manager and a Ladder Coach, adding structure to the experience. While not a traditional healthcare exposure, it can still count as healthcare-related experience if you choose a health-focused startup. Apply now!
3. Explore RCoN – Summer Nursing Experience
Location: HCA Midwest Health facilities inKansas City, MO
Cost: $100; Full scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 3-day summer program
Application Deadline: Varies (typically spring)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in healthcare or nursing careers
The Explore RCoN program is a short-term, immersive healthcare experience designed to introduce you to the world of nursing and clinical practice. Over three days, you will engage in hands-on learning activities and explore real-world patient care scenarios. A key highlight is the shadowing experience at HCA Midwest Health hospitals, where you will observe healthcare professionals in action. Each participant is paired with a current nursing student mentor, who will provide personalized guidance and insight into nursing education and career pathways. The program blends classroom instruction with real clinical exposure, making it an engaging and practical introduction to healthcare.
4. UMKC STAHR Scholars Program
Location: University of Missouri – Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend or scholarship available for eligible students
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – July 17 (summer); August – April (academic year)
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school rising juniors or seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who come from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds; Must have a strong interest in non-nursing healthcare careers, and can attend the program in person in Kansas City
The STAHR High School Scholars Program is a rigorous, year-long healthcare enrichment experience designed to prepare you for future careers in health professions. The program begins with an intensive six-week summer session, during which you will gain hands-on exposure through clinical observations, faculty-led research projects, and community service activities. You will work closely with healthcare professionals across fields such as medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, allowing you to explore different career pathways in depth. Beyond technical exposure, the program emphasizes personal and professional development, helping you build skills in communication, leadership, and academic readiness. After the summer, you will continue receiving mentorship, guidance, and career-building support throughout the academic year.
5. UMKC Saturday Academy
Location: University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC), Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: Free; Small stipend upon completion
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: Every other Saturday from September 13 – December 13
Application Deadline: August 31
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 2.75 GPA and an interest in healthcare; Must be economically or educationally disadvantaged and able to attend in person
Saturday Academy is a semester-long health careers exploration program designed to support students interested in medicine and allied health fields. You’ll participate in hands-on and simulated healthcare activities while learning effective study habits and test-taking strategies. Sessions are led in partnership with UMKC’s Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing, giving you exposure to multiple healthcare pathways. You’ll also meet admissions representatives, interact with healthcare professionals, and begin developing materials for future college or health program applications. The program places strong emphasis on mentorship and academic readiness rather than research.
6. University of Kansas: Pharmacy Summer Camp
Location: KU School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, KS
Cost: $75 (day); $250 (overnight)
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: Day camps: June 8 & 10 (Lawrence), July 14 & 16 (Wichita); Overnight camps: July 16 – 18, July 21 – 23 (Lawrence)
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students
The Pharmacy Summer Camp introduces you to pharmacy as a healthcare profession. You’ll attend academic sessions, explore different pharmacy career paths, and visit community and hospital pharmacies. The hands-on activities include patient counselling simulations and pharmaceutical compounding. You’ll also interact with current pharmacy students and faculty, which gives you insight into pharmacy school expectations.
7. Health Professions Exploration Program
Location: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Cost: $450 (approx. $820 total expenses before discounts)
Cohort Size: Up to 20 students
Dates: June 7 – 12; June 21 – 26
Application Deadline: February 13 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Health Professions Exploration Program is a residential exploration program that introduces you to multiple healthcare-related fields. Topics range from nursing and medicine to nutrition, biomedical engineering, and public health. You’ll attend sessions led by professionals and alumni working in healthcare roles. The focus is on understanding how different healthcare careers intersect rather than specializing deeply in one area.
8. ProX Summer Internship Program
Location: Kansas City Metropolitan Area (including select counties in Missouri and Kansas)
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,500
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 2
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14-19) who live and attend school within the Kansas City service area (including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas) and can meet employer hiring requirements
The ProX Summer Internship Program is a paid, career exploration experience that allows you to gain real-world work exposure across a wide range of industries, including healthcare. Over five weeks, you’ll participate in hands-on internships with local employers. The program is designed to be accessible and to foster skill development, guiding you through a structured process that includes workshops, mentorship, and a hiring fair before placement. One of its standout features is the opportunity to test different career paths while earning a stipend. You’ll also build professional skills like communication, teamwork, and workplace readiness. With strong mentorship and exposure to real job environments, including healthcare settings, ProX serves as an excellent way to gain hands-on experience.
9. KU Medical Center: U-CHaMP Ambassador Program
Location: KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Cost: Free; Scholarships available in advanced stages
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; Varies by cycle
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who demonstrate a strong interest in healthcare careers; Must come from educationally or economically underserved backgrounds and be motivated to learn about health disparities and rural healthcare challenges
The U-CHaMP Ambassador Program is a healthcare pathway initiative designed to support students from underserved and rural communities in exploring careers in health professions across Kansas. As a participant, you’ll engage in a mix of virtual sessions, mentorship, and real-world shadowing experiences with healthcare providers, giving you valuable exposure to clinical environments and patient care. A major focus of the program is understanding health disparities and the unique challenges faced by rural populations, helping you develop both awareness and purpose in your career paths. You will be paired with mentors currently enrolled in health profession programs, allowing for personalized guidance and insight into academic and career journeys. The program also includes opportunities to connect with faculty, advisors, and healthcare professionals, along with invitations to special on-campus experiences.
10. University of Kansas Health System: High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Multiple locations in Kansas and Missouri
Cost/Stipend: Not mentioned
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: High school rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors
The High School Summer Volunteer Program gives you early exposure to hospital environments. You’ll assist or shadow healthcare professionals like nurses, doctors, and technicians, and develop an understanding of both clinical and non-clinical hospital roles. While it’s less selective and research-focused, it’s useful for exploring healthcare before committing to a specific path.
11. Children’s Mercy STAR 2.0 Program
Location: Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI), Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: Free; $2,600
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors from Missouri or Kansas; Must have strong academics and an interest in medicine or science; Preference for students from disadvantaged backgrounds or communities
The Children’s Mercy STAR 2.0 Program is a paid research program that gives you early exposure to clinical and translational medical research. As a participant, you’ll work directly with Children’s Mercy Research Institute faculty on a real research project over six weeks. The focus is not just on lab work, but also on understanding medical ethics, statistics, and how research translates into patient care. You’ll also receive guidance on research writing and data interpretation. One unique aspect is the opportunity for your work to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, depending on the project.
12. North Kansas City Hospital: Student Volunteer Program
Location: NKC Health, Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – August 9
Application Deadline: April 26
Eligibility: High school students (16+) interested in healthcare and able to commit to the program schedule and hospital requirements
The Student Volunteer Program at North Kansas City Hospital offers you a valuable opportunity to gain exposure to real-world healthcare environments through hands-on support roles across multiple hospital departments. You may be placed in areas such as the emergency room, pharmacy, cardiac rehab, nursing units, or pediatric services, depending on availability and interest. While the program is unpaid, it provides meaningful clinical exposure and helps you understand hospital operations, patient care workflows, and healthcare teamwork. You’ll also develop skills like communication and professionalism while interacting with staff and patients. The structured summer schedule includes orientation and training, ensuring you are prepared for your roles.
13. Children’s Mercy: Allied Health Observership Program
Location: Children’s Mercy – Adele Hall, Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Flexible (short-term, typically one-half to one full day; up to 8 hours total)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Recent high school graduates (18+) and non-medical college students interested in healthcare careers, who can complete required documentation, immunizations, and compliance forms
The Allied Health Observership Program at Children’s Mercy Kansas City offers a short-term shadowing experience for students interested in exploring careers in medicine and allied health fields. You’ll spend a limited period observing licensed healthcare professionals across departments such as pharmacy, radiology, respiratory care, and physical therapy, gaining insight into daily clinical workflows and patient care environments. While you do not engage in direct patient care, the experience provides valuable exposure to healthcare settings and helps you understand the roles and responsibilities of various professionals. The program is particularly useful for those in the early stages of career exploration, offering a realistic glimpse into hospital operations and interdisciplinary care.
14. KU Medical Center Educational Experience (KEE)
Location: KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling (apply at least 30 days in advance for shadowing)
Eligibility: High school students (16+) with an interest in healthcare; Must complete the application and have a sponsor for placement
The University of Kansas Medical Center Educational Experience (KEE) offers high school students a valuable entry point into the healthcare field through research and clinical observation opportunities. The program allows you to either observe or actively engage in research within medical labs or shadow healthcare professionals in clinical settings. While the experience is unpaid and primarily educational, it provides real-world exposure to patient care, medical research, and hospital environments. Research experiences can last up to a full semester or summer, while clinical shadowing is typically limited to a one-day, 12-hour session.
15. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,299 + $25 application fee; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students (16+) for wet-lab projects; Students (15+) for remote projects
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program offers longer-term research mentorship compared to many virtual options. You’ll work closely with faculty on research projects in medical and biological fields such as epidemiology, neuroscience, or women’s health. The focus is on developing research writing, data analysis, and presentation skills. Projects require a fair amount of independent work, supported by regular mentor check-ins. Online forums also help you explore academic and healthcare career paths with peers.
Image source - University of Kansas Cancer Center logo