7 Healthcare Internships for High School Students in Maine
Healthcare internships give high school students the chance to move beyond classroom learning and gain a realistic understanding of how health systems operate. Through structured internships, you can develop transferable skills such as communication, responsibility, and problem-solving while exploring whether a career in healthcare aligns with your interests. These experiences are also valuable for building a strong academic profile, as colleges often look for evidence of initiative and sustained career exploration.
What healthcare internships are available for high school students in Maine?
Across Maine, hospitals, research institutions, and health-focused organizations offer programs that allow high school students to explore healthcare from multiple perspectives. These opportunities may include clinical observation, research support, public health initiatives, or health education projects, depending on the program’s focus. Many are designed to serve Maine’s diverse communities, including rural and underserved regions, while helping students understand the state's workforce needs. You will gain insight into different healthcare roles, learn about training requirements, and build professional confidence through supervised experiences.
To make that process easier, we’ve identified a list of 15 healthcare internships for high school students in Maine that emphasize structure, mentorship, and meaningful participation.
For other healthcare-related internships, check out a list of summer-specific internships here, and find a list of virtual healthcare internships here.
1. Maine AHEC Network – Rural Youth Health Career Pathway Program
Location: Statewide across Maine (with emphasis on rural and underserved communities)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Year-long program
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Maine high school students, especially from rural communities (grades 10–12)
The Rural Youth Health Careers Program supports rural community students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. The program focuses on helping rural students explore health professions while addressing their career-related needs with personalized support. During the program, you’ll participate in structured activities and attend learning sessions on career readiness skills, such as interviewing, resume writing, and professional communication. You’ll also gain a clearer understanding of healthcare roles and the steps required to enter those professions. The initiative supports students in developing both academic direction and career confidence.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (available worldwide)
Cost: Varies by program; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort — typically January (Spring), May (Summer), September (Fall), and November (Winter)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program offers a structured, remote internship experience that connects students with early-stage and high-growth startups. As a participant, you are placed on a startup team and work on defined, real-world projects that contribute to ongoing business or product goals. Internship placements span multiple industries, including health tech, technology, artificial intelligence, consulting, marketing, and media-related fields. Throughout the program, you work closely with a startup manager, gaining insight into professional workflows, problem-solving strategies, and team collaboration. The internship emphasizes applied learning rather than observation. You are expected to take ownership of assigned projects and present your work to the startup at the end of the program. Most placements run for approximately eight weeks, though timing may vary by cohort.
3. Maine AHEC Network – Health Careers Explorations Camp
Location: UNE Biddeford Campus (overnight stay)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Typically June
Application Deadline: Not specified (Opens in April)
Eligibility: Maine students entering grades 10–12
The Health Careers Exploration Program provides Maine high school students with early exposure to a range of healthcare professions. Through interactive sessions, career panels, and hands-on activities, students are introduced to a range of clinical and non-clinical roles within the healthcare system. They learn about the different healthcare careers such as dental medicine, osteopathic medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, neuroscience, neurodevelopmental and related disabilities treatment, physical therapy, and public health. Overall, the focus is on helping you make informed decisions about your career.
4. The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) – Academic Year Research Fellowship
Location: Bar Harbor, Maine (also available at Farmington, CT; remote options for undergraduates)
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid (academic credit required)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Academic year (typically fall through late spring)
Application Deadline: Rolling (most placements begin in the fall)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+) within commuting distance of Bar Harbor, ME; undergraduate students in good standing
The Jackson Laboratory Academic Year Research Fellowship offers an in-depth, mentored research experience for students interested in biomedical and genetics-focused research. As a fellow, you join an active JAX research group and contribute to ongoing scientific work while developing your own independent research project within the lab’s scope. Under the guidance of faculty scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate-level mentors, you gain experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. The fellowship emphasizes both technical research skills and professional development, including teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. You are expected to commit a minimum of 180 hours over the academic year during standard business hours, making this a substantial time commitment. High school students must participate for the full academic year, while undergraduates may apply for in-person, hybrid, or remote placements depending on availability.
5. The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) – Summer Student Program (SSP)
Location: Bar Harbor, Maine (also offered at Farmington, Connecticut)
Cost/Stipend: $7,500 stipend plus room, board, and travel support
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Bar Harbor: May 30 – August 7; Farmington: May 30 – August 10
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students interested in genetics or genomics research
The JAX Summer Student Program is an intensive, full-time research fellowship designed for students eager to explore genetics and genomics in a professional research environment. During the program, you join an active research laboratory and contribute to a mentored project connected to the lab’s ongoing scientific work. As the summer progresses, you gain greater independence in experimental design, data analysis, and result interpretation. The experience culminates in a formal research presentation shared with JAX scientists, peers, and family members. In addition to lab-based research, the program includes structured training in scientific communication, data visualization, peer review, and responsible conduct of research. Weekly journal clubs and discussions with JAX professionals—ranging from researchers and veterinarians to science writers and policy experts—offer insight into diverse career paths within biomedical science.
6. York Hospital – Student Opportunities
Location: York, Maine (York Hospital and affiliated practices)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program (internships typically unpaid; MA Apprentice Program is paid)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Year-round opportunities; program-specific timelines
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Primarily college and postsecondary students; limited options for high school students through shadowing or postsecondary pathways
York Hospital offers a range of student-focused opportunities designed to support career exploration and skill development within healthcare settings. These programs allow students to engage with clinical and non-clinical teams while learning how hospital departments work together to deliver patient care. Depending on the pathway, students may gain hands-on experience, observe healthcare professionals, or participate in structured workforce training programs. Opportunities are administered through York Hospital’s education and volunteer services teams and require completion of program-specific applications and confidentiality agreements.
7. University of Southern Maine (USM) – High School Student Programs
Location: Southern Maine (Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston–Auburn campuses; some programs may be online)
Cost: Varies by program (some dual-enrollment options may reduce college costs)
Acceptance Rate: Varies by program
Dates: Academic-year and summer offerings
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Maine high school students (eligibility depends on program type and academic standing)
The University of Southern Maine offers a range of opportunities that allow high school students to explore academic and career interests before college. While these programs are not traditional internships, they provide early exposure to college-level coursework and fields related to healthcare, science, and public service. Through dual-enrollment options, summer programs, and campus-based experiences, students can begin building academic foundations that support future healthcare education. These programs are especially useful if you are interested in understanding college expectations or preparing for health-related majors.
Image source - The Jackson Laboratory logo