13 Healthcare Internships for High School Students in New Hampshire

Healthcare internships give high school students a structured way to explore how health systems function while developing practical skills. Through these experiences, you can observe workflows, understand professional expectations, and see how different roles contribute to patient care and public health. You will develop essential skills like patient communication and professional ethics, which are difficult to develop in a classroom. An internship can help you confirm if a career in medicine is for you before you invest years in specialized higher education. If you’re applying to pre-med undergraduate programs, a healthcare internship can make your college applications stand out by showing your commitment to the field.  

What healthcare internships are available for high school students in New Hampshire?

High school students in New Hampshire have several ways to explore healthcare through internships. Major hospital systems like Dartmouth Health and HCA Healthcare provide opportunities to rotate through various departments, such as pharmacy and radiology, giving you a look at how a hospital works. You can also find positions at regional facilities like Elliot Hospital in Manchester or through the University of New Hampshire, where you can explore medical research and the technology of health services. 

The list below highlights 13 of the best healthcare internships for high school students in New Hampshire.

1. Dartmouth Hitchcock High School Foundations Summer Internship Program

Location: Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, NH
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically, small dedicated groups
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors who will be at least 16 years old by June 22 and live in Lebanon, NH

This healthcare internship for high school students in New Hampshire combines clinical and operational work with professional development workshops. You will follow a rotational model, spending time in 2-3 different departments such as the Medical Lab, Radiology, Pharmacy, Perioperative Services, and more. Beyond daily tasks, you attend weekly seminars focused on healthcare career pathways and essential workplace competencies such as communication and medical ethics. It’s designed to give students a comprehensive look at how a major academic medical center operates while building a professional network.

2. Ladder Internships

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

Ladder Internships places you on a structured project with a fast-growing startup, where your work is defined by a real business problem rather than simulated exercises. The experience centers on understanding how project-based work functions inside an early-stage organization. Over several weeks, you collaborate with company coaches and a Ladder Coach to plan, draft, revise, and present deliverables tied to that project. The internship emphasizes professional communication, iterative feedback, and independent problem-solving. While not limited to healthcare, some placements can align with healthcare internships by focusing on health technology, operations, or related startup work relevant to high school students in New Hampshire. Apply now!

3. Summer Healthcare Exploration Program

Location: Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Parkland Medical Center, Frisbie Memorial Hospital, NH
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; small cohorts
Dates: 7 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Typically early spring
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old

This program is structured around healthcare exposure, giving you the chance to observe multiple roles over the course of the internship. Your days will involve shadowing professionals across departments, with no single routine repeated for long. Alongside observation, you work on a project guided by hospital leadership, which you present at the end of the program. Weekly workshops introduce different career paths and focus on professional skills such as presentation design and workplace communication. For high school students exploring healthcare internships in New Hampshire, the program emphasizes understanding how large healthcare systems operate as a whole. 

4. Extended Learning Opportunities Program

Location: Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Parkland Medical Center, Frisbie Memorial Hospital, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by department
Dates: Semester-long program
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+

This healthcare internship is built around sustained learning over an academic term. You’ll be placed in either clinical-adjacent or non-clinical departments to observe workflows and organizational structure. The experience connects classroom learning with practical application through supervised, on-site responsibilities. Reflection and documentation are typically part of the process, reinforcing how healthcare roles function beyond the bedside. The emphasis is on understanding systems, roles, and professional expectations within healthcare settings. Unlike general volunteering, this program is designed for students to earn high school credit.

5. Catholic Medical Center (CMC) Teen Volunteers

Location: Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Year-round; minimum 6-month commitment
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 15 and 18

CMC offers a structured teen program that acts as a healthcare internship for high school students in New Hampshire who are exploring nursing or medicine. It places you in hospital units to assist with patient-facing tasks in several departments, like cardiovascular wellness, laboratory, music therapy, etc. You must commit to at least 8 hours per month, allowing for long-term observation of medical staff and hospital workflows. The program requires a formal interview and health screening, mimicking a professional hiring process. Beyond gaining healthcare exposure, you’ll get a free meal during your shift and a uniform.

6. Concord Hospital Student Volunteer Program

Location: Concord Hospital, Concord, NH
Stipend: None; however, the Concord Hospital Trust offers scholarships ($500–$3,000) for student volunteers pursuing healthcare careers
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year–round; specialized summer programs typically run from June to August
Application Deadline: Year–round: Rolling; Summer: Early spring (March/April)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old, pass a background check, provide working papers (if under 16), and attend a mandatory orientation

This program provides high schoolers with exposure to specialized departments, including Radiation, Oncology, and Chemotherapy. Unlike general volunteering, roles like End-of-Life Companions and Pathfinder allow you to navigate the clinical environment and interact with patients and medical teams. You can also assist in the Emergency Department or the Family Surgical Waiting Area, gaining a front-row seat to acute care operations. It’s a good way to accumulate the clinical hours required for competitive medical or nursing school applications. Volunteers are usually expected to commit to a consistent weekly schedule (e.g., one 3-4 hour shift per week).

7. Breathe New Hampshire Internships

Location: Various locations in New Hampshire
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible; placements are available year–round (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students with a resume and school paperwork/requirements

An internship at Breathe New Hampshire is a project-based learning experience designed to introduce you to public health, community advocacy, and nonprofit management. You work directly with staff on projects related to areas such as health education, communications, event coordination, or volunteer support. One-on-one supervision provides regular guidance and feedback as you complete tasks and meet project goals. For high school students interested in healthcare internships connected to advocacy and community health in New Hampshire, the program highlights how health organizations operate outside hospital systems. 

8. Exeter Hospital High School Volunteers

Location: Exeter Hospital, Exeter, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Year–round (summer programs typically run July–August)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; however, summer program applications are recommended by late April/early May
Eligibility: High school students (typically ages 15–18); must complete a health screening and orientation

The Exeter Hospital High School Volunteers program offers you a direct look into healthcare through patient support, hospital operations, and retail hospitality. You will transport patients via wheelchair, greet guests at the front desk, or deliver flowers to rooms. You will also get the chance to observe professional medical workflows firsthand within a supportive, non-clinical environment. Beyond these interactions, you also provide essential administrative help across different hospital departments to keep things running smoothly. Through your service, you will master vital skills like empathetic communication, teamwork, and reliability under pressure.

9. Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services (DPHCS) Internships

Location: Nashua, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served
Dates: Year-round (Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions; typically 8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Summer: Mid-March; Fall: Early August; Spring: Early November
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old

The Nashua DPHCS internship covers vital topics like disease surveillance, environmental health, emergency preparedness, and community health programming. In this role, you will engage in data collection, public health reporting, disease management research, and collaborative projects. The program offers direct exposure to one of New Hampshire’s only two full-service local health departments. This immersive experience helps you develop a deep appreciation for community wellbeing. These opportunities build a solid foundation for your future career in public service. 

10. St. Joseph Hospital Junior Volunteers

Location: St. Joseph Hospital, Nashua, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old; ages 15–16 need to obtain a work permit to volunteer

St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, NH, offers a Junior Volunteer program for high school students looking for hands-on experience in a clinical environment. Assignments vary and may involve guiding visitors, assisting with transport, supporting patient-facing services, or helping in community-oriented departments. Your work will follow a consistent schedule, which encourages reliability and familiarity with daily hospital routines. Rather than focusing on clinical training, the experience highlights communication, responsibility, and professionalism in a healthcare setting. The emphasis is on understanding how different departments contribute to patient care and service delivery.

11. Cheshire Medical Center Job Shadowing

Location: Cheshire Medical Center, Keene, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rate not disclosed; 1:1 experiences
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: All high school students

The Cheshire Medical Center Job Shadowing program allows you to explore various healthcare careers, covering departments like radiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nursing. During this one-to-two-day experience, you will accompany hospital staff to see firsthand how their daily responsibilities and workplace environments function. You'll spend time observing professional routines, touring specialized departments, and discussing educational pathways and credentials with experienced mentors. By the end, you’ll have sharpened your professional observation skills and gained a much clearer understanding of the academic journey required for your future medical career.

12. Southern NH Health – Volunteering Program

Location: Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; 14 students per year
Dates: 6 weeks during the summer (typically July through August)
Application Deadline: Late April/early May
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors interested in exploring healthcare careers

The Southern NH Health volunteering program focuses on hospital operations and career exposure. As a participant, you will escort patients, assist in the pharmacy, and support administrative staff. The program is unique for its award-winning "Beyond the Stethoscope" initiative, offering you exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and personal mentoring from medical experts. Through this service, you will develop essential skills like effective communication, reliability, and workplace professionalism. This experience helps you build a strong foundation for your future while meaningfully serving your local community. 

13. Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Volunteer Program

Location: Dover, NH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students, typically ages 14–18

The Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Junior Volunteer Program is a hands-on way to explore healthcare while serving your community. The program covers essential topics like patient privacy, hospital safety protocols, and professional ethics within a medical environment. You will engage in activities such as delivering flowers to patients, staffing information desks, assisting in the gift shop, and providing clerical support to various departments. A unique feature of this program is the specialized training for "Patient Representative" roles, which allows you to improve the hospital experience for families and guests. It’s an ideal opportunity for you to build a professional foundation while making a tangible difference in the Seacoast area.