14 Healthcare Internships for High School Students in Pennsylvania
Healthcare internships are a good choice for high school students who want to see how clinical environments work while building a profile that stands out on college applications. This matters especially if you want to apply to competitive pre-med programs, where admissions committees want to see exposure to the field, not just strong grades. A healthcare internship can help you develop practical skills in areas like patient care or research, connect with mentors in the field, and get a clearer sense of whether medicine is the right path for you before committing to a college major.
What healthcare internships are available for high school students in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is a good place to find healthcare internships for high schoolers. The state has a well-established network of teaching hospitals and community clinics, including Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Interning with these institutions gives you a firsthand look at how healthcare and medical education intersect. It can help you understand the certification requirements and college pathways required to become a healthcare professional.
We narrowed it down to the 14 best healthcare internships for high school students in Pennsylvania that offer scientific education and mentorship.
1. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy
Location: Pennsylvania (UPMC and University of Pittsburgh campuses)
Stipend: Stipends available for eligible students from underrepresented backgrounds
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 80–90 students per summer
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students; preference for rising juniors and seniors; minimum age varies by research site (15–16+)
This is a competitive summer research program where you work alongside scientists and clinicians at one of the country’s leading cancer research centres. You will spend 7–8 weeks conducting biomedical or computational research across areas like cancer biology, pathology, surgery, and data science. The program is full-time, so you are expected to commit around 30–35 hours per week and fully immerse yourself in the research environment. You apply by ranking preferred research sites, each with a distinct focus and mentoring structure. If you are serious about pursuing medicine, biomedical research, or public health, this program gives you early exposure to real clinical and lab-based work.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort - Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students! who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships enables high school students to tackle hands-on tasks like product development, data analysis, and marketing within high-growth startups. This program offers a front-row seat to the entrepreneurial world, covering diverse sectors from AI and biotech to journalism and consulting. You’ll contribute to active projects ranging from technical problem-solving to research, and frequently present findings to company leadership. It is an ideal way to explore specific career interests while building practical skills in a fast-paced environment. This experience bridges the gap between the classroom and the innovative startup landscape, providing students with genuine impact. Apply now!
3. Geisinger High School Co-op Program
Location: Various Pennsylvania campuses (Danville, Scranton, Jersey Shore, Muncy, Lewistown, etc.)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rate varies by department availability; 1–5 students per specific clinical or non-clinical unit
Dates: September – June
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Current high school juniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA and in good academic standing
The Geisinger High School Co-op Program is a professional work experience designed to give you a genuine head start in the medical field during your senior year. You will dive into a diverse range of tracks, including clinical nursing, pharmacy, emergency medical services, and even non-clinical areas like Information Technology or healthcare facilities. Through this internship, you'll take patient vital signs, transport lab specimens, set up surgical suites, and document data in electronic health records. By working alongside experienced preceptors, you’ll develop essential skills in clinical technical procedures, patient communication, and professional teamwork.
4. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP)
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Monell Center)
Stipend: Paid hourly wage, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10% acceptance rate; 18–24 students per cohort
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: High school students from the greater Philadelphia area (including Camden, NJ)
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program is a paid summer research experience for students interested in biomedical science or medicine. You work full-time alongside a Monell scientist, contributing directly to ongoing research projects in a professional lab environment. In addition to research, the program includes structured enrichment sessions on scientific ethics, communication skills, and career pathways in medicine and science. The experience concludes with a formal research conference where you present your work to scientists, peers, and family members. The program places a strong emphasis on supporting students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in science.
5. Penn Academy for Reproductive Sciences (PARS)
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania campus)
Stipend: SEPTA passes provided if needed; eligible students may continue into a paid summer internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 12–16 students
Dates: Four consecutive Saturdays, February 28 – March 21
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 attending Philadelphia-area high schools
This is a Saturday-based internship-style program run by Penn’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine, focused on reproductive health and biomedical science. Over four weeks, you participate in small-group discussions, demonstrations, and lab activities led by Penn clinicians and researchers. Topics include reproductive anatomy, fertilization, embryo development, stem cells, genetics, and oncofertility, with time spent reading and discussing research papers. The program expects you to participate actively, ask questions, and engage with science. Students who complete all sessions are eligible to be considered for a paid summer internship that runs from late June through early August.
6. Penn Medicine: OER Summer Internship Program
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania)
Stipend: Hourly wage paid, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 15–20 students per summer
Dates: Seven weeks, June – August (6 weeks of lab research and 1 clinical exposure week)
Application Deadline: Students need to complete either the PARS/PASH or AEER programs to qualify for the summer internship; PARS/PASH deadline: January 9; AEER deadline: January 17
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area high school students who have completed Penn Academy for Reproductive Science, Penn Academy for Skin Health, or Academy for Environmental Exposure Reduction programs
In this program, you are placed with a faculty lab for the first six weeks to learn how basic bench research works, including how experiments are planned, run, and documented. Alongside the lab work, there are weekly sessions focused on college readiness, professional skills, and understanding different science and healthcare careers. You are not dropped into the lab unprepared, since the program includes training during the school year on lab basics, reading research papers, and keeping a proper lab notebook. The final week shifts away from the bench and focuses on clinical exposure, so you can see how research connects to patient care.
7. The Wistar Institute: High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (The Wistar Institute)
Stipend: $1,500 stipend + SEPTA passes
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~15 students per cohort
Dates: July 6–30
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ by program start; must have completed at least one high school science course
The High School Program in Biomedical Research is a four-week summer program where you spend your time learning how biomedical research actually works in a lab setting. It trains you in core lab techniques, shows you how to read scientific papers, and introduces you to different career paths in biomedical research. You will work in Wistar’s training lab alongside institute staff, which helps you understand what day-to-day research looks like. By the end of the program, you present what you have worked on, which helps tie together the lab work and the bigger picture of research.
8. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Girls One Diaspora Club
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (College of Physicians of Philadelphia campus)
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 10–15 students
Dates: During the school year (after-school program starting in the fall)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in a Philadelphia School District high school, including public, private, parochial, or charter schools
This program is an after-school internship where you meet weekly during the school year at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. You take part in structured sessions that focus on healthcare and STEM topics, including careers in medicine, the cultural and scientific use of plants, and community health. You will work on longer-term projects, such as helping with research and building an exhibit connected to what you learn. Alongside the program content, there is consistent mentorship and academic support built into the internship. Sessions are facilitated by educators who guide discussions and activities rather than lectures.
9. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Neurology High School Scholars Program
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 5–8 students per summer
Dates: July 14 – August 15; poster presentation on August 21
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; must be 16 by program start
This five-week summer internship matches you with a neurologist or neuroscientist to work on an actual research project from start to finish. Depending on the project, your work may involve basic neuroscience research, clinical data analysis, or computational approaches. You are expected to contribute to the research process, which includes learning protocols, reviewing literature, and helping analyze results. Alongside research, you also shadow physicians in clinical settings and attend weekly educational sessions focused on neurology and related careers. Your work hours are set with your mentor, so the experience mirrors how real research teams operate. The internship ends with a formal poster presentation.
10. Magee-Womens Research Institute High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Magee-Womens Research Institute and Magee-Womens Hospital)
Stipend: A $1,800 stipend is available for students who qualify based on household income
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~8% acceptance; typically 10–12 students each year
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors; must be 16+ by program start; must live in southwest Pennsylvania, specifically in Greene, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, and Cambria counties
This is a six-week summer internship where you are placed in a research group at Magee-Womens Research Institute or Magee-Womens Hospital. You work on an individual project related to women’s health, reproductive biology, or infant health under the guidance of a faculty investigator and their team. Your role includes learning background literature and carrying out experiments or clinical research tasks. In addition to lab or research time, you attend weekly Lunch and Learn sessions where researchers talk about their work and career paths. The internship ends with a presentation where you share your project and findings with other interns and institute staff.
11. Fox Chase Cancer Center: Immersion Science Program
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (William Tennent High School, Warminster, PA)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; up to 16 students
Dates: January 17 – March 28 (weekly sessions); final symposium on April 18
Application Deadline: Early to mid-November for the Spring program
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area high school students in grades 9–12; must be at least 14 years old before the program begins; students from New Jersey and Delaware can also apply
This program walks you through how research is actually done, from forming a question to explaining your results. You start in the project design phase, where you learn basic lab techniques and decide what conditions you want to study. During the experimentation phase, you will conduct experiments, work with data, and begin to understand how scientific decisions are made. The final phase focuses on communication, with a recorded presentation and written work that links your research to real-world health questions. You work under the guidance of Fox Chase faculty and follow a set weekly schedule with strict attendance requirements.
12. Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences High School REACH Program
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Jefferson East Falls Campus)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 30 students
Dates: Five days in late July
Application Deadline: June 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors attending a high school in the Philadelphia School District with a minimum 3.0 GPA
This is a short, weekday internship-style program where you spend time learning what rehabilitation and allied health careers actually look like. Each day is structured, and you work through sessions led by Jefferson faculty that break down roles like physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. You are expected to ask questions and work through examples of how people move from undergraduate study to professional practice in these fields. Part of the program is also practical, covering things like degree requirements, financial aid basics, and how to approach early personal statements.
13. Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center High School Internship Program
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania (St. Joseph Medical Center, Berks County)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 18 students
Dates: September 14 – May 21
Application Deadline: December 19
Eligibility: Incoming Berks County high school seniors; must be at least 16 years old; minimum GPA of 2.7
This program is a school-year internship where you spend time inside a hospital observing daily functions. You help with non-clinical tasks that support staff, patients, and visitors, so you are involved in the environment without doing medical work. An important part of the internship is learning professionalism, communicating clearly, and understanding how different hospital roles work together. You are around staff members regularly, which makes it easier to ask questions and learn from their activities. Depending on your school, the internship can also count toward academic credit. It runs alongside your regular classes and gives you steady exposure to healthcare work before you graduate.
14. Philadelphia Summer STEM Program
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PCOM campus on City Avenue)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; usually, >50 students
Dates: June 15–18
Application Deadline: Typically, April
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area high school students
In this program, you participate in clinical simulations, anatomy lab visits, and hands-on activities such as CPR and organ-focused labs over four days. Rather than working on a single project, you will observe how different healthcare roles function and interact with PCOM faculty and medical student mentors. You also attend sessions on the college application process and career pathways in medicine and allied fields. The schedule is short and structured, making it easier to attend without a long summer commitment. This works best if you are still figuring out whether healthcare is the direction you want to pursue next.