16 Hospital Internships for High School Students in Philadelphia
Gaining real-world experience through an internship is one of the best ways for high school students to enhance their profiles, strengthen their college applications, and acquire practical skills that extend beyond the classroom. For students interested in healthcare, hospital internships provide an opportunity to explore various medical careers, work alongside professionals, and gain insight into what it’s truly like to be part of a patient care team. Hospital internships for high school students in Philadelphia offer hands-on opportunities that can help you improve your employability, learn valuable workplace skills, and make connections that might support your future studies or career path.
If you’re a high school student in Philadelphia hoping to enter the medical field, participating in hospital internships can set you apart. Whether you want to shadow doctors, assist with community outreach, or contribute to research, there’s a program for you.
Read on to discover 16 hospital internships for high school students in Philadelphia.
1. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: CHOP RISES Program
Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Multiple summers; June 30 – August 7 (first summer)
Application Deadline: Applications open in January
Eligibility: Sophomores or rising juniors at public or charter schools in Philadelphia; Must be 16 by June 16; Transcript and recommendation required
The CHOP-RISES Program is a two-summer STEM-M internship aimed at supporting local Philadelphia high school students in developing scientific confidence. As a participant, you will spend two consecutive summers exploring science and healthcare careers through immersive research projects at CHOP. You will strengthen your science skills, gain hands-on lab experience, and build connections with CHOP professionals. If you complete both summers, you may be invited back for an optional third summer, CHOP-RISES III, to deepen your experience in medical research and innovation.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
In this virtual internship program, you’ll have the chance to gain real-world experience in a fast-growing company. As a participant, you’ll be matched with a company working in fields like tech, health tech, AI/ML, marketing, journalism, or consulting. You’ll spend 8-12 weeks working on meaningful projects, guided by both a company manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach. By the end of your internship, you’ll present your work to your team and gain practical skills you can showcase on college applications and future resumes. Ladder’s partner start-ups are high-growth companies, often raising over a million dollars in funding, giving you a true taste of today’s start-up world.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. While this isn’t a traditional internship, it follows the work/research + learn model very closely!
4. Penn Medicine: Penn Academy for Reproductive Sciences (PARS)
Location: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: March (Spring Semester, Saturdays only)
Application Deadline: Typically in January
Eligibility: 10th-12th-grade students enrolled in Philadelphia-area high schools
The Penn Academy for Reproductive Sciences (PARS) is a unique hospital-based internship run by Penn Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. If you’re interested in reproductive health or biomedical sciences, this program offers lectures, interactive workshops, and lab activities led by Penn faculty and researchers. You’ll learn about topics like fertility, embryology, and reproductive endocrinology while building real research and lab skills. The program runs on Saturdays during the spring semester, giving you direct access to cutting-edge medical research in a hospital setting. You’ll also connect with mentors who can help you explore career pathways in medicine and science.
5. Penn Medicine: Penn Academy for Skin Health (PASH)
Location: Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None; Some students may be eligible for a paid summer internship through OER
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: March (4 consecutive Saturdays)
Application Deadline: Typically in January
Eligibility: 10th-12th-grade students attending public or charter schools in Philadelphia
The Penn Academy for Skin Health (PASH) is an interactive research experience for Philadelphia high school students interested in science and dermatology. Hosted by Penn Dermatology, this four-weekend program will introduce you to lab techniques, experiments, and medical topics such as skin structure, histology, and the skin microbiome. You’ll get to use state-of-the-art equipment and try hands-on activities like DNA gel electrophoresis, microscopy, and even disease diagnosis. You’ll also connect with Penn scientists and clinicians to see what a future in dermatologic research or medicine could look like. Through Penn Dermatology's Office of Outreach, Education, and Research (OER), you may be eligible for a summer internship if you excel during the program.
6. Fox Chase Cancer Center: Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP)
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Session 1: July 7 – July 11; Session 2: July 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications closed for 2025; applications for 2026 open early next year
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th graders in Philadelphia, NJ, and DE; Must be at least 14 years old by program start
The Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP) at Fox Chase Cancer Center is split into three phases, where you’ll design your own project, run experiments, and communicate your findings to the public. You’ll investigate real-world questions about how diet, stress, or inflammation affect health, while building skills in data collection and analysis. Along the way, you’ll get one-on-one mentoring, strengthen your leadership abilities, and explore science careers in a supportive community. To wrap up, you’ll write a reflection essay and record a presentation of your research to share with a wider audience.
7. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Neurology High School Scholars Program
Location: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Main Campus, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 14 – August 15 (poster presentation on August 21)
Application Deadline: February 10 – March 7
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (16+)
The Neurology High School Scholars Program at CHOP is a paid, five-week summer internship for high school students interested in neurology and neuroscience. If you’re selected, you’ll work closely with a neurologist or neuroscientist on a basic science or clinical research project. You’ll also get the chance to shadow physicians, attend weekly educational sessions, and build valuable lab and research skills. By the end of the program, you’ll create a research poster and present your project results at a conference. You must be able to commute to CHOP’s Main Campus up to five days a week and complete any required clearances and training before you start.
8. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital: Nursing STEP-UP
Location: Hybrid, virtual, in-person sessions at Jefferson College of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 17
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
In the Nursing Summer Training and Enrichment Program (Nursing STEP-UP) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, you’ll get hands-on exposure to nursing through classroom and simulation sessions, time management and study skills training, and student mentoring. The program also includes a full SAT prep course delivered by a well-known provider, plus resume writing and personal statement workshops to help with college applications. You’ll start with virtual SAT prep and then attend in-person sessions, simulation labs, and field trips on campus. Light breakfast and lunch are provided so you can focus on learning and building connections in the healthcare field.
9. Thomas Jefferson University: SummerScience@Jefferson
Location: Virtual
Cost: $650 program fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited to 30 students
Dates: June 23 – July 22
Application Deadline: Applications open in the spring
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors
During the SummerScience@Jefferson program, you’ll work with Jefferson faculty, researchers, and postdoctoral scholars through interactive lectures, live discussions, and at-home experiments. You’ll learn about topics like biochemistry, genetics, forensics, cell biology, neuroscience, cancer biology, microbiology, and immunology. You’ll also tackle real research questions, practice lab techniques like PCR and DNA fingerprinting, and even explore modern gene editing tools like CRISPR. The program wraps up with a Virtual Symposium, where you’ll present your own research project to peers and mentors.
10. Thomas Jefferson University: Rehabilitation Sciences REACH Program
Location: Jefferson, East Falls Campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 28 – August 5
Application Deadline: June 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
By participating in the REACH Program, you can explore rewarding careers in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, and exercise science. You’ll learn what each profession does on a healthcare team and discover the undergraduate and graduate paths that can get you there. You’ll also get strategies for writing personal statements, interviewing, and succeeding academically in college. The program covers financial aid tips and practical steps to help you stand out as a future healthcare student.
11. Fox Chase Cancer Center: Immersion Science Summer Fellows Program
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: None; fully funded through grants and donations
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Typically July – August
Application Deadline: Varies; Usually spring for summer cohort
Eligibility: High school students (16+) who have completed biology, chemistry, and the ISP 30-hour lab training
The Immersion Science Summer Fellows Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center is an advanced hospital-based research internship for high school students interested in cutting-edge cancer research. After completing the required ISP Training Lab, you’ll join professional scientists in real cancer labs to investigate how diet influences cancer signaling pathways. You’ll design experiments, collect and analyze data, and present your findings, gaining practical lab skills and insights into biomedical careers. This highly selective experience is funded by grants, giving students unique access to Fox Chase’s leading-edge research environment.
12. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the U.S. and Canada
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a competitive five-week virtual summer program for high school juniors and seniors interested in neurology, neuroscience, and biomedical research. During this program, you’ll explore brain and behavioral sciences through online lectures, guided lab simulations, and interactive research training. You’ll also participate in professional development sessions, meet with mentors in the field, and gain insight into careers as a researcher or clinician-scientist. By the end of the program, you’ll complete basic neuroscience lab tasks remotely and receive a certificate recognizing your work and learning.
13. Shriners Children’s Philadelphia Medical Research Immersion Program
Location: Shriners Children’s Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: Up to 20 students
Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: March 15(tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, and college students
The Shriners Children’s Philadelphia Research Summer Immersion Program is an intensive five-day experience designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of clinical research in a real hospital setting. If selected, you’ll join a small cohort of motivated students to learn about research principles, current trends in medical science, and how to develop your own innovative research idea. You’ll also build practical skills like presenting your research, asking for recommendation letters, and connecting with medical professionals. At the end of the week, you’ll pitch your research idea, showing how you could contribute to the future of pediatric healthcare and clinical research.
14. The Wistar Institute High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research
Location: The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia
Stipend: $1,500 stipend; Free SEPTA passes
Cohort Size: ~15 students
Dates: July 7 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old by July 7 and have completed at least one high school science course
The Wistar High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research offers you a chance to gain hands-on experience in a cutting-edge research lab right in West Philadelphia’s University City. Over four weeks, you’ll learn core biomedical lab techniques, practice reading and discussing scientific literature, and work on real research alongside Wistar scientists. The program also explores a range of careers in biomedical science and ends with a student research presentation.
15. Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital VolunTEEN Program
Location: Chester County Hospital, Penn Medicine, West Chester, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Summer program: 8 weeks; Weekend program: Year-round
Application Deadline: Summer March (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18 (16+ for summer program)
As a VolunTEEN at Chester County Hospital, you’ll gain first-hand exposure to healthcare environments while contributing to patient care and hospital operations. Depending on the program, you may assist staff by preparing patient handbooks, running errands, assembling charts and kits, or supporting discharges on nursing floors. The year-round weekend program is open to sophomores and juniors and involves Saturday or Sunday morning shifts, while the summer program places students (ages 16-18) into weekly three-hour shifts for eight weeks. You’ll work closely with hospital staff and seasoned volunteers while learning about teamwork and service in a clinical setting. Attendance and accountability are emphasized, making this a structured opportunity to build responsibility. The program is highly popular and fills quickly, so applying early is essential.
16. Perelman School of Medicine High School Pre-Medical Programs
Location: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Multi-year or seasonal, depending on program
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in Philadelphia; Some programs extend support into early college years
The Perelman School of Medicine offers multiple pre-medical enrichment opportunities designed for Philadelphia high school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers. Through the PhysicianTrack Program (PTP), you’ll engage in two consecutive summers of wilderness medicine experiences, combined with mentoring during your junior and senior years of high school and into your first year of college. The Educational Pipeline Program (EPP) introduces you to medical and life sciences careers through classroom sessions, anatomy and lab work, mentorship, and field trips to hospitals, research centers, and related institutions. EPP also offers specialized tracks, including one focused on life sciences management at the intersection of science, technology, and business. Both programs emphasize mentorship from Penn undergraduate and medical students, ensuring that you receive guidance from peers who have recently navigated the same path.
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