12 Competitive Medical Internships for High School Students

For high school students interested in pursuing a career in medicine or healthcare, medical internships for high school students can provide a meaningful first step into the field. These programs offer a hands-on introduction to medical environments, whether in labs, hospitals, or through virtual research projects. 

Unlike costly summer courses, many medical internships for high school students are free or come with stipends, making them an accessible way to gain practical skills, industry exposure, and valuable connections. You’ll learn by doing—whether it's shadowing professionals, working with data, or supporting ongoing medical research—and often receive mentorship from people already working in the field. Below, we've narrowed down a list of the top 12 competitive medical internships for high school students. Let’s dive in!

1. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)

Location: Stanford University
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors residing in one of these Northern California counties; At least 16 years old by program start; Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 3.0
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,000 stipend for students with financial need

PIPS is a six-week program that focuses on introducing students to pediatric medicine and research. It is designed for those with little or no prior experience in research. As an intern, you will collaborate with Stanford faculty on applied research projects, gaining insights into biological sciences and medicine. You will spend 30 hours each week in the PIPS program, working on your research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor. You’ll also participate in hands-on workshops on preparing for college applications, including how to make a college list, how to complete the college application, and how to navigate the financial aid process.

2. Ladder Internships – Health & Medicine Track

Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling; Dates vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students able to commit 5-15 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Cost: Starting from $2,490; Financial aid available

Ladder Internships, a fairly selective program founded by Harvard alumni, offers virtual internships where students work with startups and nonprofits in the healthcare sector and other industries. As an intern, you will engage in projects like health tech development and medical research, receiving mentorship from Ladder Coaches. You will work on projects that contribute to the startup's or the non-profit's overall mission and end the program with a final presentation showcasing your contributions. This program also includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, among other skills, and group training sessions with fellow interns. 

3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)

Location: Johns Hopkins University and Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: In-person: 8 weeks (June – August); Virtual: 5 weeks (July – August)
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; In-person for Baltimore City students; Virtual open to all U.S. students
Stipend: In-person participants receive an hourly stipend ($15/hour)

JHIBS is a summer research program for high school students looking to gain exposure to the neurological sciences. As an intern, you will participate in lectures, research projects, and skill-building sessions. The program focuses on helping students better understand neurological diseases and behavioral research techniques. It offers both in-person and virtual options, emphasizing mentorship and professional development. JHIBS aims to reach high school students at an early stage to help them understand and participate in a hands-on, mentored research experience.

4. Harvard Medical School Project Success

Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 8 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Boston or Cambridge residents in grades 11 or 12, particularly those from a racial or ethnic background underrepresented in medicine and/or from a disadvantaged background; Minimum GPA of 2.70; At least 16 years old by program start; Completed courses in algebra, biology, and chemistry
Stipend: Paid; Amount unspecified

Harvard Medical School’s Project Success offers six-week medical internships for high school students, especially those who are underrepresented or come from a disadvantaged background, who are looking to explore biomedical careers. As a participant, you will be placed in Harvard research labs and will get to attend seminars, go on hospital visits, and undergo computer training. Throughout your time here, you will be supported by your mentors; they will help you build technical skills and explore biomedical careers. The program aims to develop critical thinking and provide resources for academic goals in the biomedical field. It is also a great opportunity to network with students from other summer programs, receive continued support and guidance from assigned mentors and advisors. 

Check out this blog for more reasons why you should consider this program! 

5. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)

Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year or final term after the summer
Stipend: Stipend provided; Amount unspecified

Fred Hutch Cancer Center offers medical internships for high school students through the SHIP program, an eight-week paid internship that focuses on biomedical research. The program is specifically designed for students who are underrepresented in biomedical sciences. As an intern, you can dedicate two weeks of the internship to lab training, followed by six weeks of research in a lab setting where you will be paired and immersed in mentorship activities. The program includes seminars, professional development workshops, and concludes with a presentation to the Fred Hutch community.

6. Roswell Park’s SURE-CAN Summer Research Program

Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 31 
Eligibility: High school juniors who reside in Western New York, 15 years of age or older at the start of the program
Stipend: Available for students with financial need

The SURE-CAN Summer Research Program at Roswell Park offers high school students a 6-week immersive experience in cancer research. As an intern, you will engage in hands-on lab work, lectures, and discussions focused on cancer biology, genomics, imaging, and AI. The program also introduces you to research ethics, data analysis, and scientific communication. You will work closely with faculty mentors and present your findings at a final research symposium. It's a strong opportunity for students interested in health sciences, medical research, or biotechnology.

7. MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program

Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
Cohort Size: Up to 12 students
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 20
Eligibility: Current high school seniors in Texas; Accepted into a college/university for the fall semester; 18+ by program start
Stipend: $6,800 (10 weeks); $6,120 (9 weeks) 

The MD Anderson Cancer Center offers medical internships for high school students from Texas who are eager to explore an Allied Health career and learn more about cancer research. This program is highly competitive and admits up to 12 students annually. As a participant, you will contribute to a biomedical research project while working under the guidance of a full-time member of the MD Anderson faculty. You’ll also learn about the basic principles of scientific investigation and gain hands-on experience. In addition to all this, you’ll attend faculty-led seminars on various research topics and participate in activities like poster and elevator speech competitions alongside your peers. Finally, the program will end with a presentation of your experience at MD Anderson and a celebratory luncheon.  

8. University of Chicago Medicine ResearchStart Program

Location: University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; Up to 30 participants
Dates: 8 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: January 20 (Tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are residents of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana; At least 16 years old at the start of the program; 
Stipend: $3,000 (Taxable)

ResearchStart offers medical internships for high school students from Chicago and Urbana-Champaign looking to explore careers in medicine or scientific research. As a participant, you will work under full-time mentorship in research labs and gain hands-on experience in fields like cancer immunology, bioengineering, and therapeutics. The goal of the program is to introduce students to cutting-edge cancer research and promote career opportunities in the field. Aside from research training, you’ll also attend career workshops and a lecture series focused on cancer studies. The program concludes with a symposium where you will present your research to the scientific community. 

9. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)

Location: Stanford University, Stanford
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 24 participants
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Current high school juniors from eight Northern California counties
Cost/Stipend: None

SMYSP is a five-week program for low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California. As a participant, you will be placed in a hospital internship at Stanford Hospital, where you will gain firsthand experience in healthcare delivery. You’ll also get to take part in hands-on laboratory activities, departmental rotations, shadowing opportunities, and patient interactions. The program includes lectures on human anatomy and public health, and research methodology, which will help you prepare for your research project—a group college-level research paper, presentation, and academic poster. You’ll also attend academic planning workshops that will help you prepare for college, whether it’s putting together a financial aid plan or understanding what admissions officers look for. 

10. INSPIRE at Cedars-Sinai Research Internship Program

Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
Cohort Size: 25 students 
Dates: Typically 6-10 weeks, starting from June 30
Application Deadline: February 1 – 8
Eligibility: High school students who live in Los Angeles or the surrounding areas, are at least 16 years old at the time of the program 
Stipend: Paid (LA City minimum wage)

The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center offers medical internships for high school students that introduce students to research in healthcare via hands-on training and virtual workshops. Under the guidance of Cedars-Sinai faculty mentors, you will gain exposure to a wide range of cutting-edge technologies across various disciplines and projects related to basic, translational, or clinical research. As an INSPIRE intern, you will be placed in labs across areas like oncology, genetics, and neurology, where you will pick up hands-on lab skills, attend seminars, and work alongside mentors. You will also attend workshops that focus on skill-building, networking, and career exploration, and guest speaker sessions. Finally, the program will end with a presentation of your research findings.

11. UCSF Fresno Summer Biomedical Internship Program

Location: UCSF Fresno, Fresno
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 6
Application Deadline: December 13 – January 17 
Eligibility: High school juniors (rising seniors) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; Residents of Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kings, Tulare, or Mariposa counties
Cost/Stipend: None (scholarships may be available to offset transportation costs)

The UCSF Fresno Summer Biomedical Internship Program offers medical internships for high school students seeking a quality biomedical research experience. For 6-7 weeks, you will participate in basic and clinical research in fields like surgery reconstruction, orthopaedics, cancer, and epidemiology while under the guidance of UCSF faculty mentors. This program is designed to help you develop an understanding of the biomedical sciences while introducing you to a possible career in the healthcare professions. You’ll also go on field trips to UCSF’s main campus as well as other local hospitals and medical facilities, and attend presentations or discussions led by residents or other professionals. At the end of the program, you might get the opportunity to present your research at conferences.  

12. Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego – Summer Medical Academy

Location: Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego
Acceptance Rate Competitive
Dates: June 16 – June 27; July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 21 (Tentative)
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-19 who have completed at least 9th grade
Cost:. $3,000 (As per previous years); Scholarships available for eligible students

Rady Children’s Hospital’s Summer Medical Academy is a two-week intensive program that gives high school students insight into the real world of pediatric healthcare. Through lectures from physicians, hands-on simulations, and clinical workshops, you will get exposure to different specialties such as surgery, emergency medicine, and radiology. The program also offers guidance on medical school paths and interactive case studies. As a student, you don’t conduct research but get direct exposure to clinical practices and medical decision-making.