14 Healthcare Internships for High School Students in Arkansas
Participating in an internship in high school enhances your resume and academic profile, and it helps you develop practical skills that prepare you for college-level coursework. If you’re interested in healthcare, participating in an internship is a valuable way to explore different aspects of medicine, public health, mental health, and research. These programs provide opportunities to observe professionals, participate in patient care or community health initiatives, and engage in meaningful projects that develop both technical and soft skills. Healthcare internships will also introduce you to cutting-edge technologies, research methods, and policy initiatives, giving you a head start in understanding complex healthcare systems.
What healthcare internships are available for high school students in Arkansas?
Arkansas offers a variety of healthcare-focused internships and programs tailored to high school students, from hospital volunteer programs to summer bootcamps. These programs allow you to work alongside professionals, gain mentorship, and engage in projects that give you insight into healthcare careers. Whether you’re interested in AI applications in medicine, mental health advocacy, or clinical shadowing, Arkansas offers healthcare internships for high schoolers that emphasize skill-building, professional development, and early exposure to healthcare environments.
Here are 14 healthcare internships for high school students in Arkansas that are worth checking out.
1. Arkansas Delta Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Academy
Location: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Summer residential session: approx. 6 weeks; Follow-up programming continues beyond summer
Application Deadline: June – July
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from eligible regions in Arkansas
During this program, you’ll participate in a summer academy focused on exploring a range of healthcare careers through academic and practical exposure. You’ll engage in classroom sessions covering subjects like science, writing, and test preparation, alongside workshops that support college applications and career planning. The program includes opportunities to interact with healthcare professionals, visit campuses, and learn about disciplines such as public health, radiology, and therapy-based fields. You may also take part in community-based healthcare experiences and simulations that introduce clinical environments and patient care systems. Throughout the program, you’ll receive mentorship from university staff and students, along with chances to collaborate with peers interested in similar career paths.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadlines: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships is a competitive virtual internship program designed for motivated high school students. As a participant, you will be matched with fast-growing start-ups and work on meaningful, real-world projects. These start-ups operate across diverse fields such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. On average, they raise over $1 million in funding. As an intern, you will collaborate closely with your company managers and receive guidance from a dedicated Ladder Coach. At the end of the program, you will present your completed projects to the company. Apply now!
3. CARTI Discover
Location: CARTI Cancer Center, Little Rock, AR
Stipend: $1,000 scholarship upon completion
Dates: June 1 – 5
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school rising freshman to senior from Jacksonville, Maumelle, or Mills with a minimum 2.5 GPA and interest in healthcare
The CARTI Discover program is a one-week job shadowing program where you’ll explore different careers within a cancer care setting through structured exposure and guided learning. During the program, you’ll select a specific career track such as engineering, business intelligence, or medical roles, and observe professionals working in those areas. You’ll gain experience alongside shadowing, allowing you to understand how different departments function in a healthcare environment. You’ll also complete a capstone project based on your observations and learning, which serves as a summary of your experience.
4. UAMS Healthcare Education Active Learning Experience for Regional Scholars (HEALERS)
Location: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 1 – 12
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Pulaski County rising high school juniors or seniors
During the UAMS HEALERS program, you’ll take part in a structured, in-person healthcare immersion that introduces you to a wide range of medical careers through direct interaction with healthcare professionals. You’ll learn practical clinical skills such as basic first aid, bleeding control, splinting, spinal immobilization, and CPR, while building familiarity with medical terminology used in clinical settings. The program focuses on active learning, allowing you to ask questions, observe professionals at work, and gain early exposure to hospital environments through supervised volunteering. You’ll also explore adolescent health issues and develop a stronger understanding of how scientific information informs healthcare decision-making. A key feature of HEALERS is its focus on hands-on clinical exposure combined with career exploration.
5. ACH Junior Volunteer Program
Location: Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR
Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: Year-round: minimum 6 months; Summer: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: Summer: April 15
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18; Preference given to applicants ages 16+
As a Junior Volunteer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, you’ll support patients, families, and hospital staff while gaining early exposure to the healthcare environment. Your role will focus on enhancing the patient and family experience, which will allow you to explore non-clinical healthcare careers and develop professional maturity. Throughout the program, you’ll learn responsibility, communication, and service ethics in a fast-paced hospital setting.
6. ACH Job Shadowing for High School Students
Location: Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Varies; typically 1-3 days
Application Deadline: Rolling; Deadlines not specified
Eligibility: High school students (16+)
During this program, you’ll participate in a structured job shadowing experience designed to introduce you to real-world healthcare careers within a hospital setting. You’ll begin by completing an online training course and then shadowing a healthcare professional in a specialty area you select on your application. During the program, you’ll observe daily clinical workflows, professional responsibilities, and hospital operations while gaining exposure to healthcare environments. Although you do not engage in direct patient care, you’ll develop a clearer understanding of medical careers, workplace expectations, and professional conduct. You’ll also get to closely interact with healthcare staff, asking questions and learning directly from experienced professionals.
7. UA Little Rock: AI & Mental Health Hackathon
Location: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: May 5
Eligibility: High school students or college students with an interest in AI and/or mental health
As part of the AI & Mental Health Hackathon, you’ll focus on exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health. Working in interdisciplinary teams, you’ll collaborate with peers, mental health professionals, and AI mentors to identify problems and design potential solutions. Your mornings will be spent in joint learning sessions and AI classes, while afternoons will focus on hands-on teamwork in collaborative spaces. You’ll build skills in problem-solving, creative thinking, teamwork, and introductory to advanced AI concepts. At the end of the program, you will participate in a pitch competition and earn AI certifications sponsored by NVIDIA.
8. St. Bernard's Job Shadow & Student Volunteer Program
Location: St. Bernards Healthcare, Jonesboro, AR
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round (job shadowing); Summer sessions available (3 weeks in July)
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by program type)
Eligibility: 8th-12th graders (ages 15-18); Requirements vary by department
During the St. Bernard's Job Shadow & Student Volunteer Program, you’ll observe healthcare professionals in a hospital setting to understand their day-to-day responsibilities and workflows. You’ll typically participate in short job shadow sessions lasting a few hours, where you’ll follow a professional in departments such as patient care, administration, or support services. Through this exposure, you’ll learn about clinical environments, communication in healthcare settings, and basic workplace protocols. The program also offers a volunteer track where you’ll assist with non-clinical tasks, contributing to patient experience and hospital operations over a longer duration. During the summer session, you may rotate through departments like labs, pharmacy, and cardiac care.
9. ACHE Pipeline Program
Location: Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, Fort Smith, AR
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round (school visits and campus experiences scheduled throughout the year)
Application Deadline: Rolling (for school visits and tours)
Eligibility: School-age students interested in exploring healthcare careers
During the ACHE Pipeline Program, you will be introduced to healthcare careers through outreach activities that connect classrooms with a medical education campus. You’ll participate in sessions where professionals and student organizations visit schools to discuss career pathways and key considerations for entering the healthcare field. The program also includes opportunities to visit the campus, where you engage in activities and events designed to give you a closer look at different healthcare disciplines.
10. Summer Junior Volunteer Program @ CARTI
Location: CARTI Cancer Center and statewide CARTI treatment locations, including Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14-18)
The Summer Junior Volunteer Program at CARTI offers you the opportunity to explore careers in oncology and patient care. The program requires a minimum commitment of 12 hours, with flexible morning or afternoon shifts. As a volunteer, you’ll work alongside medical staff in different areas such as the infusion center, laboratory, gift shop, or community events. Your role will focus on supporting patients and their families, whether that’s offering refreshments, providing comfort items like blankets, or simply being a friendly, reassuring presence. The program highlights a “whole-patient” approach to care, helping you understand the importance of emotional and non-clinical support in the treatment process.
11. Project H.E.A.R.T. (Henderson-NYITCOM Pre-Med Pathway)
Location: Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, or Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR
Cost: Free
Dates: Early to mid June (multiple session options)
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders residing in Arkansas or a Delta state
Project H.E.A.R.T. is a residential “mini-medical school” program where you’ll explore healthcare careers through a combination of mentorship, hands-on activities, and guided sessions. During the program, you’ll interact with medical students who will serve as mentors and provide insight into the daily life and academic pathway of a medical student. You’ll participate in educational activities such as anatomy lab experiences, including opportunities like dissecting a bovine heart, along with sessions led by healthcare professionals from local hospitals. The program introduces you to a range of careers, including physicians, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare roles. You’ll also learn about college admissions and higher education opportunities related to healthcare.
12. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; 1 $500 scholarship awarded to a selected participant
Dates: 2 weeks
Application Deadline: Opens in January
Eligibility: High school students interested in pursuing a career in the health professions
The Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program is a structured online medical mentorship program that introduces you to a wide range of healthcare careers from any location. Through daily virtual sessions, you’ll join interactive talks led by pediatricians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. The virtual format enables interaction with professionals through discussions and Q&A sessions, providing personalized guidance about the medical field. You’ll also collaborate with like-minded peers, fostering a supportive learning community. Upon completing the program, you’ll receive a certificate and may be eligible for a $500 scholarship in recognition of your active participation and engagement.
13. Stanford University: Clinical Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,580 (virtual); $95 application fee
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Application Deadline: November 1 – February 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (16+)
Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) – Summer Virtual Learning is a two-week, fully online medical program offering live, interactive instruction led by Stanford faculty and medical student instructors. The program focuses on introducing you to the art and science of clinical medicine through demonstrations, case-based discussions, and guided skill-building activities. You will explore core clinical concepts such as patient assessment, diagnostics, and medical decision-making while engaging directly with instructors during live sessions. Emphasis is placed on mentorship, allowing you to learn about medical career pathways and training experiences from those currently practicing and studying at Stanford.
14. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $45 application fee; $2,400; Financial aid available
Dates: June 15 – 26 or July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students (14+) residing in the United States
The AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual research internship focused on the technical and clinical applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Through a mix of introductory and technical lectures, you’ll build foundational knowledge in AI for medicine while learning how these tools are used to improve healthcare outcomes and promote health equity. You’ll work in small groups on hands-on research projects and receive mentorship from Stanford student leads and researchers. The program also includes “Meet the Expert” sessions with professionals from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors, giving you exposure to real-world AI careers. If you complete the full internship, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion from Stanford AIMI.
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