13 Healthcare Internships for High School Students in Delaware
Participating in healthcare internships during high school can provide valuable early exposure to patient care, clinical settings, research projects, and public health initiatives. They also offer opportunities to learn from professionals in the field. These experiences can help confirm your interest in healthcare, uncover new career possibilities, and establish a solid foundation for future medical or health-related education. Additionally, they can enhance your resume and strengthen your college applications.
What healthcare internships are available for high school students in Delaware?
Delaware is home to several organizations and institutions that provide a variety of healthcare internships, volunteer programs, and academic experiences specifically tailored for high school students. These opportunities include hospital-based volunteering and public health internships. Many of the programs emphasize mentorship, skill development, and practical experience, offering you valuable insights into how healthcare systems serve individuals and communities.
With that, here are 13 healthcare internships for high school students in Delaware.
1. HEIDE STEPS (Summer Training in Equity Program for Secondary Students)
Location: Delaware Division of Public Health, Dover, DE
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 4 weeks (summer session)
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students interested in health equity, public health, or community service
During HEIDE STEPS, you’ll take part in a summer internship that will introduce you to health equity and the social factors that shape community health. During the program, you’ll learn directly from public health professionals through weekly virtual sessions and mentorship from experts at the Division of Public Health. You’ll visit public health sites, such as water treatment facilities, restaurants, and community health programs, to understand how public systems protect health. Community engagement is a core component, and you’ll complete at least 20 hours of service through activities like neighborhood cleanups, food pantries, or school supply drives. You’ll also develop communication and presentation skills by sharing your learning and community impact at the end of the program.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can commit 10-20 hours per week for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program is a selective, fully remote opportunity that allows you to work directly with a high-growth startup on real-world projects. During the internship, you will be matched with a company operating in fields such as technology, AI and machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, or consulting, depending on your interests and skills. As an intern, you will collaborate closely with your startup managers while also receiving guidance from a dedicated Ladder Coach throughout the program. Your work will focus on practical deliverables rather than simulations, giving you exposure to professional expectations and workflows. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your completed projects to the startup team. This program is well-suited if you are seeking hands-on experience in fast-paced environments while building skills relevant to modern, startup-driven industries. Apply now!
3. Nemours Children’s Hospital: Summer High School Volunteer Program
Location: Nemours Children’s Hospital, Wilmington, DE
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 13 – 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (16+) who can speak and understand English; Must complete required TB testing and meet medical clearance and training requirements
During the Summer High School Volunteer Program, you will get to volunteer in a hospital setting where you’ll support patients, families, and staff across departments at Nemours Children’s Hospital. Your role may involve age-appropriate patient and family interaction or behind-the-scenes support work that contributes to daily hospital operations. Through this experience, you can expect to build communication skills, learn professional responsibility, and gain firsthand exposure to pediatric healthcare environments. You will be expected to demonstrate patience, empathy, and a willingness to learn while adhering to Nemours’ standards of behavior.
4. Delaware Youth Medical Academy (DYMA)
Location: Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association, Wilmington, DE
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by series; Each series consists of 5-6 evening sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by series; Rolling basis until spots are filled
Eligibility: High school students residing in Delaware or within one hour of the Delaware border
During DYMA, you’ll take part in a merit-based medical enrichment program designed to introduce you to health and medicine through a structured series of evening sessions. Each series exposes you to clinical concepts and healthcare careers through activities, guided discussions, and interaction with medical students, residents, and healthcare professionals. You may participate in experiences like basic clinical skills training, resume workshops, seizure first aid certification, and guided hospital tours. By fully attending a complete series, you’ll become eligible for membership in the Delaware Youth Medical Academy after completing a required reflection paper. Continued participation across multiple series unlocks additional opportunities, including discounted or guest access to the Delaware Academy of Medicine/DPHA annual meeting.
5. Beebe Healthcare: Student Volunteer Programs
Location: Beebe Healthcare, Lewes, DE
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round; Summer Student Program: June – August
Application Deadline: March – April 15 (summer program)
Eligibility: High school students (14+) who meet health requirements and background checks
Beebe Healthcare’s volunteer program offers exposure to a real healthcare environment while allowing you to support patients, staff, and visitors. You will get to take on roles such as patient guide, activity assistant, or clerical support, helping with day-to-day hospital operations and gaining insight into how healthcare systems function. The Summer Student Program provides an experience where you’ll commit to a set number of hours over several weeks and engage consistently with a department. Throughout your time there, you will interact with healthcare professionals, observe patient care workflows, and build communication and responsibility skills. The program also encourages independence, as you are expected to manage your application and onboarding process yourself.
6. Apollo: Youth in Medicine
Location: Delaware
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: September 23 (Shadowing); April 11 (Student Leader)
Eligibility: High school students interested in medicine
This program includes physician shadowing opportunities along with educational sessions that introduce different areas of healthcare. As a participant, you will shadow physicians across multiple specialties, with a required focus on primary care before exploring other fields. The experience may also include virtual sessions and additional activities depending on the format. You will interact with practicing doctors and observe clinical environments, gaining exposure to patient care and medical workflows. The program is run with support from the Medical Society of Delaware and connects students from schools across the state.
7. ChristianaCare: Summer VolunTeen Program
Location: Various ChristianaCare branches in Delaware
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 14
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders (14-18) who are currently enrolled in school
This summer volunteer program involves supporting hospital operations across different departments while interacting with patients, families, and staff. As a participant, you will complete regular weekday shifts and contribute to tasks that assist care teams and improve the patient experience. The program requires a consistent weekly time commitment, during which you complete multiple shifts and log your hours. You can expect to gain exposure to how a healthcare organization functions, including coordination across departments and day-to-day clinical environments. The experience also includes following hospital protocols, maintaining attendance, and meeting compliance requirements such as health screenings and training.
8. Bayhealth Student Volunteer Program
Location: Bayhealth, Dover & Sussex County, DE
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer program (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (16+)
As a student volunteer, you’ll support hospital staff and patient-facing operations through non-clinical roles such as assisting with administrative tasks, guiding visitors, and helping with general hospital services. The program requires a structured weekly commitment, allowing you to build consistency and responsibility in a professional healthcare environment. You’ll go through an onboarding process that includes application submission, training modules, background checks, and an interview before placement. While you do not participate in clinical work or shadowing, you’ll gain exposure to how hospital systems operate and how different departments function together. The experience also involves communication with staff and patients, helping you develop interpersonal and organizational skills. By the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion upon meeting the required hours.
9. Delaware Health Career Collaborative
Location: Virtual (hosted by ChristianaCare, Wilmington, DE)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly specified
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders interested in health care careers
During the Delaware Health Career Collaborative program, you will be introduced to the various aspects of working in healthcare, including both clinical and non-clinical roles. Through structured virtual exploratory learning, you’ll gain exposure to multiple disciplines such as neurology, cardiology, public health, behavioral health, oncology, and trauma-informed care practices. The program helps you build foundational knowledge about the health care system while developing early awareness of potential career pathways. You’ll learn directly from professionals and organizations involved in health equity, medicine, and public health, giving you insight into real-world applications of these fields.
10. Academy/Delaware Public Health Association (DPHA) Student Internship
Location: Virtual (hosted by Delaware Public Health Academy)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: January 15 – April 15 (Spring); May 15 – August 15 (Summer); September 15 – December 15 (Fall)
Application Deadline: November 1 – 15 (Spring); March 1 – 15 (Summer); July 1 – 15 (Fall)
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in public health or related fields
During this program, you will participate in a primarily virtual public health internship designed to fit around your existing academic and personal commitments. You will work closely with the Academy’s internship coordinator to shape an experience that aligns with your interests, academic requirements, and career goals. You’ll build public health skills by analyzing health problems, working with qualitative and quantitative data, and applying public health theory to program design and evaluation. Your work may focus on diverse topics, such as health equity, mental health, chronic disease, environmental health, or healthcare access. You’ll also strengthen research, writing, and presentation skills by developing reports and presenting data-driven insights on public health issues. This internship offers you flexible, mentored exposure to how public health research and policy impact communities across Delaware.
11. APA Internal Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid and unpaid options available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter sessions)
Application Deadline: Varies by position and term
Eligibility: High school students residing in a state where APA is registered as an employer; Must have an official District of Columbia Work Permit if under 18
The APA Internal Internship Program allows you to gain remote experience within a national nonprofit organization focused on advancing psychology for the public good. As an intern, you will work within departments such as research, policy, education, communications, publishing, or operations, depending on your interests and background. You’ll apply classroom knowledge to real-world projects while reporting directly to a supervisor who supports your learning goals. In addition to daily responsibilities, you may participate in workshops, group projects, and professional development discussions alongside other interns. The program is designed to help you explore non-traditional career paths in psychology while building professional skills and networks.
12. Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 1 – 5 and June 8 – 12
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week virtual program that introduces you to a wide range of careers within mental health through interactive online sessions. You’ll learn from clinician-scientists, including psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and licensed clinical social workers, who share both their professional responsibilities and personal career journeys. Before each session, you will complete guided readings drawn from prepared packets that include mass media and scientific journal sources. During live Zoom sessions, professionals demonstrate aspects of their daily work and answer practical questions about training pathways, education costs, and career decisions. You’ll explore diverse areas of mental health, such as psychotherapy, neuroscience, neuropsychological testing, and community psychiatry.
13. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $45 application fee + $2,400 program fee; Financial aid available
Cohort Size: 50 students
Dates: June 15 – 26 or July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students (14+)
During this program, you will take part in a two-week virtual research internship focused on artificial intelligence applications in medicine and healthcare. Through introductory and technical lectures, you’ll build a strong foundation in AI concepts while learning how these tools are used in clinical and research settings. You’ll work in small groups on hands-on research projects and receive structured mentorship from Stanford student leads and researchers. The program also includes “Meet the Expert” sessions, where you’ll interact with professionals from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. You’ll also collaborate closely with peers during guided working sessions and participate in scheduled social activities that support community building. Upon completing the full program, you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion.
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