12 Medical Internships for High School Students in Connecticut (CT)
An internship in medicine is an affordable, practical way for high school students to gain early exposure to a career in medicine. Through hands-on experiences, you can build real-world skills, interact with healthcare professionals, and get a closer look at patient care, biomedical research, and clinical environments. Some internships also offer access to research labs, mentorship from medical faculty, and workshops that teach critical thinking and scientific communication.
For students in Connecticut, there are a range of options to explore. Many medical internships for high school students are hosted by hospitals, universities, and public health organizations in the region, and offer structured learning without the high cost of pre-college programs. Several of these medical internships even offer stipends, making them accessible to students from different backgrounds.
Whether you're considering a career in healthcare, biomedical engineering, or public health, this list highlights 12 medical internships for high school students in Connecticut, or virtual programs, with a strong healthcare focus. Each opportunity is vetted for quality and relevance, and all offer meaningful mentorship and project-based learning.
1. Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative: High School Student Research Apprentice Program
Location: UConn Health, Farmington, CT, or Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 16 – July 18
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed junior year, are at least 16, attend a CT high school with a School-to-Career coordinator, and come from underrepresented backgrounds in health professions
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend provided
This intensive program offers high school students the chance to participate in real biomedical research at UConn Health. Under close supervision from faculty researchers, you’ll work on projects involving lab techniques such as cell culture, pipetting, and molecular assays. The program focuses on mentorship, development of technical skills, and exposure to academic research settings. You will also participate in academic and career workshops that focus on pathways into the health professions. Designed to support underrepresented students in medicine, this program builds foundational experience for future STEM careers.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts run year-round
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12); Must commit to 10-20 hours/week
Ladder Internships provides a structured, virtual internship where you’ll collaborate with early-stage startups on real-world projects in fields like biotechnology and health tech. Tasks may include market analysis, data science, user research, or product development, depending on your host organization. You’ll receive dual mentorship: one from your startup manager and another from a Ladder Coach who leads weekly check-ins, progress reviews, and skill-building sessions. You will develop communication, research, and presentation skills as you complete a final portfolio-ready project. It's ideal for students seeking professional experience with strong mentorship in a flexible virtual setting.
3. UConn Health Pre-College Academic Enrichment Program
Location: UConn Health, Farmington, CT, or Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 29 – August 2
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school seniors with a ‘B’ average or better, age 16+ by program start, from CT schools with a School-to-Career coordinator, and underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds
Stipend: Paid
Though technically a summer enrichment program, this hands-on research opportunity offers a strong internship-style experience. You will work in clinical research environments under the guidance of UConn Health faculty, learning lab techniques in biomedical science, cellular biology, and related disciplines. You’ll gain exposure to scientific methodologies and career pathways in healthcare. The program emphasizes supporting students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds and includes mentorship and professional development sessions. A final presentation or report rounds out the experience.
4. Yale University’s Peter E. Schwartz DTC High School Internship
Location: Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 6 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: High school juniors, aged 16+, residing within commuting distance of Yale; Application must be coordinated through a school educator and include a teacher recommendation
Stipend: Unpaid
This prestigious internship places high school students directly in Yale’s cutting-edge biomedical laboratories, where you’ll spend six full weeks engaged in hands-on research. Under the mentorship of a Yale Principal Investigator and lab staff, you’ll contribute to an active research project where tasks may include preparing samples, running experiments, collecting data, and learning specialized biomedical techniques such as PCR, immunohistochemistry, or cell culture. Beyond lab work, you’ll participate in mandatory training sessions that cover lab safety protocols, data management, and the fundamentals of translational medicine. The program also offers opportunities to attend seminars and interact with other young scientists, broadening your exposure to potential careers in medical research.
5. The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program (SSP)
Location: The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT
Cohort Size: ~40 students total (across both campuses)
Dates: May 31 – August 8 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Late October – January 27
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students from the U.S.; Applicants must be 16+ and have completed at least their junior year of high school
Stipend: $6,500
Jackson Laboratory's Summer Student Program provides medical internships for high school students who are interested in working on genetics and genomics projects independently. Under the guidance of experienced scientific mentors, you will contribute to ongoing investigations while developing your own projects from hypothesis formation and experimental design to data analysis and final presentation. The program emphasizes scientific communication, culminating in a formal symposium for peers, faculty, and families. The Farmington, CT campus provides access to cutting-edge genomic research in a collaborative, immersive environment.
6. Teen Volunteer Program – The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Location: The Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain, CT
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Year-round and summer options
Application Deadline: Rolling (based on availability); Forms must be submitted prior to interview
Eligibility: High school students age 14+; Must commit to at least 40 hours of volunteer work
Cost/Stipend: None
This program allows high school students to gain first-hand exposure to hospital environments while supporting departments like patient transport, reception, or unit coordination. Volunteers may observe clinical routines and interact with staff, learning soft skills like communication, professionalism, and time management in a healthcare setting. You are required to complete health clearance, a teacher recommendation, and an in-person interview as part of the application process.
7. High School Mini Medical/Dental School Program
Location: UConn Health, Farmington, CT
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 8 weekly sessions
Application Deadline: Varies; Students must be nominated by a school counselor or science teacher
Eligibility: 11th-grade Connecticut residents interested in medicine, dentistry, or biomedical sciences; Nomination required
Cost/Stipend: None
This lecture-based enrichment program introduces students to the medical and dental fields through faculty-led sessions at UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine. Each week features a two-hour lecture on advanced biomedical topics like pharmacology, oncology, or molecular biology. You will gain early exposure to professional school environments and foundational science concepts. Selection is through nomination by a high school counselor or science teacher, with emphasis on students from UConn’s pipeline programs. It’s a strong academic primer for students interested in healthcare careers.
8. EdAdvance Regional Student Health & Medical Internship Program
Location: Greater Danbury/Waterbury area, CT
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Two 9-week placements during the school year; After school, one day per week
Application Deadline: Depends on position
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors interested in healthcare careers
Cost/Stipend: None
This School-to-Career internship program introduces students to a variety of medical and health-related career paths through structured, real-world experiences. You will be placed in local hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities where you will observe daily operations and assist with non-clinical tasks. The program emphasizes skill-building in communication, professionalism, and teamwork, all essential for success in 21st-century healthcare. Internships are scheduled outside of school hours, making them accessible during the academic year. Each session includes two separate 9-week internships, providing exposure to multiple roles within the healthcare system.
9. Yale School-to-Career Internship Program
Location: New Haven, CT
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: High school students interested in healthcare careers
Stipend: Paid
This internship program allows high school students to explore healthcare careers within one of Connecticut’s largest medical systems. You will be placed in various hospital departments where you will observe workflows, support staff, and interact with patients and families. You will receive mentorship from healthcare professionals across fields such as nursing, administration, and allied health. The program emphasizes exposure to real hospital environments, giving students early insight into multidisciplinary healthcare teams. It's particularly beneficial for students considering careers in clinical or support roles within medicine.
10. Stamford Health Junior Volunteer Program
Location: Stamford Health, Stamford, CT
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Spring: January – June; Summer: June – August; Fall: September – February
Application Deadline: Rolling; Next cycle opens August 4
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-17; Must commit to at least 100 hours over 6 months (school year sessions only)
Cost/Stipend: None
This school-year volunteer program offers high school students exposure to various departments across Stamford Health, including the Emergency Department, Bennett Cancer Center, and Behavioral Health. As a participant, you will assist with non-clinical tasks such as patient liaison work, reception support, and Planetree comfort services. Volunteers are mentored by hospital staff and placed based on their availability, skills, and interests. Accepted participants must meet health clearance requirements and commit to regular weekly shifts after school. Benefits include discounted fitness membership, participation in hospital events, and eligibility for reference letters.
11. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: July – August (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations in the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; Unpaid
This five-week virtual internship from Johns Hopkins provides high school students from underrepresented backgrounds with structured exposure to neuroscience and medical research. You will engage in live lectures, basic lab simulations, and guided mentorship sessions focused on academic and professional growth. The program emphasizes collaboration through group projects and culminates in a formal presentation of each student’s work. JHIBS offers students across the U.S. a remote opportunity to build research skills and connect with professionals in brain science, without location-based restrictions.
12. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Summer Internship
Location: Virtual (Stanford University faculty-led)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Two-week sessions during summer (multiple cohorts)
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school students interested in science and medicine
Cost/Stipend: Tuition required (check website for latest fees); No stipend available
This two-week virtual internship introduces students to the fundamentals of cardiothoracic surgery through a mix of expert-led lectures and guided surgical simulations. Hosted by Stanford faculty and surgical residents, the curriculum includes morning sessions on cardiology, thoracic pathology, ECG interpretation, and imaging techniques. Afternoon labs focus on surgical skills, where you will receive custom kits and perform exercises like suturing, vessel dissection, and heart model analysis. You’ll also engage in anatomical studies using porcine heart specimens and develop hands-on skills critical to operating room practice.