15 Medical Internships for High School Students in Indiana

Exploring internships during high school is a smart move for any student looking to gain a competitive edge. Hands-on experience can make all the difference when you're building out your resume, improving your college applications, or just getting a clearer idea of what your future could look like.

For students interested in healthcare, medical internships for high school students in Indiana are a great way to explore career paths like medicine, nursing, public health, research, and more. Whether you're shadowing clinicians, participating in research, or engaging in clinical simulations, these programs can help you take meaningful steps toward a future in medicine.

We’ve compiled a list of 15 medical internships for high school students in Indiana, featuring both in-person and virtual options. Although not all opportunities are officially labeled as internships, each one offers valuable experiences similar to those of a traditional internship.

1. Future Scientist Program

Location: Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Dates: June 3 – July 26
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors attending a Marion County public high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a demonstrated interest in scientific research


The Future Scientist Program at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center offers a focused opportunity to explore cancer research. Over eight weeks in the summer, you'll work alongside university researchers in active cancer biology labs on the IU Indianapolis campus. This program provides you with firsthand experience in scientific research. You will design experiments, analyze data, and learn lab techniques as you contribute to an actual research project. 

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Starts at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school, gap year, and undergraduate students who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks

Ladder Internships is an eight-week virtual internship program that connects high school students with startups across various industries, including health tech, artificial intelligence, marketing, journalism, and consulting. You’ll get early exposure to real-world professional environments, allowing you to contribute to ongoing projects and gain insight into the workings of high-growth companies. You’ll be paired with a start-up and work under the guidance of both a company manager and a Ladder Coach. The experience includes mentorship, project-based learning, and a final presentation of the student’s work to the host company. 

3. Parkview FutureREADY Program

Location: Various Parkview Health sites in Northeast Indiana
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Dates: Typically 15 weeks or one semester
Application Deadline: Varies depending on opportunity
Eligibility: High school students

Parkview Health offers medical internships for high school students in Indiana who are interested in healthcare but aren't sure which path to take. This internship, lasting an entire semester, allows you to explore your options by rotating through six different departments (one each week) based on your interests. After those initial rotations, you'll choose a few areas to focus on for the remainder of the semester. You’ll gain a broader understanding of healthcare careers, ranging from clinical roles like nursing and physical therapy to non-clinical paths such as administration and medical technology. You'll also gain firsthand exposure to multiple departments, helping you better understand the daily responsibilities and environments of different roles in healthcare.

4. SEED/STEM Summer Program

Location: Research labs at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Indianapolis, or Indiana Bioscience Research Institute
Cost/Stipend: A stipend up to $4,000 will be provided based on financial need
Dates: June 2 – July 23
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in Indiana who have an interest in science/research and have completed at least one high school chemistry course 

The SEED/STEM Program is an eight-week summer research experience for Indiana high school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. You’ll be matched with a mentor, after which you'll join a research team, contribute to ongoing studies, and get hands-on practice in academic and industry lab settings. Throughout the program, you’ll enhance your abilities in research design, data analysis, and scientific communication. At the end of the summer, you’ll create and present a research poster to showcase your project. 

5. Purdue University’s High School Research Internship (HSRI)

Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost/Stipend: $320 fee if selected 
Dates: Typically one semester, with the option to complete up to 4 semesters
Application Deadline: August 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA, good academic and extracurricular standing, and who are at least 16 years old by the end of August. Students who have completed Dual Credit or Collegiate Connection courses with a B or higher will be given preference

If you’re looking for medical internships for high school students in Indiana where you can gain hands-on lab or technical experience, the Purdue Fort Wayne High School Research Internship (HSRI) offers a chance to work alongside university faculty on active projects. You can choose from College of Science departments like Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Psychology, and more. This program is designed for students who are motivated, curious, and ready to take on a serious academic commitment. Joining faculty-led research projects will give you a chance to develop practical skills, deeply explore a specific topic, and understand how academic research is conducted in real-world environments.

6. Medical Physician Engineers, Scientists, and Clinicians Preparatory Program (MPESC-Prep)

Location: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $4,000
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 who attend public schools in the greater Indianapolis area and are underrepresented in science

The MPESC-Prep Program is a structured experience that combines hands-on research, clinical exposure, and mentorship to help you explore roles like physician-scientist, biomedical researcher, or clinical care provider. You will collaborate with professionals in laboratory and clinical settings, developing technical skills and understanding how science relates to patient care. Additionally, you'll have opportunities to network with faculty, peers, and more experienced students. MPESC-Prep maintains a long-term focus: supporting you throughout the academic year, encouraging you to revisit your laboratory for more research experience, and providing assistance and guidance for undergraduate, graduate, and professional school applications. 

7. IRMC (Indiana Regional Medical Center) High School Externship

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 8 students are accepted each year
Location: Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 9 – 20
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in Indiana or surrounding counties

The IRMC High School Externship offers a focused, two-week look into the world of medicine. You’ll be placed in hospital environments where you'll shadow physicians across specialties like surgery, orthopedics, emergency medicine, and pediatrics. Rather than performing clinical tasks, you'll observe and learn what day-to-day life looks like for doctors, gaining insight into clinical decision-making, teamwork, and patient care. The experience includes hospital rounds, specialty conferences, and networking events with healthcare professionals.

8. IU Health Student Placement Services

Location: IU Health Ball Memorial, IU Health Blackford, IU Health Jay, and IU Health Fort Wayne
Cost/Stipend: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students must be at least 16 years old

IU Health offers a variety of student placement services, including medical internships for high school students in Indiana, designed to facilitate exploration and growth within healthcare. Their regional ambulatory care locations offer opportunities, such as job shadowing and internships. Internships are open to students 16 and older and involve at least 25 hours of hands-on experience, giving you a chance to figure out whether a specific healthcare path aligns with your skills and interests. To get started, you’ll need to submit an application request. After that, a representative from IU Health Student Placement Services will reach out with the next steps.

9. Summer Science Program

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~10%
Location: Several locations, including Indiana University and Purdue University
Cost/Stipend: $8,800 program fee; full financial aid is available based on need
Dates: Typically starts mid-late June
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are 15–18 years old and have finished the relevant coursework by the summer

If you’re looking for an intensive scientific research experience, the Summer Science Program (SSP) offers a five-week, residential opportunity to explore advanced topics like Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Bacterial Genomics, or Synthetic Chemistry. Hosted at top-tier science colleges and universities, SSP places you in small research teams to investigate real scientific questions using college-level lab facilities. You’ll collaborate with peers and receive mentorship from scientists, educators, and teaching assistants as you design experiments, analyze data, and engage with the process of scientific discovery.

10. Camp MD

Location: IU School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: $75 fee
Dates: June 9 – June 13
Application Deadline: Exact information is not available
Eligibility: 9th–12th graders interested in pursuing a medical or health career

Camp MD is a week-long camp that provides a hands-on, exploratory experience into healthcare and medical science. While not a traditional internship, the camp includes activities such as learning to use an EKG machine, understanding electrical conduction in the heart, exploring an ambulance, and visiting specialized labs, including radiation therapy and pathology. Led by medical student volunteers, the curriculum varies from year to year, allowing returning participants to explore new topics each time. The camp offers a closer look at clinical tools, medical technology, and the real-world environments in which healthcare professionals work.

11. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 25 students per year
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 fee + $40 application fee (scholarships available)
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 with strong math/computer programming skills and/or experience with healthcare

The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship provides a structured introduction to the intersection of healthcare and artificial intelligence. This two-week virtual program explores both the technical foundations of AI and its real-world applications in medicine. Each day includes a mix of lectures on AI in healthcare, small-group mentoring with Stanford researchers, collaborative project sessions, and virtual events featuring professionals from academia, industry, government, and non-profit sectors. You’ll also have the chance to work on a team-based research project and, for those who want to continue, there may be an option to extend your internship beyond the program.

12. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 5 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing research or careers in behavioral or brain health-related sciences. Students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply

The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) offers a five-week virtual summer experience that will introduce you to core concepts in brain science. This program includes educational presentations, mentorship sessions, professional development workshops, and exposure to basic lab techniques, designed to help you explore the neurological sciences in an academic context. You'll engage in a structured schedule of activities that build both scientific knowledge and research-related skills. Students who complete all program requirements will earn a certificate of completion.

13. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)

Cost/Stipend: Summer Virtual Program fee: $4,380 | Fall Intensive Program fee: $1,980 + $35 application fee
Dates: Summer Program: July 28 – August 8 | Fall Intensive: September 11 – November 13
Application Deadline: Summer: February 24 | Fall: June 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old. Applicants are encouraged to complete a high school biology course before applying

The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) is designed for students interested in developing clinical skills, exploring various medical specialties, and planning a future in healthcare. You’ll attend sessions led by Stanford faculty and medical professionals covering topics such as physical examination, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical procedures. The program includes case-based learning in small groups, skills workshops, and lectures on medical specialties. You’ll also engage in activities designed to build foundational clinical knowledge and offer exposure to the daily work of healthcare providers.

14. Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Program fee: $850 + $40 application fee (financial aid available)
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old 

The AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a two-week virtual program designed to introduce high school students to the core principles of machine learning and its applications in healthcare. Open to learners of all technical backgrounds, you’ll get a structured yet accessible introduction to topics such as evaluation metrics, best practices, and emerging technologies like generative AI in medical contexts. You’ll engage in online learning modules, interactive group discussions, and breakout activities that promote collaboration and deeper understanding. The program also includes career-focused sessions with professionals from academia, industry, non-profit, and government sectors, providing insight into the diverse roles and paths within health-focused AI work.

15. Stanford Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~12%
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,595 fee (financial aid is available)
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18 years

The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University is a two-week summer program for high school students (rising juniors and seniors) that introduces participants to neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and related research areas. You’ll attend interactive seminars led by Stanford faculty and researchers covering a wide range of topics, including clinical neuropsychiatry, behavioral science, psychiatric epidemiology, and neuroscience research methods. The program also incorporates discussions on career paths in science and medicine, as well as wellness strategies for young adults. In addition to lectures, you’ll work in small groups to complete a collaborative capstone project. These projects focus on proposing solutions to mental health or neuroscience-related social challenges and are presented at the end of the session.

Dhruva Bhat

Dhruva Bhat is one of the co-founders of Ladder, and a Harvard College graduate. Dhruva founded Ladder Internships as a DPhil candidate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, with a vision to bridge the gap between ambitious students and real-world startup experiences.

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