12 Medical Internships for High School Students in Kansas City, Missouri
Internships are one of the most practical ways for high school students to explore their career interests. These programs give you valuable experience, skill-building opportunities, and direct exposure to professional fields while helping you grow your network. From top colleges to established organizations, more and more institutions are offering internships tailored to driven students.
If you’re in Kansas City, Missouri, and are interested in medicine or healthcare, there are some great options to consider. Kansas City offers a diverse healthcare ecosystem with renowned hospitals, research institutions, and mentorship opportunities, making it an ideal hub for high school students pursuing medical internships. These internships let you shadow professionals, learn through projects, and explore future academic paths. We’ve researched the top 12 medical internships available for high schoolers in Kansas City so you can find one that fits your goals.
1.STAR 2.0 Program
Location: Children’s Mercy Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri
Stipend: $2,600
Application Deadline: April 8
Dates: June 16 - July 24
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomore, and junior high school students attending public or charter schools; preference will be given to students who attend schools in the urban metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas school districts.
The STAR 2.0 Program offers you a look at science and medicine through research. You’ll work on projects that impact patient care, gaining insight into medical research environments. The program also helps you build connections within the local research community, which can support future academic or professional goals. There’s a chance your work could be published in peer-reviewed journals. This program is designed to prepare you for competitive research and clinical opportunities.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships connects you with high-growth start-ups for an 8-week virtual internship designed for ambitious high school students. You’ll work closely with professionals from industries like AI, tech, health, journalism, or marketing. These start-ups often raise over $1 million in funding and offer real-world projects that give you hands-on experience. With support from a dedicated Ladder Coach, you’ll collaborate with your team and present your final work to the company. The program provides a chance to build industry insight while expanding your skills.
3. UMKC Students Training in Academia, Health, and Research (STAHR) Program
Location: UMKC Health Sciences Campus, Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: Free; Students meeting program criteria will receive stipends/scholarships
Application Deadline: February 15
Dates: June 9 - July 18 (Summer program); Then from August - April
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores (10th grade) or juniors (11th grade) with a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA; Economically or academically disadvantaged
The STAHR Scholars Program at UMKC is a year-long experience designed to help you explore and prepare for careers in health professions. It begins in June with a six-week summer session held in person at UMKC’s Health Sciences Campus, where you'll spend 30 hours each week participating in clinical observations, research projects, and service activities. You’ll work with professionals in fields like dentistry, medicine, or pharmacy based on your interests. Once the summer ends, you’ll continue with mentoring, healthcare exposure, and skill-building activities through April. The academic year includes help with application materials, leadership development, and networking support.
4. Saturday Academy at UMKC School Of Medicine
Location: UKMC Health Sciences Campus, Kansas City, MO
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: September 27
Dates: October 12 - March 8
Eligibility: Grades 9 - 12; Economically disadvantaged or educationally disadvantaged; 2.75 Minimum cumulative GPA
Saturday Academy at UMKC School of Medicine is a free program for students in grades 9–12 interested in healthcare careers. Hosted by the STAHR program, it brings together faculty from Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing to offer hands-on learning. You’ll participate in simulations, strengthen study techniques, and explore test-taking strategies. The program also includes meetings with admissions representatives and health professionals to help you understand various career paths. You'll work on academic readiness, college planning, and application materials.
5. KU Health Science Academy
Location: University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas City, MO
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 9 - July 11
Eligibility: High school students from Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
The KU Health Science Academy is a 5-week summer program designed for 30 high school students from Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. You’ll explore health careers through labs, dissections, and workshops guided by medical students, teachers, health professionals, and college interns. During the program, you’ll also interact with healthcare industry professionals and current students to better understand the field. A highlight of the experience includes presenting your research project to medical and community leaders at the closing ceremony in mid-July. All participants are paid a stipend at the end of the program.
6. ProX Summer Program
Location: Different organizations in Kansas City, depending on the internship you secure
Stipend: $1,250
Application Deadline: January 1 - March 15
Dates: 5 weeks starting on June 2
Eligibility: Current 9th - 12th grade student residing in the Greater Kansas City region.
The ProX Summer Program connects high school students in the Kansas City area to paid work experiences. You’ll be exploring careers in fields like healthcare, engineering, marketing, and more with no prior experience required, making this a great opportunity for first-time workers. ProX also helps you build skills, meet mentors, and gain Market Value Assets (MVAs) that prepare you for college and future careers. The program fosters growth through mentorship and community support, designed to give you practical experience and professional connections.
7. NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 9
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors entering grade 11 or 12; have taken at least one high school biology course; Minimum (unweighted) GPA of 3.0
NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) is a 12-week, self-paced program where you’ll explore how space biology and omics data intersect. Using JupyterLab notebooks, you’ll learn how to analyze biological data related to spaceflight, cancer, and other health research. Optional live office hours give you a chance to ask questions and go deeper into bioinformatics methods. After completing the core course, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a Capstone Project, where teams will present research proposals based on real NASA omics data. Top teams may be selected to attend a national science conference and share their work.
8. UCSD Bioengineering Research Scholars
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,000 - $3,000
Application Deadline: You can find the deadline for each program here.
Dates: You can find the dates for each program here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 - 12 with a minimum GPA of 3.0; at least 14 years old by the start of the course.
The UCSD Bioengineering Research Scholars Program gives you experience with biomedical techniques focused on regenerative medicine. In the BE-BOAT phase, you’ll learn lab skills like mammalian cell culture, digital microscopy, and biochemical assays. These tools help researchers understand and investigate diseases such as cancer. You’ll then move on to BE-ROW, where you’ll join an active research team. Finally, in BE-SHIP, you’ll design and lead your own research project—ideal for science competitions or advanced academic work. The program is structured to guide you from foundational skills to independent scientific exploration.
9. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) - Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Cohort Size: 25
Application Deadline: February 28
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade in the Fall, over the age of 14 by the start of the program
The AIMI Summer Research Internship at Stanford introduces you to the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. Over the course of the program, you’ll attend technical lectures, participate in collaborative research sessions, and receive mentorship from Stanford researchers and students. You’ll explore clinical data, machine learning techniques, and how AI is applied in medical fields like cancer diagnostics. The program also features guest speakers from academia, industry, and healthcare to broaden your understanding of career paths in AI and medicine. You'll work with datasets and gain experience in developing tech-driven health solutions.
10. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $25 application fee
Application Deadline: February 2
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18
ASSIP is an eight-week summer internship that lets you explore advanced topics in science through lab work. You’ll work on projects in areas like bioengineering, molecular medicine, and diagnostics. Under the guidance of professional scientists, you’ll learn to use lab equipment, record data, and share research findings. The program includes mentorship and exposure to different career paths in STEM. Interns often publish papers or present at conferences, gaining recognition for their work. It’s a strong foundation if you’re interested in future medical and scientific research.
11. Stanford’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,595
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 1
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18 years
Stanford’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is a program for high school students curious about neuroscience, psychology, or psychiatry. You’ll join live lectures led by Stanford faculty, covering topics such as clinical neuropsychiatry, behavioral science, and mental health. The program includes collaborative work on a capstone project where you’ll tackle neuroscience issues in small teams. Discussions on mental wellness and career pathways offer an added perspective with students from around the globe contributing. If you're looking to explore the brain sciences in an academic setting, CNI-X provides an intensive starting point.
12. Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: 5 weeks from July - August
Eligibility: Current rising juniors or seniors in high school
The Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week online program for high school juniors and seniors interested in neuroscience. You’ll explore brain science through live lectures, lab simulations, and mentorship from researchers at Johns Hopkins. The curriculum includes exposure to lab techniques and professional development training to prepare you for future academic goals. You’ll gain insight into research careers and build a strong foundation in neuroscience. A certificate of completion is awarded at the end of the program.