12 Medical Internships for High School Students in North Carolina (NC)
If you're a high school student in North Carolina interested in medicine, participating in a local medical internship will allow you to shadow doctors, conduct research, and try out medical simulations to experience the field. Many universities and healthcare centers across North Carolina offer medical internships for high school students where you can gain hands-on experience in both clinical and research settings. You'll learn lab techniques, explore healthcare practices, and apply scientific concepts. Most programs are free and even offer stipends, which you can save or use toward college.
As an intern, you'll work with healthcare professionals, use medical equipment, and learn how hospitals and labs operate. You’ll also develop important skills like communication and problem-solving, while getting mentorship and experience that looks great on college applications. Whether you're thinking about a career in medicine, curious about medical research, or just want to explore the healthcare field, these programs will help you learn and connect with professionals in the industry.
In this blog, we’ll go over 12 medical internships for high school students in North Carolina!
1. Duke’s Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program
Location: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC
Stipend: $2,600
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 3
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (rising seniors are preferred); U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Prior experience not required
Cohort Size: Approx. 25 participants, including high school students, college students, and teachers
The Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program offers 6-week medical internships for high school students interested in gaining hands-on research experience. In the first two weeks, you’ll meet your mentor and come up with a research question focused on a specific medication. During the in-person part of the program, you’ll build your thesis while receiving support from a medical writer (for manuscript development), a statistician (for lectures and data analysis), and Duke faculty who will discuss topics like antimicrobial therapy, neonatology, and pharmacoepidemiology. You’ll also attend a seminar on medical ethics and research responsibility. You’ll meet weekly with your mentor to check progress and make sure your work is solid. At the end, you’ll present your findings and submit a final paper. Some of these papers are included in submissions to peer-reviewed journals, giving you a chance to get published.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort, with the next deadline for the fall cohort being August 24
Dates: 8-16 weeks, with multiple cohorts offered year-round
Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, or gap year students who can work 5-15 hours a week
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 19%
Ladder Internships, established by Harvard alumni, is a competitive program that connects high school students with remote internship opportunities at startups and nonprofit organizations worldwide. Many of the startup founders have Y Combinator funding and backgrounds at companies such as Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft. Internship opportunities cover a wide range of fields, including environmental science, health tech, nonprofits, mental health, software engineering, finance, AI, consulting, and journalism. As an intern, you’ll work on real projects for your assigned organization and present your work at the end. Along the way, you’ll build skills in communication and time management, join group sessions with other interns, and get guidance from a site manager and a Ladder coach. You can check out the application form to see the internships currently available.
3. UNC School of Medicine’s Internship in Science, Health Training, and Research (ISHTaR)
Location: Hybrid with 1-3 in-person days each week at the Department of Emergency Medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: January 6 – February 24
Dates: The program takes place in the summer, with flexible start and end dates to fit your school schedule
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors at a North Carolina high school who will be at least 16 by June 1; A 2.75 GPA or higher isn’t required, but is strongly recommended
Cohort Size: 3 interns each summer
The Internship in Science, Health Training, and Research (ISHTaR), run by UNC’s Department of Emergency Medicine, gives high school students hands-on experience in research and clinical medicine. You’ll join a research team and work on projects like creating health communication materials, writing informational content for research partners, developing educational tools, and reviewing literature on health topics related to emergency medicine. You’ll also get to shadow EMS paramedics, doctors in clinics or hospitals, and build mentoring relationships with healthcare professionals. You’ll talk with clinicians and researchers about their career paths, take part in team activities, and join a book club focused on complex healthcare topics.
4. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) Summer Research Exposure Programs
Location: Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC; Virtual options available
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Dates: July 15 – July 18 (Virtual) | June 24 – July 19 (In-person)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 14-18 from anywhere in the world (Virtual); North Carolina high school students aged 16-18 (In-Person)
Cohort Size: The in-person program accepts only 8-10 high school students
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) offers two summer programs for high school students interested in regenerative medicine. The Virtual Regenerative Medicine Academy is a one-week program with Zoom lessons and an optional half-day on-site tour and workshops on Friday. You’ll learn about career paths and research in the field of regenerative medicine through talks from faculty, industry professionals, and mentors. The 4-Week Summer Research Exposure Program is for North Carolina high schoolers. This in-person program will pair you with WFIRM faculty for hands-on research and shadowing. You’ll start with lab training, attend weekly meetings, and work about 20-30 hours per week. You’ll join seminars, take the Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course, and connect with peers and mentors. This experience will help you build research skills and boost your STEM college applications.
5. Novant Health Bridges to Healthcare Internship Program
Location: Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, and Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: Applications usually open in the spring
Dates: 8-16 weeks between March and June
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors in the Winston-Salem or Charlotte areas, or recent graduates from partner schools; At least a 2.5 GPA and a household income of $40,000 or less
Cohort Size: 10 students per medical center
The Bridges to Healthcare Internship Program helps high school students and recent graduates explore careers in healthcare and build skills for the future. It’s split into two phases: In Phase I, high school students get paid internships at Novant Health, where they learn about both clinical and non-clinical roles. In Phase II, recent graduates can get help with college costs if they’re pursuing a healthcare degree at a community college. Over eight to sixteen weeks, you'll rotate through different clinical and non-clinical departments like radiology, working in a doctor’s office, nursing, IT, and community outreach. You’ll also join workshops that cover useful skills like writing a resume, managing personal finances, and other practical life tools, all while getting a firsthand look at healthcare careers.
6. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Location: Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Application Deadline: December 16 – February 9
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who attend a public or charter school in Durham, NC; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or legal residents; At least 16 years old by June 16
Cohort Size: 6-7 students
The Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE) allows local high school students to do full-time research in one of Duke’s neuroscience labs. You’ll be matched with a lab and a mentor to work on a research project you choose, getting one-on-one guidance to build your lab and research skills. You’ll also attend professional development sessions and workshops to learn more about neuroscience, explore career paths in academia, industry, and medicine, improve your science communication and presentation skills, and get help with college applications. At the end, you’ll take part in a poster session to present your research to family, peers, and DUNE staff. You can see what past interns and scholars experienced here.
7. MAHEC Project PROMISE Internship Program
Location: MAHEC, Asheville, NC
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Dates: The program runs for one semester during the spring
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with a weighted GPA of at least 3.0; Attending public school in McDowell, Madison, Mitchell, or Yancey County; Have strong teacher recommendations
Cohort Size: Up to three juniors and seniors from each eligible high school
The Project PROMISE internship is for high school juniors and seniors interested in healthcare careers like doctor, dentist, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or physical therapist. You’ll earn at least 135 credit hours, spending afternoons during the spring semester in clinical or healthcare settings, learning directly from local professionals. You’ll get to shadow experts in areas like Ob/Gyn, Palliative Care, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Dentistry, Geriatrics, Public Health, Wound Care, Physical Therapy, Internal Medicine, Pharmacy, and General Surgery. The program includes training in online research, OSHA, HIPAA, and professional behavior. You can also join MAHEC programs for academic support, college prep, service learning, and communication skills. Plus, you’ll have a mentor, a 3rd or 4th-year medical student from the UNC School of Medicine, Asheville, to guide you in preparing for a healthcare career.
8. MaryAnn Black Summer Internship Program
Location: The program is hybrid, held at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: May 31
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Eligibility: High school students
Cohort Size: 31 students participated last year
The MaryAnn Black Internship is a program for high school students interested in healthcare careers; it’s a partnership between Duke Health and Durham YouthWorks. You’ll be supported by Duke student volunteers through virtual Zoom meetings and on-site tours during in-person days. You’ll get to learn about many healthcare jobs at Duke Health, helping you explore the field and build skills to address local healthcare workforce needs. Besides hearing from volunteers about different healthcare roles, you’ll also get training on test-taking, office and dining etiquette, and hands-on experience visiting places like Duke’s School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and other campus spots.
9. MAHEC Medical Mentoring Program
Location: MAHEC, Asheville, NC
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: March 15
Dates: It’s a semester-long internship that usually takes place in the spring
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending a high school in Buncombe County with at least a 3.0 weighted GPA
Cohort Size: 8-12 students
The MAHEC Medical Mentoring Program is an internship for high school seniors interested in medicine. You’ll get to explore many healthcare fields like Chinese Medicine, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Optometry, Social Work, Public Health, and Medicine, including specialties like Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Cardiology, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and more. You’ll rotate through clinics (like sleep labs, memory care, and diabetes management), private practices, hospitals, and education centers. You’ll also attend resident physician sessions and have access to MAHEC’s Virtual Library. Besides rotations, you can use internship hours to join ABIPA Action Teams, attend MAHEC’s health career programs, college planning workshops, conferences, and service projects.
10. Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP)
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: February 16
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; At least 16; Priority goes to Durham Public School students, but all eligible North Carolina high school students can apply
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Duke University’s Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP) offers medical internships for high school students interested in biomedical engineering. It is run by the Biomedical Engineering Department (BME) and aims to introduce students from diverse backgrounds to scientific research and encourage STEM careers. During the program, you’ll work on research projects in Duke BME labs, covering areas like biomedical and health data sciences, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, bioelectric engineering, biomaterials, biosensors, drug and gene delivery, immune engineering, synthetic biology, computational biology, neural engineering, and tissue engineering. You’ll also join weekly social events and seminars, including professional skills training, college advice, and talks by professors and engineering professionals.
11. MAHEC Project Promise Health Careers Summer Camp
Location: University of North Carolina and MAHEC, Asheville, NC
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: May 2
Dates: July 13 – July 16
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from rural Western North Carolina with a minimum weighted GPA of 3.0
Acceptance Rate: Selective
MAHEC offers a free summer camp for rural high school students interested in health careers. You'll stay overnight in dorms at UNCA and take part in daily hands-on healthcare activities and workshops on both the UNCA and MAHEC campuses. You’ll also take a trip to the Adventure Center of Asheville’s ropes course. You'll get practical medical experience, learn about different paths to healthcare careers, and meet doctors, residents, and students in fields like family medicine, psychiatry, surgery, dentistry, and pharmacy. You can check out the program flyer here.
12. Stanford AIMI: Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee + $850 program fee (waivable based on financial need); Unpaid
Application Deadline: February 28
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders who will be at least 14 years old by the program’s start and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Cohort Size: 25 students
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a hands-on, project-based internship for high school students who have skills in coding, statistics, or math. The program combines advanced lectures with real-world AI applications in healthcare, giving you both technical and clinical experience. You'll work on an AI-focused medical project with support and guidance, gaining direct research experience. Along the way, you'll attend lectures on healthcare AI, collaborate with other students, and get mentorship from Stanford researchers and students. You will also have the opportunity to participate in Virtual Career Lunch and Learn sessions, which feature speakers from industry, academia, government, and nonprofit organizations. Upon completing the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.