12 Medical Internships for High School Students in Portland, Oregon
If you're a high school student in Portland and considering a career in medicine, a medical internship in the state is a great way to start. You'll get to learn from healthcare professionals, work on research projects, and attend healthcare-related workshops. Top universities in Portland, such as Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and George Fox University, along with local labs, offer internships that provide hands-on experience in both clinical and research environments. Many of these programs are free, and some even offer stipends you can use or save for college.
Interning means you'll use actual medical equipment, work closely with professionals, and observe how hospitals and labs run. You'll also build communication and problem-solving skills, connect with mentors, and gain experiences that can strengthen your college applications. Whether you’re interested in research or just want to learn more about healthcare, these programs are a great way to dive in and meet people in the field.
Here are 12 medical internships for high school students in Portland, Oregon.
1. Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) Program by Saturday Academy
Location: The location depends on the internship, but most take place in the Portland Metro area or in the Albany, Corvallis, and Eugene regions
Cost/Stipend: Participation is free, except for a non-refundable $40 application fee. Depending on how many hours you complete, you’ll get a stipend of $500, $1,000, or $1,500
Application Deadline: March 7
Dates: 8–10 weeks between mid-June and late August
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders (or equivalent) who live near the internship sites—usually in the Portland Metro or Albany/Corvallis/Eugene areas—and haven’t done ASE before can apply. If you're applying to the VA Healthcare System, you need to be at least 16 by May 15
Cohort Size: 75 high school students
The Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering (ASE) program offers high school students the opportunity to work with professional mentors in fields such as medicine, biology, chemistry, engineering, and more. If you're interested in medical science, past projects have included researching Alzheimer's, analyzing neurological behavior, and working in clinical settings. Internships typically run full-time over the summer (up to 320 hours), though part-time options are available. You'll gain hands-on research experience, training, and attend events like an orientation, a mid-program conference, and a final symposium.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,490; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort; the next deadline for the summer cohort is June 23
Dates: Programs run for 8 to 16 weeks, with multiple cohorts offered year-round in the spring, summer, fall, and winter
Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, or gap year students who can work 5–15 hours a week for 8–16 weeks
Acceptance Rate: Ladder Internships has a selective acceptance rate of approximately 19%, varying by internship and cohort
Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard graduates, is a selective program that connects high school students with remote internships at startups and nonprofits worldwide. Many of these startups have backing from Y Combinator, and their founders have worked at prominent companies like Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft. You can find internships in fields like Health Technology, Environmental Science, Mental Health, Nonprofits, Software Engineering, and more. You’ll work on real projects for your organization and present your results at the end. You’ll also build skills like communication and time management, and get support from a site manager and a Ladder coach. You can review the application form to see which internships are currently available.
3. Knight Cardiovascular Internship for High School Students
Location: OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: May 12
Dates: The internship runs from early June through the end of August
Eligibility: Students enrolled in an Oregon high school during the spring who will be at least 16 years old by May 30 can apply. Preference is given to 10th and 11th graders; no prior experience in cardiology is required
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
The Knight Cardiovascular Internship gives Oregon high school students a chance to explore careers in cardiology, focusing on both treatment and prevention, at the OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute. You will get to understand the field's complexity and appreciate the importance of heart health to overall well-being. Gaining this kind of early exposure can help you learn more about the profession, develop skills, and explore various career paths in this rapidly evolving area of medicine. If you're interested in cardiology or future research, mention it in your application.
Location: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend (about $11/ hour for 40 hours a week) and a bus pass for the length of the program.
Application Deadline: December 20
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: Oregon high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors from disadvantaged backgrounds are eligible to apply if they have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Check out the complete eligibility criteria here.
Cohort Size: Highly selective; 9 students participated in last year's program
The Ted R. Lilley Continuing Umbrella of Research Education (CURE) Program at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute offers Portland-area high school students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research. The program is for high-achieving students from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. You’ll spend up to 40 hours a week, including seminars, for 8 weeks working in a lab with a faculty member from the Knight Cancer Institute. Throughout the program, you’ll attend weekly seminars and follow the expectations and curriculum set by your mentor. You’ll also get to present your work in a poster session attended by lab staff, directors, and other Knight Cancer Institute team members.
5. Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship Program
Location: Gibbs Lab at OHSU, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: No cost; the first summer is unpaid. Successful interns may have the chance to return the following year in a paid position
Application Deadline: March 15
Dates: The internship offers flexible start and end dates, with a minimum 10-week commitment during the summer
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduate students
Cohort Size: 6–8 students
The Fluorescence Molecular Imaging Internship Program is a ten-week opportunity for students interested in scientific research and biomedical engineering. It is hosted by the Gibbs Laboratory. In the first summer, you’ll get hands-on lab training in techniques like cell culture, microscopy, spectroscopy, organic synthesis, immunostaining, and image analysis. You’ll also learn data processing and may explore programming for image analysis. This part is unpaid, but if you complete all ten weeks, you might return the next year for a paid internship with more advanced work. The program focuses on developing contrast agents to improve imaging, offering practical experience in bioconjugation and related methods. To apply, send a cover letter and your CV to GibbsInternship@ohsu.edu.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: The $40 application fee and $850 program fee can be waived based on financial need. This is an unpaid opportunity
Application Deadline: February 28
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will be at least 14 years old by the program’s start
Cohort Size: 25 students
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a hands-on internship for high school students with skills in coding, math, or statistics. You'll work on an AI-in-healthcare project, attend advanced lectures, and gain research experience with support from Stanford mentors. You will gain both technical and clinical exposure to how AI is used in medicine. The program features team collaboration, career talks with guest speakers, and an option to pursue an extended research internship. You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the internship.
7. OHSU UCEDD Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: The program is hybrid, with a mix of remote work and in-person activities at OHSU in Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will receive a stipend for participation
Application Deadline: January 10
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Oregon high school or early college students who are at least 16 years old
Cohort Size: 8 students
The UCEDD Summer Internship Program provides Oregon high school and early college students with hands-on experience in healthcare, with a focus on disability. You’ll explore disability justice, advocacy, and career paths through tours of OHSU labs and clinics, skill-building sessions, and a 24-hour/week project at one of the Institute on Development and Disability (IDD) centers. Depending on your placement, you could gain experience in research, clinical work, outreach, or community programs. You'll also connect with mentors and other interns, and present your project at the end. Past placements have covered topics like public health, sexual health, assistive tech, psychology, and diversity.
8. OHSU School of Dentistry Research Internship Program
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students are paid $15 per hour or the current minimum wage
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Dates: The internship runs for 6 weeks during the summer, between June and August.
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 16 years old
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
The OHSU School of Dentistry Research Internship provides high school students, undergraduates, and incoming dental students with hands-on experience in dental and oral health research. Over six weeks, you’ll explore topics like public health, orthodontics, biomaterials, the oral microbiome, and tissue engineering. You’ll gain lab skills, work with research equipment, and learn from mentors. You'll also give a group presentation on a research article and a solo talk on your project. The program ends with a final event where you share your research and learn from other participants.
9. Quantitative Biology / Biophysics Internship
Location: Galbraith Lab, OHSU, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: The internship lasts 8 weeks and begins in June
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students
Cohort Size: 2–3 spots are available
The Quantitative Biology/Biophysics Internship in the Galbraith Lab at OHSU offers hands-on research for high school, college, and graduate students. You'll work on a personalized project in areas like microscopy, image analysis, molecular biology, nanofabrication, or machine learning, anything from tracking cells to building a project website. You’ll meet with faculty regularly, present progress weekly, read scientific papers, and maintain a detailed lab notebook. The internship ends with a final presentation at the PacNoW meeting or possible co-authorship on a national abstract. To apply, send your CV and cover letter to the Galbraith Lab. More details are available here.
10. The Harris Neuroscience Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: April 4
Dates: The program runs from September to May.
Eligibility: U.S. high school students
Cohort Size: 12 students
Stanford Medicine’s Harris Neuroscience Internship is a virtual program for high school students that runs during the school year. You’ll be paired with Stanford faculty and trainees in neuroscience. Every week, you’ll attend Neurology Grand Rounds, and once a month, you’ll join the Neuroscience Journal Club to discuss recent research with Stanford scientists in a relaxed setting. You’ll work on a neuroscience research project based on your interests, building skills in data analysis, academic writing, and research. You’ll also participate in a community project focused on outreach and engagement, providing a broader connection to the field beyond the lab.
11. George Fox University’s High School Summer Research Program
Location: George Fox University, Newberg, Portland metropolitan area, OR
Cost/Stipend: The program costs about $1,950 (including a $1,800 base fee and a processing surcharge). No information is provided about a stipend
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: July 1 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.25 GPA
Cohort Size: Maximum 20 high school students
George Fox University’s High School Summer Research Program gives high school students hands-on experience in STEM, especially in biomedical engineering. Over five weeks, you’ll work in teams on real research projects in GFU labs, gaining hands-on experience with the full engineering process. You’ll explore 3D design and printing, SolidWorks, polymer molding, Arduino circuits, coding, tissue engineering, and medical device prototyping. Along the way, you'll strengthen your problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. The program meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
12. Oregon National Primate Research Center’s Science Ambassadors Program
Location: OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center, Portland, OR
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: October 13
Dates: The program runs from October to May during the school year.
Eligibility: High school students from the Beaverton and Portland area
Cohort Size: 20 high school students
Science Ambassadors is a STEM mentorship program for high school students that will help you grow both scientifically and socially. Each year, 20 high schoolers and 16 fifth-grade mentees from the Beaverton and Portland areas are selected to join. During the school year, you’ll meet weekly to learn about current science from ONPRC researchers and create hands-on lessons for 5th graders. You'll strengthen your communication and leadership skills, gain an inside look at advanced biomedical research, visit labs or hear from scientists, and help lead activities and events. In the last two sessions each month, the 5th graders join in. Each year, four students are selected by their peers to serve as Student Directors, assuming additional responsibilities.