12 Medical Internships for High School Students in Orlando, Florida
Thinking about a career in healthcare or research but not sure where to start? Internships are a great way to explore your interests, build new skills, and understand what working in medicine or science really looks like, beyond textbooks and YouTube videos.
They give you experience, a chance to shadow professionals, and even the opportunity to work on real projects that can shape your future. Whether it’s volunteering at a hospital or diving into a research lab, these programs help you connect your curiosity with real-world impact.
You don’t need to have everything figured out; these internships are designed to help you learn and grow. Many of them are free or offer stipends, making them accessible and worthwhile. So if you're a high school student in or around Orlando with even a spark of interest in the medical world, this list is for you.
1. The Junior Academy (New York Academy of Sciences)
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Sept 1 - May 1
Application Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17 worldwide
Cost/Stipend: None
The Junior Academy brings together global teams of students to tackle real-world STEM challenges. Guided by professional mentors, you will collaborate virtually to develop innovative solutions to social and scientific problems. You will also submit a final research presentation or proposal at the end of each challenge. The experience is deeply collaborative, skill-building, and globally minded.
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; high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Cost: Varies based on program type
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, you will work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Pathways Internship Program
Location: Virtual and in-person (DC and embassies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Varies by department
Application Deadline: Varies; rolling
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school
Cost/Stipend: Paid
As an intern, you will be placed in offices that support global diplomacy, spanning policy to public affairs. You will receive mentorship from government professionals and contribute to meaningful communications and research. You may also assist in preparing briefings, writing reports, or helping with program logistics. Students gain exposure to real-world diplomacy and public service careers. It's a rare chance to understand how international policy is shaped.
4. Executive and General Internships – Medicine Encompassed
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Spring/Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Cost/Stipend: None
This internship focuses on the business and leadership side of healthcare. You will explore administrative operations, nonprofit growth, marketing, and digital outreach through real assignments. You will also attend webinars with medical executives and work in teams. By the end of the program, you will have led or contributed to a project in medical outreach or education. It's ideal for those exploring healthcare from both clinical and organizational angles.
5. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) – Project Pipeline Baltimore
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Underrepresented students interested in neuroscience
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
This internship introduces you to neuroscience through online modules, mentor guidance, and collaborative data work. You will explore topics like neuroimaging, behavior, and clinical ethics. You will also practice public speaking, research interpretation, and teamwork. As an intern, you will wrap up with a formal research presentation or poster session. It’s a gateway into medical research and academic science.
6. University Medical Summer at UCF
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students interested in medicine
Cost/Stipend: Fee-based
You will learn suturing, CPR, and patient interaction through labs, lectures, and guided practice. Research workshops will help you understand how clinical studies are designed. You will also gain insight into specialty areas like emergency medicine or radiology. At the end of this internship, you will present your research findings or case studies. It’s a comprehensive prep for a career in medicine.
Location: Orlando
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students
Cost/Stipend: Fee-based
This program dives deep into various fields of medicine through lectures, dissections, and clinical simulations. You will get hands-on clinical experience and work on an individual project that gets published in a peer-reviewed, PubMed-indexed medical journal. You will also receive early exposure to specialties and technologies like robotic surgery. Group projects and ethical discussions make the program interactive. You will get to connect with real physicians and explore the patient-care side of medicine. A great stepping-stone for future medical professionals.
8. Orlando Health Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Orlando-area hospitals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies
Dates: Year-round and summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Ages 16+; having a minimum 3.0 GPA
Cost/Stipend: None
Teens support hospital staff in areas like patient care, transport, and admin assistance. It’s a non-clinical role but offers valuable experience in the hospital environment. You will learn healthcare etiquette, teamwork, and the daily rhythm of hospital operations. It’s a strong entry point for you if you’re curious about working in medicine.
9. Orlando Health Student Nurse Internships
Location: Orlando Health hospitals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school seniors pursuing nursing
Cost/Stipend: Paid
The Orlando Health Summer SNE Program is a full-time, eight-week paid summer externship working alongside an RN preceptor. You will shadow nurses, assist with patient care tasks, and attend skill labs. You may help monitor vitals, observe surgeries, or practice charting. The environment is structured and supported by mentors. You will receive real nursing experience in active clinical settings. Perfect for you if you’re already leaning towards nursing school.
10. Orlando Health Pathway Summer Program
Location: Orlando
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: Summer (2 days)
Application Deadline: Early Spring
Eligibility: Local high school students
Cost/Stipend: None
This two-day exploration includes rotations through nursing, radiology, respiratory therapy, and more. You will use real equipment in labs and meet with professionals in each specialty. The program offers insight into several roles in a short timeframe. You will leave with clarity on medical career options and new technical knowledge. It’s a compact but impactful experience.
11. Arnold Palmer Hospital Volunteer Program
Location: Orlando
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: Year-round and summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 16+
Cost/Stipend: None
As a volunteer, you will work in pediatric care, supporting therapeutic play and family services. Tasks include helping with child activities, assisting staff, and creating positive experiences for patients. The program helps you develop soft skills essential in child-centered healthcare. It offers an emotional and inspiring introduction to pediatrics.
Location: Online (self‑paced courses)
Duration: 6–25 weeks, depending on the certificate
Program Dates: Begin anytime; coursework is available year‑round
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 17–18)
Cost/Stipend: Paid tuition ($2,000–$14,000), includes certification exams; financial aid may be available
Through AdventHealth University’s High School Workforce Development Certificates, you can earn industry-recognized credentials like Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing/Coding, or Electronic Health Records Specialist. The online, self-paced format lets you complete coursework in as little as six weeks, while you're still in high school. Pharmacy Tech students also get real-world clinical experience with 160 required hours. Each program ends with a national certification exam, so you graduate with professional qualifications in hand.