12 Medical Internships for High School Students in San Antonio, Texas
If you're a high school student in San Antonio interested in medicine, summer internships offer an excellent way to gain early exposure to healthcare careers. These programs give you the chance to shadow professionals, participate in clinical or research activities, and develop real-world skills.
There are multiple internships hosted by top hospitals, universities, and research institutions in San Antonio, and may include mentorship, site visits, and even stipends. Whether you're exploring surgery, public health, or biomedical research, these experiences help build both your resume and your confidence as you consider a future in healthcare.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 12 medical internships for high school students in San Antonio, Texas, including both in-person and virtual programs with strong healthcare components.
1. Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; school nomination required
Dates: 7-week summer session (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: January 28 (School nominations); March 7 (application deadline)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores (current 9th graders); must have 90%+ in Math, Science, and English (or 85% in Pre-AP/AP/Dual Credit); age 15+ by June 15
Cost/Stipend: Monetary Voelcker Student Award provided
The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy is a three-year, research-intensive summer program for high-achieving high school students in the Greater San Antonio area. As a Scholar, you will begin the program in the summer before your sophomore year and commit to seven weeks of immersive biomedical research under the mentorship of UT Health faculty. Activities include lab-based research, scientific writing, weekly seminars, and a final presentation. Scholars also engage in academic-year events and are expected to present their work at both UT Health and their home schools.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort sizes vary by startup placement
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), undergraduates, and gap-year students; must commit to 10–20 hours/week
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $2,490; financial assistance available
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 here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
3. Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute Summer Research Program
Location: Greehey CCRI, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically opens during the academic year prior
Eligibility: High school students age 16+ by program start; strong academic performance and interest in cancer research required
Cost/Stipend: Stipend available (housing, meals, and transportation not provided)
This ten-week program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct cancer-focused research in a specialized pediatric oncology setting. Under the mentorship of faculty at Greehey CCRI, you will be matched with labs aligned to your interests and gain hands-on experience with research tools such as genomic sequencing, proteomics, and bioinformatics. The program concludes with a research symposium where you will present your findings and develop public speaking and scientific communication skills.
4. University Hospital Junior Volunteer Program
Location: University Hospital, San Antonio, TX
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–17 at the time of application
Cost/Stipend: None
This two-week volunteer program gives high school students a hands-on introduction to the hospital environment through structured assignments in patient care support, administrative services, and special projects. You will complete 54 hours of service over the program's duration and will be trained through orientation sessions led by University Health staff. As a volunteer, you will receive mentorship and gain insight into career fields in healthcare while practicing job-readiness skills in a professional setting.
5. Youth Summer Internship Program – Family Service
Location: Various employers across San Antonio, TX (Districts 1–8)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Accepts 125 applicants annually; placements with over 30 employers
Dates: 6–7 weeks; exact dates vary
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Students aged 14–17 residing in San Antonio Districts 1–8 and enrolled in eligible school districts
Cost/Stipend: Paid; interns complete 120 hours over the summer
This city-supported internship program pairs high school students with local employers in sectors including healthcare, education, and nonprofit work. You will complete 120 hours over 6–7 weeks and receive professional development training, attend a job fair, and participate in structured check-ins throughout the program. The program offers one of the few paid internship opportunities available to 14–17-year-olds in San Antonio and is tailored to match you with organizations aligned to your interests and goals.
6. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Dates: July – August (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations in the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: $500 stipend
This virtual internship from Johns Hopkins offers a focused experience in brain science for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Over five weeks, you will attend live presentations, complete foundational lab simulations, and engage in mentorship and professional development activities. Collaborative learning and final presentations are essential parts of the program. JHIBS is designed to expose students to neuroscience and medical research, providing a national platform to develop skills and broaden their professional networks.
7. Health Careers High School Internship/Externship Program
Location: University Hospital, UT Health Science Center, UTSA, Methodist Specialty Transplant Hospital
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Part of student placement at Health Careers High School
Dates: Academic year or summer (varies by placement)
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Enrolled students at Health Careers High School
Cost/Stipend: None
Students at Health Careers High School gain access to a wide range of externship and internship opportunities in the healthcare sector through partnerships with top San Antonio medical institutions. After foundational coursework in health science, you can specialize in tracks such as clinical medical assisting, sterile processing, or pharmacology. Internships are aligned with your chosen education strand, providing real-world experience in clinical, research, and lab settings. Additionally, you can earn college credit through Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses via Northwest Vista College.
8. Valero Young Scientist Program
Location: Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Dates: June 23 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th or 12th grade and living in the San Antonio area
Cost/Stipend: Free; lunch provided daily
The Valero Young Scientist Program is a free, multidisciplinary summer research experience designed for rising juniors and seniors in San Antonio. You will conduct hands-on labs that simulate infectious disease research while maintaining professional-level lab notebooks. Although you do not enter active labs, you will explore research through inquiry-driven projects and engage with STEM professionals from diverse disciplines. The program includes soft skill training through “Prepping for Your Future” sessions, culminating in a presentation for peers, scientists, and families.
9. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Dates: Two-week sessions during summer (multiple cohorts)
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school students interested in science and medicine
Cost/Stipend: Tuition required; no stipend available
This immersive two-week program offers high school students an in-depth exploration of the principles and practices of cardiothoracic surgery. The curriculum includes morning lectures on cardiac diseases and diagnostic tools, as well as afternoon surgical labs utilizing instrument kits for suturing, vessel anastomosis, and heart model dissection. You will also examine porcine heart anatomy and develop foundational surgical techniques under expert instruction from Stanford faculty and residents.
10. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Location: Stanford University (in-person) or virtual sessions
Dates:
Session 1 (In-person): July 14 – 25,
Session 2 (Virtual): July 28 – August 8
Fall Intensive (Virtual): September 11 – November 13 (projected)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate pre-medical students
Cost/Stipend:
Summer: $6,380 (on-campus program fee); $4,380 (virtual program fee)
Fall Intensive: $1,980 program fee
The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) introduces students to core principles of clinical practice through lectures, simulations, and small-group discussions. Led by Stanford faculty and residents, the program covers medical diagnostics, clinical reasoning, and patient interaction in both virtual and on-campus formats. Hands-on activities and case-based learning are central to the experience, with opportunities to explore a range of medical specialties. Whether attending in person or online, students can build professional connections and gain an understanding of the various academic pathways in healthcare.
11. University of Texas Southwestern – Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Dates: 2 weeks in June
Application Deadline: Early February
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend not specified
Hosted by UT Southwestern, this two-week virtual program introduces high school students to the broad landscape of mental health careers. You will attend sessions led by psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, social workers, and physician assistants, exploring topics such as psychotherapy, interventional psychiatry, and neuropsychological assessment. The program emphasizes real-world applications of mental health care and professional development, with opportunities for Q&A sessions and career mentorship.
12. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Virtual
Dates:
Session 1: July 8 – 18
Session 2: July 22 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically closes in February
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 11 and 12
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; one $500 scholarship awarded
This long-running program offers students an overview of healthcare professions through virtual mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities. You will be paired with professionals in fields like pediatrics, pharmacy, and surgery and participate in group discussions, career panels, and guided projects. At the end of the session, you will present your work to peers and mentors. Occasional in-person shadowing opportunities may be offered, though the core program remains virtual.