12 Medical Internships for High School Students in Virginia
Medical internships offer opportunities to build practical skills, observe healthcare professionals, and explore different roles within hospitals, labs, and public health organizations. Internships also help you grow professionally by improving communication, problem-solving, and teamwork in real-world settings.
These programs are typically low-cost or entirely free, with many of them even offering stipends, making them great alternatives to expensive pre-college programs. Virginia offers high school students access to a range of strong options, from medical research institutes and university hospitals to virtual mentorship experiences in neuroscience, clinical medicine, or public health.
We have reviewed programs across the state and compiled a list of the top 12 medical internships for high school students in Virginia. Here you will find both in-person and virtual options that help you explore medicine and/or related fields.
1. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical Science Internship Program (MSIP)
Location: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact details unavailable
Dates: June 23 – July 31
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school students, preferably rising juniors and seniors, who reside in the Greater Richmond Area
Cost/Stipend: None; unpaid internship
VCU’s MSIP is a six-week program that places high school students in active university research labs under the mentorship of university faculty. During the program, you will conduct a structured research project, typically in areas like medicine, pharma, and biology, and attend weekly seminars hosted by health professionals. At the end of the internship, you will present your work through poster and slideshow presentations to the VCU academic community. The program can offer insights into research methodology, critical thinking, and scientific communication. The experience can also help you develop research and laboratory skills.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort sizes vary based on startup placement
Dates: Several cohorts (fall, summer, winter, and spring) run year-round
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; upcoming summer cohort’s applications are due on June 23
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who can commit to 10–20 hours/week
Ladder Internships offer structured virtual experiences where students work on real-world projects with early-stage startups in fields like health tech and biotech. As an intern, you may assist the organization with user research, market analysis, product development, or technical writing. You will be matched with a startup mentor and a Ladder Coach, receiving weekly guidance, feedback, and training in professional skills. The internship culminates in a final deliverable that you will present to your organization and even get to add to your portfolio. The experience can offer you some industry exposure, communication skill development, and access to mentorship in a flexible virtual format.
3. Student Learning & Internship Program @ Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
Location: Various Virginia Garcia clinic locations (virtual elements may apply)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30–40 student learners per session; placement not guaranteed
Dates: July 1 – January 30; while applying, you can mention the approximate start date and the time you can commit
Application deadline: Rolling admission
Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, and pre-med learners with a demonstrated interest in healthcare; fluency in Spanish is preferable, though not a strict requirement
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center offers observational, hands-on internships to students through its Student Learning & Internship Program. Here, you will get to shadow providers in real clinic settings and engage in various facets of patient care. You may observe consultations, assist with administrative tasks, and learn about culturally competent care delivery. You will be paired with healthcare professionals based on interest areas and availability. The experience is designed to offer early exposure to health careers to students from a range of institutions. You may also get to interact with patients during the program.
4. Improve Life PLLC’s Pre-Health Profession Intern Program
Location: Hybrid opportunity in Herndon, VA
Cohort size: 40 students accepted out of 100+ applicants (based on the previous year’s cohort)
Dates: Vary by availability; summer internships start on June 13 and may last 4–8 weeks
Application deadline: May 16 for summer internships
Eligibility: High school students with a strong resume or college students interested in health/science
Cost/Stipend: None; letter of recommendation provided
Improve Life PLLC’s internship program offers personalized mentorship under Dr. Stephanie Waggel, a practicing physician at the clinic. Here, you will attend weekly lectures on topics such as patient care, medical ethics, and healthcare careers while contributing to projects like community outreach and social media health messaging. You may be invited to shadow clinical appointments (with patient consent) and learn to take vitals and interpret basic medical data. The experience is designed to nurture early interest in medicine and public health. The program offers flexible scheduling and the opportunity to earn a recommendation letter and resume credit.
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Internship Program
Location: Varies; virtual and in-person roles available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; depends on department and position availability
Dates: Rolling admission based on availability and agency needs
Application deadline: Varies by posting; you can find positions and apply through the USAJobs portal
Eligibility: High school students who are 16+, U.S. citizens/nationals/legal permanent residents, and enrolled or accepted to be enrolled in a qualifying educational institution
Stipend: Paid based on federal GS scale; no application fee
The HHS Internship Program offers structured federal work experience to students at every academic level, including high school. If selected, you will be placed in various HHS offices where you can support policy, research, or community health initiatives while working alongside public service professionals. You will receive mentorship and up to 40 hours of formal training as an intern. Some positions offer career-oriented opportunities through individualized development plans and rotation opportunities across departments. You will also have access to professional development sessions during the program.
6. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (in-person, hybrid, or virtual, depending on lab)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; mentor-based selection
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: Early March
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who have not yet graduated from college; remote or computer lab internship applicants should be age 15+ by June; wet-lab internship applicants should be 16+ by June
Cost/Stipend: Free; $25 application fee (waivers available); no stipend
ASSIP provides eight-week STEM research experiences to high school and college students. Here, you will be paired with a faculty mentor and work on advanced research topics across more than 40 scientific disciplines, including molecular medicine, proteomics, drug discovery, bioengineering, neuroscience, disease diagnostics, women’s health issues, and more. You will gain hands-on medical research experience using sophisticated lab equipment, practice scientific writing and presentations, and attend seminars with professionals across academia and industry. As an intern, you will also get to explore careers in STEM through discussion forums and meetings. The program culminates in a final poster session where you will present your research to peers and faculty.
7. Mary Washington Healthcare Student Learning Programs
Location: Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) facilities, Fredericksburg, VA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by department; availability subject to staffing and scheduling
Dates: Year-round; rolling opportunities based on department availability
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school and college students enrolled in accredited health-related programs
Cost/Stipend: None
Mary Washington Healthcare offers a variety of student learning experiences, including clinical rotations, internships, and observation/shadowing opportunities. If selected for a program, you will get some exposure to patient care, support functions, and the healthcare environment in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Those enrolled in formal healthcare programs can apply for hands-on preceptorships tied to academic requirements, while others may request up to 20 hours of job shadowing. Opportunities may be available in departments like rehabilitation, oncology/radiation, sonography, pathology, cardiology, and nursing. These programs are designed to build professional confidence and technical as well as soft skills, and offer insights into potential career pathways at MWHC.
8. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~25 interns accepted each year
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older; applicants who have previously worked on a healthcare project or have math/programming skills are preferred
Cost/Stipend: $850 + $40 application fee | Financial aid is offered.
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in the intersection of medicine and artificial intelligence (AI). Conducted by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging or AIMI, this program can help you explore how AI is used to assist with medical diagnostics and treatment. As an intern, you will engage in lectures, mentorship sessions, and collaborative research projects with Stanford AI researchers and engineers. The program also offers access to Virtual Career Lunch and Learns—sessions where you get to engage with professionals from academia, government, and nonprofits. You may also have the opportunity to access an extended independent research internship after the program concludes.
9. Inova Advanced Lung Disease & Transplant Summer Student Research Internship
Location: Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, VA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2–5 students selected annually
Dates: 6+ weeks during summer; 15–20 hours/week minimum
Application deadline: December 31; applications open on November 1
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students who are 16 or older
Stipend: Unpaid internship
Inova offers selective internship opportunities to students who want to contribute to real-world research projects focused on advanced lung disease and transplantation. If selected, you will be paired with research staff and physician mentors and get to attend clinical and research conferences, observe patient procedures, and participate in lab or data analysis. The program concludes with a formal research presentation to peers and professionals, helping you develop skills in both scientific research and academic communication. During the program, you will also get insights into pulmonology or surgical research. The internship requires a minimum six-week commitment.
10. Dental Careers Exploration Program @ Virginia Commonwealth University
Location: VCU School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders with a GPA of 3.0+; applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Cost/Stipend: Free; lunch and materials provided
The Dental Careers Exploration program offers high school students an introduction to the dental profession. Here, you will engage in a week of interactive workshops and lab-based experiences. You will explore the roles of dentists, hygienists, and specialists, and engage in activities like dental impressions, suturing, digital dentistry, and tooth carving. You learn about the daily work of dentists through this experience. While not an internship, this program can offer you hands-on exposure to the dental practice.
11. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Pharmacy Summer Scholars
Location: MCV Campus, VCU School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students selected based on interest in pharmacy
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 with an interest in health care, preferably pharmacies
Cost/Stipend: Free; lunch provided
The Pharmacy Summer Scholars program introduces high school students to the field of pharmacy through internship-like hands-on learning opportunities. You will also get to interact with pharmacy faculty and students. You will explore different pharmacy career pathways and conduct non-sterile compounding during the program. You will also get to tour a variety of pharmacy environments, including clinical and retail settings. The one-week program can offer insights into both pharmaceutical education and practice.
12. Allied Health Career Exploration (AHCE)
Location: VCU College of Health Professions, Richmond, VA (Residential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Preference given to underrepresented students
Dates: June 9 – 20
Application deadline: Early decision: February 1; Regular decision: April 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and current college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in allied health careers
Cost/Stipend: Free; meals and materials provided
The AHCE program offers a two-week immersive experience for students interested in allied health professions. Here, you will participate in hands-on workshops across nine disciplines, including medical laboratory sciences, rehabilitation counseling, and patient counseling. The curriculum includes admissions prep, mock interviews, resume building, and healthcare issue discussions. Designed to increase access for students from educationally or economically underrepresented backgrounds, AHCE provides exposure to a range of healthcare careers through full-day sessions and departmental tours. While not an internship, the free program can help you make an informed decision if you are planning to pursue a career in an allied health field.