12 Paid Summer Medical Internships for High School Students
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in medicine and healthcare, this blog is for you! Many paid internships for high school students provide a significant opportunity to develop practical skills, gain exposure to the industry, and build a professional network. These opportunities, when offered by prestigious colleges and renowned organizations, can be invaluable stepping stones for future careers in healthcare, all while being financially accessible.
In this blog, we've curated up to 12 paid internships for high school students interested in a career in healthcare. Many of these programs offer stipends and provide solid medical exposure.
1. Scripps Research High School Internship Program
Location: Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school students from partner schools in San Diego; 16+ by program start; Minimum grade point average of 3.0
Stipend: $4,830
The Scripps Research High School Internship Program offers lab tours, hands-on demonstrations, and presentations that give you an inside look at the world of biomedical science. The program will start with a three-day "boot camp" before matching you with a research laboratory for an interview. Your placement will be decided via an interview process with the principal investigators (faculty). During the seven-week internship, you will meet a graduate student who will act as a mentor, guiding you through lab work as well as the college application/selection process. Some things you will learn during this program include experimental design, lab techniques, and data interpretation.
2. UCSF’s Summer Student Research Program
Location: Various locations across the San Francisco Bay Area
Cohort Size: 50 students annually
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Junior or senior year high school students from under-represented backgrounds in the sciences; At least one completed year in math and biology; Minimum 3.0 GPA; 16+ by June 1; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stipend: $3,000
UCSF’s Summer Student Research Program offers paid internships for high school students interested in active biomedical research projects. The program offers three main types of research: Laboratory research, Clinical research, and Community Health or Public Health research. As a participant, you will be placed in different local clinics and basic science labs across the San Francisco Bay Area, depending on your research interest and mentor availability.
You will receive individualized mentorship from healthcare professionals and researchers, along with access to exclusive workshops, seminars, training sessions, simulations, and networking opportunities. The program culminates in a formal research symposium where you will get to present your project findings to the scientific community. This can result in a grant or a publication!
3. Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) Summer Internship Program
Location: MWRI or Magee-Womens Hospital
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Less than 8%; 12 students
Dates: 6 weeks; Starts on June 16
Application Deadline: December 2 – February 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors interested in biomedical research; 16+ by program start; Must be residents of the southwest Pennsylvania region
Stipend: $1,800 (Only if your household qualifies for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania)
MWRI's Summer Internship Program offers a wide variety of paid internships for high school students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical research. During the program, you will gain hands-on experience in basic, translational, or clinical scientific research, working on your own research project while under the mentorship of an investigator or staff member from MWRI or the Magee-Womens Hospital.
You’ll also attend informal Lunch & Learn sessions where you will be a part of discussions on personal perspectives from researchers from the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, as well as from other departments at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Swanson School of Engineering on biomedical research as a career. The program ends with you presenting your findings at the annual High School Internship Presentation Day.
4. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience High School Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school; 16+ by program start; Legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Stipend: $13/hour
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship offers paid internships for high school students interested in learning all about brain structure, function, and development through an immersive laboratory experience. As a participant, you’ll also learn about the advanced technologies and imaging techniques often used in neuroscience.
This internship has various tracks—Scientific Programming, Neuroscience, and Mechanical Engineering. However, if you have a strong background in biological and chemical sciences, then you are best suited for the Neuroscience track. In this track, you will take part in intensive neuroscience research in the laboratory with hands-on “wet lab” techniques, such as genetic engineering, microbiology preparations, histological staining, and microscopy.
5. KP LAUNCH High School Program
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business offices
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: Opens on November 18
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors preferred; 16-19 years old by June 1; Be residents in Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service areas; More details here
Stipend: $23-24 per hour
KP LAUNCH High School Program is a unique program that gives high school students exposure to the administrative and supporting careers in healthcare. Some of these paid internships for high school students will be in fields like accounting and finance, customer service, human resources, IT, sales and marketing, and more. For more information on what these roles could entail, read here.
During your internship, you will also attend weekly workshops that highlight the personal and professional skills needed for a successful healthcare career. You will also get the chance to network with peers and seniors through work-based activities, community service projects, or social events.
6. Stanford’s Pediatrics Internship Program (PIP)
Location: Stanford
Cohort Size: 40
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: Opens on April 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; A minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0; Must reside in and attend school in one of the following Northern California counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, or Santa Cruz
Stipend: $3,000 stipend for students with financial need
During Stanford’s Pediatrics Internship Program (PIP), you will spend 23 hours per week working on your research project, which will be conducted under the guidance of a faculty mentor and their team, including lab staff, postdoctoral scholars, and peers. The project will be focused on maternal and child health. You will also get the opportunity to engage in interactive workshops that will teach you to conduct research, explore a variety of career paths in science and medicine, and develop leadership skills.
A unique aspect of the program is the Near Peer Mentor (NPM), where you will be paired with 2-3 NPMs who are Stanford undergraduate, graduate, medical students, residents, or fellows from diverse backgrounds. You will meet with your NPMs weekly for an hour to discuss your progress. The program will culminate in a Poster & Family Symposium, where you will present your research findings and receive feedback from the Stanford Pediatrics research community.
7. Harvard Medical School: Project Success for High School Students
Location: Harvard Medical School
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Reside in Boston or Cambridge; Be rising high school juniors or seniors; Minimum 2.7 GPA; Should have completed biology, chemistry, and algebra; Show strong interest in science, healthcare careers, and attending college
Stipend: Paid (Amount unspecified)
Hosted by Harvard Medical School and its affiliated institutions, this internship offers research experiences in mentored lab placements. As a participant, you will attend seminars with leading researchers and physicians, go on visits to hospitals and biotech organizations, and participate in workshops on computer skills, writing, and public speaking. The program aims to inspire and support students interested in biomedical careers by building technical and scientific knowledge. The mentoring, in particular, is designed to help students explore and pursue academic and professional paths in medicine and science.
8. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutch Training Labs
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year with a strong academic background and a deep interest in science
Stipend: Paid
Fred Hutch’s Summer High School Internship Program offers paid internships for high school students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical science. As a participant, you will engage in a two-week, hands-on training program focused on laboratory safety and core research skills at the Fred Hutch Training Labs, followed by a mentored research experience. You will attend research seminars, engage in professional development workshops focused on college and career pathways, and participate in social activities with your peers. At the end of the internship, you will present your research and work to the Fred Hutch community.
9. Summer Child Health Research Internship
Location: Children's Hospital Colorado, the University of Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: Mid-November to Mid-February
Eligibility: High school seniors in Colorado; Older than 18
Stipend: $ 4,400
The Summer Child Health Research Internship program is collaboratively hosted by the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado Child Health Research Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado. It offers paid internships for high school students looking to engage in child health research. During the program, you’ll also get to work alongside faculty from both the Department of Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado and attend a weekly lecture research series.
At the end of the program, you will be asked to submit a written summary of your research experience, contributions, and accomplishments, along with an oral or poster presentation. You are encouraged to submit research abstracts to local, regional, and national meetings, and if accepted, you’ll get to go on a funded trip to the meeting.
10. NIH’s Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
Location: NIH, Bethesda, MD
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 8 weeks from May to September
Application Deadline: Rolling; February 15
Eligibility: Applicants should be at least 17 and enrolled at least half-time in high school; Graduating high school seniors are required to submit a letter of admission from the college they plan to attend in the fall
Stipend: Paid
The NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research offers paid internships for high school students interested in exploring the causes of human genetic diseases. As an intern, you’ll also get to contribute to the development of new methods for detecting, preventing, and treating heritable genetic disorders.
The internship includes laboratory training and mentorship, and you will get the opportunity to attend the NIH Summer Seminar Series, where leading researchers present the latest advancements in biomedical and clinical research. The National Human Genome Research Institute also hosts its seminar series focused on career development and mentoring, which you can also attend. The program will end with you and your peers presenting your research at the NIH Summer Research Program Poster Day.
11. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC): Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE)
Location: Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), Boston, MA
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 7-11 weeks in the summer; dates unspecified
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; At least 16 years old at the start of the program; Residing in or attending school in Massachusetts
Stipend: Weekly stipend provided; the amount is determined at the start of the program based on DF/HCC funding sources
Through the CURE program, you will engage in mentored cancer research projects, gain scientific and technical skills, and experience the process of scientific discovery firsthand. As a participant, you will get the opportunity to work closely with a research mentor. The program also includes scientific seminars, responsible conduct of research training, and journal clubs to enhance your research skills.
Aside from the research aspect, you’ll also attend professional development opportunities, such as career networking roundtables and informational interviews, and gain access to an extensive alumni network. By the end of the summer, you will deliver a final presentation of your research and submit an abstract summarizing your work.
12. Young Scientist Program (YSP): Summer Focus
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Cohort Size: 15-18 students
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: High school students who have finished junior year before the program start date; Missouri and Illinois residents
Stipend: $ 4,500
The YSP Summer Focus program offers an opportunity to collaborate on a focused biomedical research project while under the guidance of a mentor. The project is structured to be completed within the eight-week program duration. Throughout the program, you will also engage in the Writing Course and the NextUp Course. The Writing Course will help you strengthen your scientific understanding and communication skills, whereas The NextUp Course is designed to help you prepare for your post-high school academic journey, including applying to college. At the end of the summer, the program will conclude with a closing Symposium where you will present your research findings to your Mentors, Tutors, labmates, friends, and family.