14 Summer Medical Internships for High School Students in Florida
If you're a high school student interested in medicine, an internship is a great way to do more than just observe. You'll gain experience, learn valuable skills, and get a clearer picture of what a career in healthcare really looks like. Internships help you build practical knowledge, understand how medical teams work together, and discover whether this field excites you.
In Florida, there are plenty of options—some based in hospitals, others focused on lab research or public health projects. We’ve compiled a list of 15 summer medical internships for high school students in Florida that stand out for their structure, relevance, and accessibility across the state.
1. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida
Cohort Size: 6–8 each year
Dates: Starts in mid‑June and ends in July
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors from Palm Beach or Martin County who have legal U.S. work authorization
Stipend: $13/hour
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship provides high school students in Florida with an introduction to neuroscience research. Over six weeks, you will contribute to an ongoing research project within MPFI’s laboratories. You will gain experience using research tools, including microscopes and imaging systems, while learning lab techniques and scientific methods used in brain research. You are paired with either a scientist or a research staff member, who will guide your day-to-day work. You will also present your findings at the end-of-program poster session, which will be attended by researchers and staff.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Fully remote — you can participate from anywhere in the U.S
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts run year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by each cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students (also undergrads or gap‑year students)
Cost: Varies depending on program type, financial aid available
Ladder provides high school students with an opportunity for internships in healthcare and medical research. You’ll work with vetted startups and researchers. Tasks may include reviewing data, analyzing studies, or assisting with the coordination of small projects in medical settings. Your placement could land you in public health, biotech, or clinical research, depending on your interests and skills. You’ll build skills like research writing, clear communication, and basic project planning. Industry mentors guide you each week through one-on-one calls. You’ll also join peer sessions with students from around the country.
3. Internships for High School Students at the Cleveland Clinic Florida
Location: Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors, local to Broward County, with a GPA of 3.6+ and is an U.S. citizens/nationals/permanent residents
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; One-time $100 onboarding/processing fee
The Cleveland Clinic Florida’s High School Summer Internship Program gives you experience working in a hospital. Over several weeks, you’ll engage with departments like nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, and lab services. You’ll also watch professionals at work, join workshops, and pick up workplace habits. Although you won’t be handling patients, you’ll work with staff and help with administrative tasks, understanding how hospitals run day-to-day activities. The program includes guided tours and time with Cleveland Clinic staff, so you can see the range of roles and what each one involves.
4. FIU's Summer Research Internship in Cardiovascular Health
Location: Florida International University
Cohort Size: Limited spots
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: May
Eligibility: A South Florida high school junior or rising senior, or an accepted FIU first-year or transfer student with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0
Cost / Stipend: Unpaid
This summer medical internship for high school students in Florida gives high school students in Florida a chance to work on medical research. Over six weeks, you'll join faculty at the FIU Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, focusing on heart health and public health studies. You'll get lab time and guidance from mentors, contributing to research that’s already underway. You’ll learn how to gather and study data, track health trends, and look into the causes of heart disease—biological, behavioral, and environmental.
5. Florida International University Center for Translational Science (FIU-CTS) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June - July
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Only current juniors and seniors who live and attend school in St. Lucie County, FL
Cost / Stipend: Free to attend
The High School Summer Internship Program at Florida International University’s Center for Translational Science (FIU-CTS) gives you lab experience. For six weeks in Port St. Lucie, you’ll work with scientists on research that focuses on human health and disease. You’ll learn techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, and data analysis—core skills if you're aiming for a career in STEM or healthcare. You’ll be paired with a mentor from FIU-CTS who guides you through the work.
6. American Cancer Society Internship Program
Location: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: May - July
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, or senior at a Florida institution with a GPA of at least 3.0
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided; Summer housing and transportation included
The American Cancer Society Internship at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is a six-week program for high school students in Florida. Interns work in research labs at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. You’ll handle basic lab tasks, learn about cancer biology, and write about what you study. A faculty mentor will guide your work and help you make sense of the data. You’ll get time to talk with researchers, ask questions, and work alongside other students.
7. Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internships at the University of Florida Health
Location: First week of training at Palm Beach State College, followed by lab work at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter, Florida
Cohort Size: Approximately 15
Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, currently a junior or senior year in Palm Beach or Martin County, with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Stipend: $4,480, paid bi‑weekly
The Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship offers rising seniors a chance to explore biomedical research over six weeks at the UF Scripps Biomedical Research campus. You’ll be placed in a working lab and matched with a scientist mentor. Your days involve lab work, including pipetting, data recording, and helping with ongoing experiments tied to world health challenges. You’ll learn basic lab techniques, how to read scientific literature, and how to keep a lab notebook. Some interns help with projects focused on neuroscience, immunology, or cancer biology. You’ll also attend weekly professional development sessions covering topics like research ethics and scientific communication.
8. Teen Academic Year Program by Niklaus Children’s Hospital
Location: Main campus at 3100 S.W. 62nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33155
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August - May
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by school
Eligibility: Open to full‑time M‑DCPS high school juniors and seniors with an unweighted GPA of 2.5 or better
Cost / Stipend: No cost; unpaid.
The Teen Academic Year Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital gives high school students in South Florida a look into pediatric healthcare. From October to May, you’ll rotate through hospital departments, watching how things work and learning the basics, such as how to talk to patients, follow hospital rules, and act professionally. Each week, you’ll volunteer during scheduled shifts. Once a month, you’ll join workshops led by doctors and nurses. These sessions cover areas like pediatric medicine, nursing, radiology, and surgery.
9. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at Miami’s School of Medicine
Location: University of Miami
Cohort Size: 8 to 12
Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (rising seniors) from Miami or Broward-area high schools and eligible to work in the U.S.
Cost / Stipend: Paid at $15/hour
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine gives high school students exposure to human genomics and biomedical research. You will join scientists at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG) and take part in lab work based on ongoing genetic studies. The program builds a solid base in genetics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. You’ll handle lab tools, attend regular seminars, and work with genetic data. You’ll be matched with a research mentor, often a faculty member or postdoc, who helps with daily tasks and guides the research process.
10. University of Florida’s Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cohort Size: Approx 29
Dates: June
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Open only to Florida high school students entering grade 12 or rising seniors.
Cost/Stipend: $20 application fee
The Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp is a five-day program at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy. It’s designed for high school students who want a look at pharmacy as a career. You’ll learn how medicines are made, how patients are treated, and how research shapes both. The sessions include labs, group work, and guided tasks that show what pharmacists do. You’ll visit UF Health facilities and see how a pharmacy runs day to day. You’ll mix sample compounds and go through the steps of managing medications.
11. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Fully virtual
Cohort Size: 25
Dates: June
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Entering 9th–12th grade, at least 14 years of age, and is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or valid visa holder, residing in the U.S
Cost: Application fee of $40 and a participation fee (if accepted) of $850; Financial aid available
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship offers high school students a chance to explore how artificial intelligence supports medical research. As an intern, you’ll contribute to projects in areas like medical imaging, algorithm development, and data annotation. You’ll work in teams, guided by Stanford faculty, researchers, and graduate mentors. You’ll also help produce work that connects machine learning to medical practice. Past interns have labeled clinical data, reviewed model predictions, or built simple neural networks. These tasks are paired with training in basic AI principles and ethics in medicine.
12. High School Student Research Trainee by The University of Miami Health System and the Miller School of Medicine
Location: University of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer months
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: Local high school students (attending a Florida high school) of at least 16 years of age and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents (for Sylvester Cancer Center labs)
Cost / Stipend: Unpaid
The High School Student Research Trainee Program by the University of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine offers you a structured introduction to clinical research. Over six weeks, you’ll work with faculty and research staff across UHealth and the medical school. You’ll gain experience in data collection, patient interaction, and the ethics of research. Expect to learn about informed consent, confidentiality protocols, and how clinical studies are designed and conducted. You’ll take part in discussions, assist in research tasks, and complete assigned readings and documentation. A highlight of the program is the opportunity to present your work in a final presentation, which encourages communication and critical thinking.
13. FSU College of Medicine Summer Institute
Location: Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, FL
Cohort Size: 20
Dates: June & July
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: Open to rising seniors and juniors (students who've completed 10th or 11th grade) with a minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA
Cost: $1,650, covering registration, supplies, room, and board. Limited scholarships are available
The FSU College of Medicine Summer Institute is a one-week program for high school seniors in Florida thinking seriously about a medical career. It takes place on campus in Tallahassee, where you’ll step into clinical simulations, study human anatomy, and take on medical cases. You’ll also spend time with medical students and faculty visiting hospitals and labs. You’ll see how care is delivered in different settings. Students from rural and underserved communities are given priority.
14. Summer Internships for High Schoolers at Stanford
Location: Fully virtual
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee; financial aid available; no stipend
Cohort Size: Around 60 high school students
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, age 14+, and early community college students
The SHTEM program at Stanford is a remote internship where you’ll contribute to ongoing research in fields like biomedical imaging, neuroscience, and AI in medicine. You’ll collaborate virtually with Stanford labs, work on technical projects, and attend weekly research talks by faculty and grad students. The program encourages creative problem-solving and offers mentorship from experts in science and engineering. You’ll present your work in a virtual symposium, gaining feedback from professionals.