9 Summer Medical Internships for High School Students in Houston, Texas
Students interested in pursuing a career in medicine can benefit from summer medical internships. These programs allow you to work alongside healthcare professionals, contribute to research efforts, and get a firsthand look at various medical careers.
In addition to building skills, internships can create opportunities through mentorship and professional networking. Houston boasts some of the nation’s finest hospitals, universities, and research centers, offering a diverse array of opportunities.
In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 9 summer medical internships for high school students in Houston, Texas, featuring a mix of in-person and virtual options to accommodate various interests and schedules.
1. Baylor College of Medicine - DocPrep Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 60 students
Dates: June 15 – June 21
Application Deadline: Applications open in March at affiliated schools
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from South Texas-affiliated high schools
Cost/Stipend: None
The DocPrep Program is a week-long academic initiative for 60 select rising seniors from South Texas-affiliated high schools. Hosted by Baylor College of Medicine, it provides exposure to health professions and science through medical lectures, college and medical school counseling, communication workshops led by Rice University graduate students, and experiences in a simulation lab. Participants work closely with Baylor medical students, faculty, and staff throughout the week, with medical students serving as DocPrep counselors.
2. Houston Methodist - Summer High School Research Internship
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; varies annually
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA who will be at least 16 years old by June 9
Cost/Stipend: None
This 8-week program immerses high school juniors and seniors in translational research at Houston Methodist Hospital. Students work alongside undergraduate interns under the mentorship of faculty researchers, gaining hands-on experience in the research process. The program also includes a career development curriculum, offering workshops, seminars, and networking events to help students prepare for future academic paths.
It’s recognised as one of the most competitive summer medical internships for high school students in Houston, offering deep, hands-on lab experience.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; varies by cohort
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: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships offers flexible, remote internship opportunities with high-growth startups. Over the course of 8 weeks, students work on real-world projects for 10–20 hours a week, gaining direct exposure to startup operations. Options include the Startup Internship Program, CEO Internship (working alongside founders from FAANG-level firms), or a combination program with mentored research.
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.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 12 students
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors (public, private, charter, or homeschool) who are 18+ by June 2, graduating the spring before the program, and accepted to a college for fall. Preference for students interested in allied health careers
Cost/Stipend: $6,800 stipend
This 10-week program allows Texas high school seniors to work full-time in biomedical research labs at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Under faculty guidance, students learn lab techniques, scientific principles, and data analysis while contributing to real research projects.
The program also offers seminars, competitions (abstracts, posters, elevator speeches), and ends with a final presentation and celebration luncheon. Open to students interested in allied health or biomedical careers, it provides practical exposure to the research field.
5. Rice University - Digital Health Young Scholars Program
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Dates: June 9 – June 26
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students from the Houston area
Cost/Stipend: None
This 3-week program introduces 10th and 11th-grade students to digital health technologies through hands-on engineering research at Rice University. Participants explore digital circuitry, computer science, and physics, working with tools like pulse oximeters, accelerometers, and GPS devices to build a simple device inspired by real-world medical technology. Guided by university staff and graduate students, students also develop scientific writing and communication skills.
6. University of Houston - MohanLab Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (completed 11th grade) with a strong academic record and an interest in biomedical or health-related careers
Cost/Stipend: None
The MohanLab Summer Internship at the University of Houston offers rising seniors hands-on experience in biomedical research. After 1–2 weeks of training in lab techniques, students spend 8 weeks working on research projects under the guidance of scientists and graduate students. Interns present their findings at a joint lab meeting, and some projects may contribute to future publications. There’s also an option to continue research after the summer.
7. UTHealth Houston - Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship
Location: UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Brownsville and UTRGV (Brownsville & Edinburg campuses)
Dates: June 12 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from Rio Grande Valley school districts
Cost/Stipend: $750 stipend upon completion
This 6-week program places rising juniors and seniors in mentored science internships through UTHealth Houston’s School of Public Health and UTRGV campuses. Students spend 20 hours per week on research or science-related projects tailored to their interests. The program wraps up with a formal presentation to faculty, family, and community members. It’s one of the summer medical internships for high school students in Texas that offers a stipend, making it a worthwhile consideration for students.
8. The University of Texas - DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school students interested in cancer biology, pain medicine, and biomedical research
Cost/Stipend: None
This 10-week research program places students in labs at MD Anderson, where they work on projects focused on cancer biology, pain medicine, and related areas. Participants begin with a Cancer Biology boot camp and are matched with faculty mentors to guide their research.
Students attend workshops on lab safety, data analysis, and literature reviews, in addition to lab work. The program concludes with a poster symposium where students present their findings and submit abstracts for publication in the program’s abstract book.
9. The Health Museum - Global Teen Medical Summit
Location: The Health Museum + University of Houston dorms, Houston, TX
Dates: July 13 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
Cost/Stipend: $1,650 (members) or $1,750 (non-members); need-based scholarships available
This 6-day summit brings together high school students aged 14–18 for an in-depth exploration of contemporary medical challenges. Participants explore hospitals and labs, practice simulated surgical procedures, and tackle group design challenges.
The program features ethical case studies, team-building exercises, and networking opportunities with healthcare professionals. Students stay at the University of Houston dorms, where covered meals, accommodation, and local transport are available. Pre-program virtual sessions introduce the design challenge ahead of the summit.