12 Medical Internships for High School Students in Maryland
Internships are a great way to gain professional experience and develop important skills that you might not get in the classroom. Internships allow you to explore your interests, build professional connections, and boost your college applications. Internships also help you figure out what you’re interested in by giving you insight into different jobs.
Medical internships, in particular, give you the chance to learn in clinical and research environments while working alongside healthcare professionals. This helps you understand medical practices, patient care, and the latest advancements in medical technology. If you’re a high school student in Maryland looking to take a proactive approach to your learning, there are plenty of internship opportunities to check out.
Here are 12 medical internships for high school students in Maryland to get you started:
1. National Institute of Health High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Location: Main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, along with other research campuses in the country.
Eligibility: 11th and 12th graders of at least 17 years of age, living within 40 miles of the NIH Campus where they will intern.
Program Dates: June to August
Application Deadline: February 14
Cost/Stipend: Stipends are adjusted annually and based on educational level.
This program aims to encourage students to pursue careers in research and healthcare by offering access to resources and professional development programs such as orientations, leadership training, and more. Students also receive educational and career advising and benefit from a well-being and resilience program that ensures a comprehensive and holistic developmental experience. Research opportunities include biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences, along with opportunities to explore translational, clinical, and basic research. The program also sponsors a Summer Poster Day where interns can introduce their research to the NIH community. It has an acceptance rate of around 7%, making this a prestigious opportunity.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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 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. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual or at the Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine, Baltimore.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors can apply, with in-person internship applicants attending a high school in Baltimore City.
Program Dates: June to August (8 weeks) for in-person interns, July to August (5 weeks) for virtual interns
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost/Stipend: In-person interns receive an hourly wage, and virtual interns receive a $500 scholarship.
In this program, 8 highly qualified students join the Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Hospital campus to expand their theoretical and practical knowledge in neurological science. This is a comprehensive experience with scientific seminars, 1-1 meetings with mentors, and professional and educational training. The internship culminates with a final oral or poster presentation. The virtual internship program also offers students an immersive learning experience with educational presentations, development training, mentorship training, and lessons on basic lab techniques and experiments.
4. Werner H. Kirsten (WHK) Student Intern Program
Location: National Cancer Institute at Frederick, MD
Eligibility: Students must be a US citizen or permanent resident, 17 years or older before the program starts, attend a participating school within 30 miles of the NCI-Frederick Campus, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, or provide a third teacher recommendation if their GPA is 2.5-3.0
Program Dates: June 17 - August 2
Application Deadline: January 12
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend will be provided to summer interns. Year-round interns receive credit.
Structured to introduce students to research in biomedicine and medicine, this program offers summer and year-round internships, and students can choose to participate in scientific research or scientific research support. Scientific research roles include subjects such as cancer metabolism, chemical biology, molecular biology, molecular cloning, and more. Scientific research support internships provide experience in supporting biomedical and scientific research in areas such as information technology, statistical and data analysis, and more. This ensures that students can pursue various aspects of medical education.
5. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: Various opportunities across the country
Eligibility: Current high school students who are US citizens or permanent residents. Additional requirements may vary by the location and organization of the internship
Program Dates: Typically during the summer.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Cost/Stipend: Stipend varies by internship
The AEOP program is a collaborative effort between the US Army Research Laboratories and Centers, and universities across the US. It enables students to connect with university researchers or scientist mentors to work on various research projects. For students inclined to pursue medical fields, there are several opportunities, including an internship at the University of Maryland. Students are involved in theoretical and experimental components in basic Immunology, relevant to Army research. Apprentices were required to conduct research on molecular and cellular experiments.
6. Pharmacy Technician Job Shadow for High School Students
Location: Outlet stores across the United States. Find your closest one through the store locator
Eligibility: Current high school students
Program Dates: Depends on the location
Application Deadline: Varies based on the location
Cost/Stipend: No information available
Walgreens is the second-largest drugstore chain in the country, and it allows high school students to shadow a pharmacy technician and learn about their day-to-day work activities. Students will be exposed to the most advanced retail pharmacy technology and gain an understanding of what the Walgreens’ pharmacy technician training program entails. This program could also be the gateway to job opportunities at Walgreens. There are various roles available, and the exact nature of the job differs based on your local store.
7. Stanford University’s SHTEM Summer Internships
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Students must be in 11th or 12th grade at the time of application, and at least 14 years of age by June 17.
Program Dates: June 17 to August 9
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February
Cost/Stipend: Stipends may be provided based on financial need
Aimed at introducing high school students to cutting-edge research in an academic environment, this program encourages students to explore diverse research subjects remotely. Students are required to commit around 30 to 40 hours per week as they conduct research under the guidance of Stanford’s renowned faculty and experts from the industry. They provide valuable insights and help students navigate the landscape in various fields. Students can work on research projects in areas such as psychology, biology, neuroscience, and more, and present their projects at the end of the program.
This program also emphasizes the interconnectedness of the humanities and the human element in STEM research, and thus promotes a multidisciplinary approach to learning.
8. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) by George Mason University
Location: Remote. In-person and hybrid options are available.
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years of age by June 18
Program Dates: June 18 to August 9
Application Deadline: Typically at the beginning of February
Cost/Stipend: This is an unpaid internship. The $25 application fee can be waived for students with financial need.
This program provides students with the opportunity to work one-on-one with researchers at George Mason University and its collaborating institutions. They conduct research using state-of-the-art technology, and previous abstracts have also been published in the Mason Journal of Student Scientists Research. As part of this program, students will use sophisticated equipment and technologies and develop their scientific writing and communication skills. Students will also attend meetings and participate in discussion forums to explore STEM career choices. Students can study subjects in numerous fields, including biochemistry, drug discovery, neuroscience, biology, disease diagnostics, women’s health issues, infectious disease and epidemiology, tissue repair and regeneration, and more!
9. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years of age when the program begins
Program Dates: June 17 to 28
Application Deadline: March 31
Cost/Stipend: None
This program encourages students to explore the technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare to promote health equity and enhance the healthcare system. This program includes introductory and technical lectures on healthcare AI fundamentals, social activities to promote networking, hands-on group working sessions, and mentoring activities with Stanford Student Leads and researchers. They also host a Virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers that represent academia, industry, non-profit, government, and other organizations pursuing healthcare AI advancement.
Students can also opt for an independent research internship opportunity. This is a very competitive program, and only around 20 students are accepted each year.
10. SPARK Summer Internship Program (SPARK SIP)
Location: Virtual or depends on the internship
Eligibility: Specific requirements may vary based on the internship
Program Dates: Exact dates vary based on the internship
Application Deadline: Typically closes in May
Cost/Stipend: Stipend may be provided, depending on the internship
The SPARK Summer Internship program connects high school students with professors, community leaders, and industry experts, and enables them to work on a project from 5-6 options of their choice. Students are then matched with sponsors based on availability and eligibility, and there are many remote options available, too. Students will work on real-world projects to gain practical experience, and the project list is quite comprehensive and extensive. For 2024, a medical-oriented project centered around detecting tick-borne infections and cancers (pancreatic and breast) via microfluidics.
11. Internships at the American Psychological Association (APA)
Location: Remote
Eligibility: Interns must be eligible to work in the US and reside in one of the states where APA is registered as an employer. Students must be enrolled at least part-time in an academic institution to qualify for an internship.
Program Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Applications are open year-round for spring, summer, fall, and winter
Cost/Stipend: Not all internships are paid; academic credit is offered.
Interns work at this non-profit membership association in areas such as research, policy, operations, communications, publishing, and education, depending on their interests. Students can participate in various activities based on their departments and offices, and can apply their theoretical knowledge to their work, thus gaining valuable practical experience, which will foster a better understanding of professional psychology. Interns will also learn to navigate a professional environment and report to their supervisor. This program also includes workshops, discussions, group projects, and other tasks that encourage students with a passion for psychology to deepen their knowledge at a nationally recognized organization.
12. ASPIRE by the Johns Hopkins University
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors of at least 15 years of age, who are US citizens and have a minimum GPA of 2.8 and permanent residency in the Washington-Baltimore Metro area.
Program Dates: Begins in the last week of June.
Application Deadline: February 15.
Cost/Stipend: None
This program pairs interns with laboratory researchers to work on a collaborative project, enhance their technical and interpersonal skills, and solve problems. While this is not a medical internship, students can select from various areas of interest, including biology. However, these placements are extremely competitive and focus on biological and biomedical research.
Image Source - National Institute of Health Logo