12 Medical Internships for High School Students Near Denver, CO
Exploring internships as a high school student is one of the best ways to build real-world skills, strengthen your resume, and discover what careers truly interest you. For students aspiring to work in healthcare or medicine, obtaining practical experience early on can distinguish you in college applications and assist in making well-informed career decisions.
Denver is home to several hospitals, universities, and research centers that offer opportunities for students to get involved. Whether you’re hoping to observe surgeries, assist in labs, or explore public health initiatives, there’s likely a program that matches your interests.
In this list, we’ve rounded up 12 medical internships for high school students near Denver, CO.
1. Medical Career Collaborative (MC²)
Location: Children’s Hospital Colorado (multiple locations) & Denver Health, Denver metro and Colorado Springs, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; includes a paid internship component
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; Over 350 applicants for 60 openings
Dates: Two-year program during junior and senior years (internship: 100–120 hours, timing varies)
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores attending school in the Denver metro or Colorado Springs area; the program focuses on students from groups underrepresented in healthcare
The Medical Career Collaborative (MC²) is for high school sophomores looking for early exposure to healthcare careers. Beginning junior year, you’ll join monthly field trips, workshops, and certification training that introduce you to different medical paths and build your skills. As part of the program, you’ll undertake a 100–120-hour paid internship at Children’s Hospital Colorado or Denver Health. During this time, you’ll work closely with staff and learn from mentors in areas such as nursing, therapy, emergency medicine, and more. Weekly seminars provide opportunities to share experiences, learn medical terminology, and network with other students. When you’re a senior, you’ll get help with college applications, scholarships, and career planning. After graduation, MC² provides coaching, certifications, and networking to help you keep moving forward in healthcare.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; Small cohorts
Dates: Multiple cohorts: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort - Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to work 10–20 hours per week
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. 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.
3. Child Health Research Internship — Children’s Hospital Colorado
Location: Children’s Hospital Colorado & University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; includes a $4,400 stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school seniors over 18, undergraduate students, graduate students, or first-year medical students; Colorado residents only
If you are a high school senior interested in child health research, this summer internship offers an opportunity to work directly with faculty at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. You’ll join a lab team, help with research projects, and attend a weekly lecture series covering topics in pediatric health. Throughout the program, you’ll choose a mentor, learn how to design experiments, and practice analyzing real lab data. At the end, you’ll submit a written report and give a presentation. If your project is accepted for a conference, the program will also cover travel and registration expenses so you can share your findings.
4. Denver Health Job Shadowing Program
Location: Denver Health, Denver, CO
Cost/Stipend: None; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies
Dates: Flexible; maximum of 40 hours per year (must be completed within a 2-month window)
Application Deadline: Rolling - you must apply before arranging your shadowing dates
Eligibility: Students ages 14+ enrolled in a high school, GED program, or undergraduate college program; additional age rules apply for certain units
If you’re curious about what it’s really like to work in healthcare, the Denver Health Job Shadowing Program lets you observe professionals in action. You can shadow doctors, nurses, or other medical staff to see their daily routines, understand the skills they use, and learn about the education paths you might follow. You must coordinate your shadowing placement with a Denver Health staff member. You'll need to show proof of immunizations and sign an Observer and Confidentiality Agreement. Shadowing is capped at 40 hours annually and must be completed within a two-month period. Some units have additional age restrictions; for instance, you need to be at least 16 to access operating rooms or ICUs, and 18 for the Emergency Department.
5. CU Pre-Health Scholars Program (CUPS)
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; no stipend, but meals provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; local high school cohort size varies
Dates: Varies by grade — runs June through the school year; intensives from June 9 – July 11 plus Saturday sessions
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Colorado students in grades 6–12, with priority for Aurora and Denver Public Schools; open to all interested in healthcare, research, or STEAM
If you’re a Colorado student interested in exploring healthcare, research, or STEAM fields, the CU Pre-Health Scholars Program (CUPS) can help you get started early. This multi-year program supports students from middle school through high school with summer intensives, workshops, and hands-on learning on the Anschutz Medical Campus. You will participate in career exploration events, research activities, and special programs designed to develop your skills and prepare you for college and future health careers. High school students can attend a summer intensive lasting from one to four weeks, based on their grade level, and continue with Saturday Academies throughout the school year to stay involved.
6. CU Science Discovery Biomedical Research Bootcamp
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 tuition; full scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; spots limited
Dates: June 9 – 20 (two weeks, full-time)
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 with an interest in biomedical research
The Biomedical Research Bootcamp at CU Anschutz Medical Campus gives high school students a focused introduction to lab work and research methods. You’ll practice basic biomedical techniques, visit research labs, learn about research ethics, and meet professionals working in the field. The program also covers how to keep a lab notebook, follow lab safety guidelines, and design your own research proposal. Prior knowledge of cells and genetics is useful but not required. Full scholarships are also available, making this an accessible way to prepare for future science coursework or internships.
7. Colorado AHEC HOPE Program
Location: Statewide (virtual and in-person at Regional AHEC Centers across Colorado)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Monthly sessions - First Monday of every month (September – April); HOPE Institute in July
Application Deadline: Rolling; must complete at least 3 sessions to apply for the summer camp
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from rural or underrepresented backgrounds in Colorado
The HOPE Program, run by Colorado’s Area Health Education Center, helps high school students from across the state explore different healthcare careers. You’ll join live monthly sessions on topics such as public health, wellness, mental health, and navigating community health. Sessions happen in person at your local AHEC center and stream virtually to other regions, giving you the chance to learn with peers statewide. Complete at least three sessions to qualify for the free HOPE Institute, a summer camp at CU Colorado Springs and CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
8. Regis University Health Professions Summer Experience
Location: Northwest Denver Campus & Interprofessional Health Campus, Regis University, CO
Cost/Stipend: $250 fee (includes meals, materials, activities); scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; max 50 students
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity is reached; Guardian Consent Form required for students under 18
Eligibility: Rising high school and college students interested in health care careers
The Health Professions Summer Experience at Regis University is a week-long program designed to help students explore a wide range of healthcare fields. Each day focuses on areas like pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, counseling, and health administration through hands-on activities, lab sessions, and workshops led by faculty and professionals. You’ll develop practical skills, explore interdisciplinary health topics, and network with peers who share your interests. The program concludes with student presentations and awards, providing an opportunity to showcase your learning and build confidence for future health care studies.
9. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend (only $25 application fee; waivers available)
Dates: 8 weeks, mid-June to early August
Application Deadline: Early February each year
Eligibility: High school students 15+ (remote or computer labs); 16+ for wet labs; must not have graduated from college
ASSIP at George Mason University provides high school students with an intensive, full-time research internship in advanced STEM fields, many of which have strong medical links. Participants may work on projects related to molecular medicine, disease diagnostics, drug discovery, neuroscience, bioengineering, epidemiology, women’s health, or tissue regeneration, based on their mentor assignment. Remote students typically engage in computational biomedical research, such as bioinformatics or disease modeling. Over eight weeks, you’ll explore how actual medical research is conducted — including designing experiments, analyzing data, and presenting your findings. Many ASSIP interns even get their work published or present at scientific conferences, giving you an impressive edge for pre-med or bio majors in college.
10. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 5 weeks (typically July - August)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in both the U.S. and Canada
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week, intensive virtual program designed for high school students passionate about neurology, brain science, and behavioral research. Throughout this online internship, you’ll delve into essential neuroscience concepts via live lectures, interactive virtual labs, and guided research activities. The program also offers career-oriented workshops and chances to connect with expert mentors to explore academic and professional pathways in neuroscience and clinical practice. By the end of the program, you’ll have built foundational skills in brain science, completed virtual lab assignments, and earned a certificate recognizing your work.
11. UT Southwestern Medical Center - High School Student Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: 2 weeks in summer (specific dates vary)
Application Deadline: Typically opens in September
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and rising college first-years
The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week virtual summer program designed for high school students eager to explore various careers in mental health. Participants will engage in live, interactive online sessions guided by professionals such as psychiatrists, physician assistants, neuropsychologists, and licensed clinical social workers. Before each session, you’ll review curated reading packets with sources ranging from news articles to scientific papers. The program integrates real-world insights, such as how clinicians select their careers and fund their training, with hands-on experience in areas like psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, neuroscience, and community psychiatry.
12. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,595 tuition; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~12% acceptance rate;
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in clinical neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and behavioral science
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience – Virtual (CNV-X) at Stanford is a two-week online summer program designed for motivated high school students seeking an in-depth exploration of clinical neuroscience and mental health from a holistic perspective. You’ll log in daily to live faculty lectures, Q&A discussions, small-group work on a capstone research project, and wellness sessions focused on real issues teens face today. Faculty represent diverse specialties in neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology, exposing you to cutting-edge research and career pathways.
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