15 Summer Healthcare Internships for High School Students
Healthcare is a fast-evolving field, with growing demand for skilled professionals across areas like medicine, public health, research, and hospital management. For high school students considering a career in this sector, early exposure through internships can make a significant difference. Internships help you explore how hospitals, clinics, and research institutions operate, and to see firsthand the range of roles that contribute to patient care and medical innovation.
Internships in healthcare help bridge the gap between academic learning and practical experience. By working alongside clinicians, researchers, or administrative teams, you can develop professional and interpersonal skills that will help you in the future. These experiences can strengthen your college applications and resumes, improve your employment chances, and give you an informed perspective on whether a future in healthcare aligns with your goals.
To help you take that first step, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer healthcare internships for high school students.
15 Summer Healthcare Internships for High School Students
1. UMass Chan High School Health Careers Program (HSHCP)
Location: UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 16 students per year
Dates: June 28 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who are residents of Massachusetts and attend a high school in the state
At UMass Chan Medical School, HSHCP is a four-week, fully funded residential experience designed for Massachusetts students interested in healthcare, biotechnology, and biomedical research. You’ll take part in academic sessions covering math, science, English, and IT, along with seminars that explore health disparities and public health concerns. A key feature of the program is the Health Disparities Research Project, which focuses on understanding cultural and community-based healthcare challenges in Massachusetts. You also shadow healthcare professionals, visit research facilities, and attend field trips related to medicine and biotechnology. Your progress is continuously assessed through tests and instructor evaluations, and the internship concludes with a stipend and a Certificate of Achievement.
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. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $3,600 stipend
Acceptance rate: Highly selective; 18 students per summer
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: Rising MA high school seniors with a B or better in science and math | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or non-U.S. citizens with work authorization
BSSP is a six-week research experience at the Broad Institute, where high school students work alongside scientists on original biomedical research projects. The program pairs you with a research mentor, and you may explore areas like cancer biology, infectious diseases, psychiatric disorders, or computational biology. This paid internship covers both experimental and computational methods, supported by tutoring and workshops that help you grasp complex scientific concepts. Beyond lab work, you’ll attend career talks, college preparation sessions, and a college fair that introduces paths in medicine and biomedical research. The experience concludes with a formal poster session where you present your research to the Broad community.
4. High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Location: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $4,800 stipend
Acceptance rate: Competitive; 30 – 50 students
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+) from the Memphis-Shelby County area and surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas | Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
The High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a summer research opportunity for rising seniors from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. It matches you with a mentor in disciplines such as laboratory science, clinical research, psychology, or epidemiology, gaining exposure to how medical research supports pediatric healthcare. The program emphasizes not only technical research experience but also reflection on your academic growth, covering skills like personal statement writing for college applications. You engage in hands-on work within St. Jude’s research teams and discuss the scientific process with educators. The summer concludes with a community exhibition, where you present your project findings in a professional poster session.
5. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2%; about 20 interns per year
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Must be a high school junior, live within ~25 miles of MSK (NY, NJ, CT), have a 3.5 GPA in science | At least 14 years old by June | Legally authorized to work in the U.S
The Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is an eight-week research internship in New York City, where you work under the supervision of experienced mentors on independent cancer-related projects. Depending on your placement, your research could focus on fields such as immunology, pharmacology, computational biology, or structural biology. The program provides a hands-on introduction to biomedical research while developing your technical and analytical skills in a professional lab setting. You’ll also take part in enrichment activities like lab meetings, faculty lectures, and journal clubs that explore how scientific ideas are tested and shared. A stipend supports your full-time participation, and the internship culminates in a formal poster session.
6. Weill Cornell Department of Pediatrics – Summer Internship
Location: Weill Cornell Medicine, NY
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically small cohort size
Dates: 6 or 10-week program from June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: All high school students
At Weill Cornell’s Department of Pediatrics, the Summer Internship allows you to explore pediatric medicine by working in one of several specialized divisions, such as epilepsy research, child health advocacy, or patient education. It matches you with a division aligned to your interests, and you are guided by faculty and staff mentors. Throughout the internship, your responsibilities may include reviewing literature, collecting and analyzing data, shadowing pediatric providers, or contributing to policy projects. Through these experiences, you get to see firsthand how research supports clinical decision-making and improves pediatric care.
7. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipends of $7,200 (10 weeks), $6,480 (9 weeks)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 6 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Current high school seniors (18+) enrolled in a Texas public, private, or charter high school | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or work-eligible visa holders
This research program allows Texas high school students to immerse themselves in biomedical sciences under the mentorship of faculty researchers. You’ll join an active laboratory and take part in experiments, data analysis, and project discussions that mirror the work of professional scientists. This internship offers stipends depending on duration and includes seminars led by faculty to deepen your understanding of biomedical concepts. You’ll also participate in structured activities such as abstract writing, poster sessions, and elevator pitch competitions designed to strengthen your communication skills. The summer culminates with a formal presentation where participants share their research findings with peers and mentors.
8. Brigham and Women's Hospital – Youth Summer Program
Location: BWH campus, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 100 students
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer (June – August)
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: Boston residents enrolled in high school who will be at least 16 years old by June 1
The Youth Summer Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital gives high school students six weeks of paid, hands-on experience in a professional hospital environment. Working about 30 hours each week, you may be placed in departments such as radiology, materials management, transport, or research labs, where you’ll observe daily operations and assist with departmental tasks. Alongside your work placement, you’ll attend sessions focused on career development, community health, and workplace readiness. The summer healthcare internship aims to help you understand the inner workings of a major hospital while building professional and interpersonal skills, and provides a stipend for your participation.
9. University of Illinois College of Medicine – Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 11%; 5 students each year
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by May 1 | The list of eligible high schools can be found here
The Summer Science Internship at the University of Illinois College of Medicine offers high school students two months of hands-on research experience in active biomedical labs. Working alongside faculty and research scientists, you may participate in projects involving vaccine development, cancer biology, or drug discovery. The program, supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific, admits only a few students each year, making it a competitive opportunity for those in the Rockford area. Beyond research, you’ll receive training in professional skills such as resume writing, mock interviews, and scientific presentations. The internship concludes with a research forum, where participants present their findings through oral and poster sessions to the academic community.
10. SIH High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Southern Illinois Healthcare facilities, IL
Stipend: None, cafeteria card given to cover meal costs while at the hospital
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 29 students
Dates: June 18 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: High school students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior years, along with graduating seniors
The SIH High School Summer Internship Program allows you to explore healthcare careers by shadowing professionals across departments such as nursing, laboratory science, radiology, respiratory therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and pharmacy. Students typically attend two to three days a week for four to six hours per day, observing daily hospital operations and patient interactions. Depending on your chosen area, you may witness nurses managing patient care, technologists performing imaging procedures, or therapists guiding rehabilitation exercises in this summer healthcare internship for high school students. This structure helps you compare medical specialties and make an informed decision about your future in healthcare.
11. Novant Health Bridges to Healthcare High School Internship
Location: Raleigh-area medical centers, NC
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 10 participants per site
Dates: 8-16 weeks during the summer (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students attending one of the partner schools | Minimum 2.5 GPA | Household income $40,000 or less
The Bridges to Healthcare High School Internship at Novant Health is a paid program that introduces students to both clinical and non-clinical aspects of healthcare. Designed to reduce the skills gap in the medical field, this program runs in two phases, beginning with an internship for high school students and continuing with educational assistance for recent graduates pursuing healthcare degrees at community colleges. In the first phase, you spend six to eight weeks rotating through departments such as nursing, radiology, IT, and community outreach, gaining a clear picture of how different hospital teams function. You receive mentorship, attend workshops on career and financial skills, and engage in team projects.
12. UNC’s Internship in Science, Health Training, and Research (ISHTaR)
Location: Department of Emergency Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 4 interns
Dates: Flexible start and end dates
Application Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in NC high schools | Ages 16+ by May 31 | U.S. employment eligibility
ISHTaR, organized by UNC’s Department of Emergency Medicine, exposes local high school students to medical research and clinical care. The program is structured around hands-on participation in projects involving literature reviews, health communication development, and research coordination, alongside shadowing clinicians in hospital and emergency settings. You may also ride along with EMS paramedics or observe physicians in inpatient and outpatient care. Each year’s program varies depending on available research projects and student interests, ensuring a personalized experience. Weekly activities include team discussions and book clubs that explore healthcare ethics and systems. The summer healthcare internship generally requires a commitment of about 20 hours per week.
13. Boston Children's Hospital – SCOOP (Student Career Opportunity Outreach Program)
Location: Boston Children’s Hospital, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 10 positions
Dates: 6 weeks between July – August
Application Deadline: Typically late February
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
SCOOP at Boston Children’s Hospital is a six-week internship that introduces high school students to pediatric healthcare. Over 24 hours per week, you’ll work in patient care units alongside mentors, observing how nurses, physicians, and support staff care for young patients. The program focuses on experiential learning through shadowing, assisting with patient services, and participating in team-based care activities. Once a week, you meet in small groups to discuss your experiences, share observations, and connect lessons from the hospital to broader healthcare themes. You’ll also complete a small project that reflects your learning throughout the internship and present it at the program’s closing session.
14. BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship at UCLA
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 4 students
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically April
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors intending to mentor interns in the next year
The BrainSPORT Summer High School Research Internship at UCLA centers on concussion and pediatric brain injury research within a clinical setting. As an intern, you’ll work closely with physicians, researchers, and medical students on studies like CARE4Kids, which investigates the long-term effects of head injuries in young athletes. Your responsibilities may include recruiting participants, conducting neurocognitive tests, entering data, and observing clinical assessments. Weekly research team meetings provide context for your work, allowing you to understand how medical studies are designed, executed, and analyzed. At the end, you present your own project or findings, demonstrating what you’ve learned throughout the summer.
15. Texas Children’s Hospital – Summer Junior Program
Location: Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, about 20 – 50 students
Dates: June 6 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-17
The Summer Junior Volunteer Program at Texas Children’s Hospital gives Houston-area students the chance to volunteer across the hospital’s campuses while learning how pediatric care is delivered in one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country. You work two three-hour shifts each day, Monday through Thursday, in departments like outpatient playrooms, Guest Services, and activity areas such as the play cart or snow cone cart. These assignments help students see how recreational and emotional care supports medical treatment. The program also includes Lunch and Learn sessions featuring hospital professionals from departments like social work, physical therapy, and patient experience, providing insight into different healthcare roles.
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