If you’re a high school student interested in pursuing a career in medicine or planning to major in the field later, consider enrolling in a medical internship. These internships give you the chance to take a closer look at the healthcare field, helping you explore areas like clinical practice, biomedical research, and public health. If you’re looking for opportunities in Houston, TX, or live in the city, this blog is for you!
Houston, is home to a wide range of hospitals, universities, and medical organizations that host internships for high school students every year. Choosing a local program can be a smart move as it saves you the cost of travel and housing, keeps you close to your support system, and still gives you access to high-quality professional experiences.
A medical internship also adds weight to your CV and can help you stand out in college applications. Admissions officers value students who show early initiative and dedication, and hands-on experience in medicine does exactly that.
To help you find the right opportunity, we’ve curated a list of 16 medical internships for high school students in Houston, TX!
14 Medical Internships for High School Students in Houston, TX
1. Rice University’s PATHS-UP Young Scholars – Digital Health Summer Internship
Location: Rice University, Houston, Texas
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: April 4
Dates: June 9 — 26
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors who are residents of the Houston area. (Note: The program runs from Monday to Thursday between 9 AM and 3 PM)
The PATHS-UP Digital Health Summer Internship is a free, three-week program hosted by Rice University for high school sophomores and juniors in the Houston area. You’ll explore subjects like digital design, computer science, physics, and circuitry, and learn how these disciplines apply to real-world medical challenges. Throughout the program, you will engage in hands-on activities and simulations using tools such as pulse oximeters, accelerometers, GPS devices, microphones, and speakers. They also gain exposure to programming and discover how these technologies are used to diagnose and treat medical conditions.
2. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Cost: No cost. Stipend of $6,800 (10-week program). ($6,120 if participating for nine weeks)
Application Deadline: January 15
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens or work-eligible residents who will graduate from a Texas high school in the spring, be 18+ by the program start, enroll in college that fall (preferably a 2-year program leading to a health professions path), and can attend the full program with limited excused absences
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a 10-week research internship where you’ll explore careers in biomedical science and allied health. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and work on a real research project inside MD Anderson’s labs, gaining hands-on experience with the tools and methods used in biomedical investigation. Throughout the summer, you’ll learn how research contributes to diagnosing and treating diseases, attend seminars led by experts, and build skills in scientific communication through poster sessions and elevator pitches.
3. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: January 20
Program Dates: June 2 — August 8
Eligibility: High school students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, at least 18 years old by the program start, in good academic standing or graduating, provide official proof of enrollment, and commit to full in-person participation (20 hours/week, Monday–Friday) for the entire 8–10-week program
The DACCPM Summer Research Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a 10-week medical research internship where you’ll work alongside faculty and research staff in clinical and laboratory settings. You’ll be assigned a research project and gain hands-on experience in areas like anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, and critical care. During the program, you’ll learn how to review scientific literature, collect and manage data, and contribute to ongoing research efforts. You’ll also attend a Cancer Biology boot camp, explore topics like chemotherapy-induced pain and immune function, and participate in seminars on medical careers and graduate school preparation.
4. Houston Methodist’s Summer Internship Program for High Schoolers
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital campus in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: January 30
Program Dates: May 27— August 1 (as per the FAQ page)
Eligibility: High school students must be in their junior or senior year and be 16 years of age by the start of the program
The Houston Methodist Academic Institute Summer Internship is a 10-week research experience for high school students interested in biomedical and translational science. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and work on an independent research project inside a Houston Methodist lab, contributing to real medical research. In addition to lab work, you’ll attend weekly seminars on career development and professional skills, hear lectures from scientists and clinicians, and take part in group activities and networking events. You’ll present your findings in a formal poster session at the end of the summer.
5. Baylor College of Medicine’s Saturday Morning Science (SMS) Summer Research Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Cost: No cost. Stipends will be provided amounting to the minimum wage in Texas (subject to taxes per Texas policy)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April
Program Dates: June 11— August 4
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18 years old by June 1, possess a U.S. Social Security or Permanent Resident card, and be able to complete all program requirements, including full participation for 8 weeks and a final research presentation.
The SMS Summer Research Program at Baylor College of Medicine is an 8-week, full-time research experience where you’ll work alongside a Baylor researcher on a real laboratory or clinical project. You’ll spend about 40 hours per week gaining hands-on experience in biomedical research, including reviewing scientific literature, collecting and managing data, and contributing to ongoing studies. You’ll also attend weekly “Lunch and Learn” sessions focused on research methods and career development, plus group meetings and seminars related to your research area. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at the SMS Summer Research Symposium.
6. University of Houston Mohan Lab Summer Internship
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: March 28
Program Dates: June 2 — July 25
Eligibility: Rising seniors (who have completed 11th grade of high school) are eligible to apply
The University of Houston Mohan Lab Summer Internship is a hands-on research experience for rising high school seniors interested in biomedical science, bioengineering, or health-related fields. You’ll start with one to two weeks of training in basic lab techniques, then spend eight weeks conducting bench research under the guidance of a scientist or graduate student mentor. Your work may involve data collection, analysis, and possibly contributing to a research manuscript. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at a joint lab meeting.
7. UTHealth Houston – Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston School of Public Health, Brownsville, TX; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s (UTRGV) Brownsville and Edinburg campuses
Cost: No cost. $750 stipend for students who complete the 120-hour program
Application Deadline: April 18
Program Dates: June 12 — July 25
Eligibility: Juniors or seniors interested in science, and attending schools in the Rio Grande Valley districts.
The UTHealth Houston Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship is a 6-week research experience for high school students interested in science and public health. You’ll be matched with a university mentor and assigned a research project based on your interests, working about 20 hours per week on real university-level research. Throughout the program, you’ll explore how science connects to community health, attend group meetings and seminars, and build skills in data collection, analysis, and presentation. The internship ends with an in-person symposium.
8. Welch Summer Scholar Program (WSSP)
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Houston, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University
Cost: Free. Includes housing, meals, transport, lab, and study materials
Application Deadline: March 16
Program Dates: June 8 — July 11
Eligibility: Applicants must be current sophomores or juniors at the time of application. Not open to current seniors (i.e, students who are seniors at the time of application)
The Welch Summer Scholar Program (WSSP) at six Texas universities is a five-week summer residency where you’ll dive into hands-on chemistry and chemical research. Even though the focus is on chemistry, the lab techniques, experimental design, and data analysis skills you’ll learn are directly applicable to biomedical and medical research. You’ll work closely with faculty and graduate student mentors on a research project, using state-of-the-art equipment and learning how real scientific investigations are conducted. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings to peers and faculty in a formal research symposium.
9. Texas Medical Center (TMC) Summer Research Internship Program
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free. Stipend provided
Application deadline: December 1
Program dates: 10-week full-time internship, typically early June to mid-August
Eligibility: High school students completing their junior year at Augustana
The Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship is a 10-week experience where you’ll work on a research project at one of TMC’s world-class institutions, such as UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, or Baylor College of Medicine. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and explore fields like biology, chemistry, psychology, neuroscience, healthcare economics, medical illustration, and healthcare policy. In addition to research, you’ll receive individualized mentoring and attend seminars focused on clinical medicine, research methods, and career development.
10. The Health Museum: DeBakey Cell Lab Internship
Location: The Health Museum, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 6
Program Dates: Typically runs during the summer months
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Health Museum Internship Program in Houston offers opportunities for high school students who are interested in medical science, education, and public engagement. You’ll contribute to the museum’s mission of public health education while gaining experience in areas like science communication, community outreach, and museum operations. Internships are often coordinated through partnerships with universities such as the University of Houston, Rice University, and Texas Woman’s University, but high school students can also apply directly.
11. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16–27
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over 14 years old with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program where you’ll explore how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare. You’ll attend lectures on AI fundamentals and medical applications, join small-group research sessions, and receive mentorship from Stanford researchers and student leads. The program blends clinical and technical learning, giving you insight into how data science, machine learning, and medical research work together to solve real-world health challenges.
12. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Experience
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by March 1 every year
Dates: 5 weeks during summer, typically starting in June
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations anywhere in the United States can participate in the 5-week virtual summer research experience
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week virtual or eight-week in-person research program for high school juniors and seniors interested in neuroscience, brain science, and healthcare. You’ll learn basic lab techniques, take part in group projects, and attend educational sessions led by Johns Hopkins researchers and clinicians. The program also includes career talks with professionals from academia, industry, government, and nonprofits. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your work to peers and faculty in a final symposium.
13. Baylor College of Medicine DocPrep Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications open in March through affiliated South Texas high schools
Program Dates: The program runs for 1 week in summer, typically in June or July
Eligibility: Rising seniors in great academic standing from South Texas-affiliated high schools.
The Baylor College of Medicine DocPrep Program is a week-long academic enrichment experience for rising high school seniors from South Texas. You’ll explore health professions and science through medical lectures, simulation lab experiences, and college and medical school counseling, all hosted at the Texas Medical Center. You’ll also take a communication course led by Rice University graduate students and engage directly with Baylor medical students and faculty, who serve as mentors and counselors throughout the week.
14. DePelchin Children’s Center Internship
Location: 4950 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Dates vary by university partnership or semester
Program Dates: Not specified
Eligibility: Strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of Microsoft Office, excellent organizational and time management skills, public speaking skills, ability to motivate others, excellent written and verbal skills, ability to work independently as well as with a team, authorization for background check for criminal and child protective findings.
The DePelchin Children’s Center Internship in Houston offers high school students the chance to explore careers in social work, mental health, and community-based care. You’ll work directly with staff in programs designed to strengthen families through rehabilitative services, educational support, and residential treatment. As an intern, you’ll assist with activities for children, shadow therapeutic staff, help plan enrichment events, and support educational programming. You’ll receive weekly one-on-one supervision and create a personalized learning plan based on your strengths and goals.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Baylor College of Medicine