For high school students interested in healthcare, a medical internship can be an excellent first step towards a career in the field. You will get exposure to hospitals, clinics, and medical research laboratories, allowing you to explore fields such as neonatology, cardiology, pharmacy, general surgery, genetics, and more. You will learn about advanced topics while developing practical skills like lab techniques or assisting with clinical observations.
North Carolina has a range of medical internships, offered by institutions like Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill and regional health care centers. These programs give students the chance to experience real world medicine and learn directly from healthcare professionals!
Here are 13 medical internships for high school students in North Carolina!
13 Medical Internships for High School Students in NC (North Carolina)
1. Duke University’s MaryAnn Black Summer Internship
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: July 8 – 26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 14-24 who are Durham City or Durham County residents
The Duke University Health System offers this internship to encourage high school students with an interest in healthcare. Over 80 Duke employees volunteer for the program and work to introduce you to various healthcare careers and specialties. You will learn through a combination of simulations, exposure to clinical environments, and visits to the university’s healthcare departments. Alongside this, you will also receive training for college entrance tests as well as engage in hands-on activities within the departments of medicine and nursing.
2. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC
Stipend: $2,530
Program Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: High school seniors (18+) enrolled at least half-time in a high school, and recent graduates
The National Institutes of Health offers high school students full-time research positions at NIH centers across the country. As a participant, you will work in a research group under the guidance of a Principal Investigator (PI), diving into fields like biology, epidemiology, chemistry, bioinformatics, and more. The institute in North Carolina focuses on the connections between the environment, human biology, genetics, and diseases. In the process, you will get familiar with basic, translational, and clinical research.
3. Novant Health: Bridges to Healthcare Internship
Location: Novant Health facilities in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and surrounding areas
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Runs during spring, summer, and fall
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors (16+) in high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA; Must attend one of the partner schools and have a household income of $40,000 or less
Novant Health offers paid internships for high school students looking to explore the field of healthcare and learn about clinical and non-clinical careers. During the internship, you will work in departments like radiology, rehabilitation, and respiratory services, and you can expect plenty of real-world internships and project-based work. If you’re a recent graduate, you can also opt for phase II of this program, which offers assistance in pursuing a healthcare degree at a community college.
4. MAHEC Medical Mentoring Program
Location: Multiple locations within Buncombe County, NC
Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: Runs during the academic year, providing 135 credit hours for one semester
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors enrolled in schools in Buncombe County who have a minimum 3.0 GPA
During the MAHEC Medical Mentoring Program, instead of working in a single institution, you will have the opportunity to rotate through several different clinics, hospitals, private practices, and education centers. This way, you will learn about a variety of healthcare fields such as anesthesiology, cardiology, pharmacy, genetics, oncology, optometry, and more. You will also get real-world experience by shadowing physicians and other healthcare workers. You can find more information here.
5. MAHEC’s Project Promise Internship
Location: Local healthcare centers in NC
Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: Runs during the spring semester
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are registered in a Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, or Yancey county public school
Project Promise is offered by MAHEC, this time, focused on clinical experience in healthcare settings. As an intern, you will shadow professionals from a variety of fields like pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, and more. Additionally, you will attend sessions to improve your research skills, professional etiquette, and college planning. You will also receive mentorship from a medical student.
6. Carteret Health Care’s High School Internship
Location: Carteret Health Care, Morehead City, NC
Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Carteret Health Care offers this internship for high school students who are planning on pursuing a career in healthcare. As a participant, you will attend a CTE class as well as an internship in the center’s hospital, where you will get real-world experience in the field. The internship aims to make you aware of the various career pathways in healthcare so that you can make an informed decision about your future. Another option is applying to the center’s shadow experiences to be able to observe a healthcare professional.
7. Duke University’s STAR Program
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Stipend: $4,000
Program Dates: June 22 – July 24
Application Deadline: November 17 – January 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Duke University’s Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) program isn’t technically an internship, but it does offer similar hands-on experience and a comprehensive learning experience. As a participant, you will be matched with a team with whom you will work on a hypothesis-driven research project in a medical field like neonatology, cardiology, pharmacology, and more. You will learn all the elements of scientific research, such as formulating research questions and analyzing data, and wrap up your work with a research paper.
8. University of North Carolina’s AEOP High School Internship STEM Research Program
Location: University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are US citizens or permanent residents
UNC’s AEOP High School Internship STEM Research Program is a 6-8 week internship during which you will be paired with faculty mentors for an intensive STEM research experience. You will spend between 220-300 hours on research work, including creating a hypothesis, carrying out experiments/lab procedures, interpreting data, and presenting your findings. Aside from your project work, you will also network with other STEM scientists and learn about career pathways, research ethics, and new findings.
9. Wake Forest Summer Immersion Medicine Institute
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,500; Need-based scholarships available on a first-come, first-served basis
Program Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 11; Session 2: July 20 – 25
Application Deadline: Opens on November 1; Rolling basis
Eligibility: Current high school students
Wake Forest University’s Summer Immersion Program gives you practical experience in the medical field while also allowing you to explore possible career pathways. The curriculum covers several topics like cardiology, internal medicine, surgery, cancer care, and neurology. You can expect a blend of classes, simulations, labs, and hands-on activities like suturing, taking blood pressure, conducting ultrasounds, and exploring technological advancements. You will also get to tour the university’s School of Medicine.
10. Atrium Health’s Summer Internships (Non-Clinical)
Location: Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC
Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: 7-10 weeks
Application Deadline: February 3 – May 30
Eligibility: High school students
Atrium Health’s Summer Internship Program offers a project-based learning experience in healthcare for both high school and college students. Despite this being a non-clinical internship, you will be exposed to several healthcare departments like nursing, pharmacy, and material resource management. You will set SMART goals, undergo training sessions, attend virtual meetings with health leaders, and develop projects on topics like quality management and education materials. You will also learn by shadowing healthcare professionals and assisting with patient coordination.
11. UNC’s Nutrition Research Virtual Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: June 3 – 26
Application Deadline: Applications open in February.
Eligibility: High school students, including recent graduates
The University of North Carolina offers high school students this summer internship in nutrition research. During the program, you will explore how nutrition needs can differ based on individual requirements and factors like genes, bacteria, metabolism, and environment. You will learn about the field through a combination of lectures, group mentoring sessions, and an independent research project, which culminates in either a paper or a poster. At the end of the program, you will present your findings during a showcase session. You can go through previous students’ projects here.
12. Stanford AIMI’s Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 program fee + $40 application fee; Need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years of age
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers this two-week virtual internship, which explores the intersection of AI and healthcare. During the program, you will learn the clinical and technical aspects of the use of AI in medicine through lectures, guest speakers, hands-on activities, and group research projects. For example, previous students developed a machine learning algorithm that could locate and analyze the position of tubes in X-rays. Towards the end of the program, you could also get the opportunity to attend an extended internship.
13. Wake Forest University’s Mentored Summer Research Exposure Program for High School Students
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 22 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: North Carolina high school students between the ages of 16-18
Organized by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, this 4-week program offers you a learning and research experience in the field of regenerative medicine. Through the program, you will attend seminars and weekly research meetings, shadow faculty researchers, learn about scientific research, and receive guidance from individual mentors. You will understand the essentials of regenerative medicine while also getting hands-on experience and exposure to real-world practices.
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!
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