Medical internships give high school students experience in healthcare while learning about the practice and study of medicine. These programs include clinical shadowing, lab-based research, or public health projects, giving you direct experience in diagnostic reasoning, biomedical data analysis, and patient-centered care. Along the way, you develop technical and analytical skills that go beyond the classroom, preparing you for advanced coursework in science and medicine.
Why pick a fall internship over a summer internship?
Fall internships are particularly valuable because they let you integrate medical experiences into the academic year. Unlike summer programs, these opportunities are often part-time research or clinical mentorships, enabling you to work on projects in hospitals, labs, or community health organizations while continuing your school studies. These internships provide structured access to tools, methods, and mentorship that help you explore medicine at a deeper level.
Check out the following 8 fall medical internships for high school students curated specially for you.
8 Fall Medical Internships for High School Students
1. Stanford Clinical Internship (Fall Session)
Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
Program Dates: September 10 – November 12
Application Deadline: June 2 (for Fall session)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, and undergraduate pre-med students (age 16+)
Cost: $35 application fee + $1,980 program fee (Fall)
This program introduces students to clinical medicine through virtual lectures, case discussions, and skill-based workshops. You will practice diagnostic reasoning with real or simulated cases and learn techniques such as suturing, administering injections, and conducting basic physical exams. Sessions are led by Stanford-affiliated faculty and emphasize applied clinical skills alongside teamwork in small-group presentations. The fall format allows you to integrate medical training into the academic year while exploring career pathways in medicine.
2. Partners for the Future – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Location: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Stipend: None
Program Dates: September – March of senior year
Application Deadline: Opens January
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors nominated by their school science chairperson (up to two students per school)
Partners for the Future (PFF) offers Long Island high school seniors the opportunity to conduct original biomedical research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). You will spend at least 10 hours per week working alongside a scientist mentor, gaining hands-on experience with molecular biology and advanced lab techniques. The program emphasizes authentic exposure to daily lab life, allowing you to move beyond stereotypes of “scientists in lab coats” and instead interact with young researchers in a collaborative, problem-solving environment. At the end of the program, you will present your research in an oral presentation to faculty, mentors, peers, and family members. Many PFF participants go on to be recognized in national science competitions, including Regeneron.
3. Medical Ethics Internship Program
Location: NYU Langone’s Division of Medical Ethics, New York, NY
Stipend: None
Program Dates: October 10 – December 10 (Fall session)
Application Deadline: September 17 – 30
Eligibility: High school juniors
This internship introduces students to core concepts in medical ethics through NYU Langone’s Division of Medical Ethics. You will collaborate with faculty on projects in areas such as research ethics, transplant ethics, and allocation of medical resources. The program emphasizes critical analysis, ethical reasoning, and policy considerations in healthcare. You will engage with professionals from bioethics, public health, law, and the biotech industry, gaining both interdisciplinary exposure and potential long-term mentorship connections.
4. Northwestern Medicine GCM Grosvenor Discovery Program
Location: Multiple Northwestern Medicine hospitals in IL
Stipend: None
Program Dates: November 15 – April
Application Deadline: September 29
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (seniors accepted at some sites); minimum GPA 3.0 (students below may submit an explanation); must be at least 15 years old
This program provides structured exposure to healthcare careers through monthly workshops, hospital tours, and guest lectures. As a participant, you will attend career panels, engage in group discussions, and contribute to community projects that highlight the role of medicine in public service. The program helps you gain professional development skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership, while also providing firsthand insight into hospital operations. Students in the Central Chapter may extend their experience into a second year, while other sites follow a one-year cycle.
5. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: Fremont, CA (in-person, with remote options)
Stipend: None
Program Dates: September – December (Fall session)
Application Deadline: Late summer
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Cost: Tuition required
ASDRP offers high school students a chance to join active research groups in areas such as biology, biomedical science, and chemistry. Fall participants may work with lab instrumentation, statistical modeling software, or coding frameworks to analyze experimental data. Projects often involve medical or health-related research questions, and outcomes include technical presentations or publication submissions. The program emphasizes research methodology and scientific communication, giving you structured experience in how biomedical research is conducted and shared.
6. County of Santa Clara Student Internship Program
Location: Santa Clara County, CA
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Year-round, including September – December placements
Application Deadline: Rolling; dependent on department needs
Eligibility: High school students (with GPA 2.5+); U.S. work authorization required; under-18 applicants need a work permit
This county-wide program places students in internships across healthcare, public health, and technical departments. As an intern, you may support professional staff with data entry, patient record management, lab work, or community health projects, depending on assignment. The structure emphasizes supervised learning, requiring you to apply organizational, technical, and analytical skills in real workplace settings. Fall interns balance part-time placements alongside schoolwork, gaining exposure to medical administration, public health practices, or biomedical support work in a county system.
7. Medicine Encompassed High School Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: None
Program Dates: Year-round; Fall session begins in September
Application Deadline: Rolling (general positions); selective deadlines for executive roles
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) worldwide with an interest in medicine or STEAM fields
This nonprofit internship allows you to contribute to medical education and outreach by joining one of 18 specialized committees. Typical projects include writing scientific articles, developing study guides, and creating infographics that communicate biomedical concepts to a student audience. You can also gain experience in nonprofit operations through roles in marketing, partnerships, or digital content. The structure emphasizes collaboration, science communication, and project management, with opportunities to move into executive roles for advanced leadership experience.
8. Healing Arts Fall Internship – The Health Museum
Location: The Health Museum, Houston, TX
Stipend: Unpaid (academic credit or service hours may be available)
Program Dates: Fall
Application Deadline: September 30
Eligibility: High school juniors (age 16+) through graduate students
This internship combines health education with the arts through The Health Museum’s Healing Arts Program. You will support exhibit preparation, installation, and programming linked to community health themes such as aging and wellness. Tasks may include assisting artists, developing digital outreach content, and planning public workshops. The program emphasizes project design, museum operations, and the role of creative communication in advancing public health education.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like biomedical science, public health, medical ethics, and healthcare innovation, 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 topic 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 – The Health Museum