Hospital internships for high school students can offer a close look at clinical practices, provide exposure to patient care, and give opportunities to collaborate with professionals across different departments. Beyond hands-on learning, these experiences also reflect initiative and dedication, qualities that stand out on college applications.
Hospital internships are a practical way to learn more about the medical world from the inside. These programs allow you to engage directly in healthcare settings, where you can strengthen your communication, organization, and critical thinking skills.
From shadowing physicians and observing patient interactions to supporting lab research or learning how hospitals are managed behind the scenes, hospital internships for high school students open doors to a wide range of experiences. Below, we’ve curated the best 15 hospital internships for high school students, including virtual options.
14 Hospital Internships for High School Students
1. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $13/hour
Dates: 8 weeks following the Orientation Day on June 3
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors from the Cincinnati metropolitan area
This eight-week paid internship is designed for graduating seniors in the Cincinnati area with an interest in biomedical sciences. You will work 20 hours per week, shadowing mentors in pediatric specialties like Critical Care, Endocrinology, and Human Genetics. You gain hands-on experience in clinical settings, including training with simulated pediatric patients at the SIM Center. Weekly professional development sessions provide networking opportunities and insights into healthcare careers. The program also emphasizes research and presentation skills, culminating in a graduation event where interns showcase their learning. It equips you with foundational skills for future studies and careers in medicine and research.
2. Columbia University State Pre-college Enrichment Program (S-PREP)
Location: Columbia University, New York City
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid for participating in the BRAINYAC program, amount not specified
Dates: Summer: July 28 – August 8; Academic Year: November 9 – May 17
Application Deadline: Summer: April 15; Academic Year: September 15
Eligibility: 7th-12th graders with at least an 80% grade average, especially in math and science
The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) is designed for 7th through 12th graders interested in pursuing careers in medicine or related STEM fields. During the summer session, you will engage in courses covering topics such as anatomy, statistics, and PSAT preparation. The program also offers college prep and career development workshops, personalized academic counseling, and opportunities for field trips and college tours. The program focuses on increasing representation and improving educational pathways for historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in subjects like mathematics, science, technology, and health-related fields. Once selected in this program, you are also eligible to apply to the BRAINYAC program and the YES in THE HEIGHTS programs.
3. Mount Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education – Internship Placement Program
Location: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: July 8 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school students who attend a NYC public/charter school
The Internship Placement (IP) Program, offered by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through its Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE), provides you with structured exposure to hospital settings and health careers. Through a hospital placement track, you will work alongside mentors in a specific department within the Mount Sinai Health System, developing skills in observation, clinical exposure, and professional communication. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, including opportunities to engage with medical teams, understand hospital operations, and explore specialties such as neurosurgery and neurology through immersive tracks. You will also gain experience in collaborating with professionals, analyzing real-world cases, and presenting your work.
4. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA.
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: Typically late March
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year or final term after the summer | 16 years old at the start of the program | Resident of Greater Seattle or surrounding areas
In this program, you will undergo intensive laboratory training, gaining technical skills such as sterile technique, tissue culture, DNA isolation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis, along with an introduction to core biological concepts like hematopoiesis and the central dogma of molecular biology during the first two weeks. The following six weeks place you within a research group, where you will work under the guidance of a mentor on tasks such as preparing solutions, contributing to data collection, and observing advanced laboratory procedures. You will also engage in weekly sessions on ethics, health disparities, biostatistics, and data visualization, as well as opportunities to interact with researchers through “meet the scientist” discussions.
5. Manhattan-Staten Island Area Health Education Center (MSI AHEC) Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Manhattan-Staten Island Area Health Education Center, Manhattan, NYC
Stipend:
Dates: June 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors | At least 17 years old by the program’s start | Must attend school or live in Manhattan or Staten Island
This six-week hospital and community health internship is designed to introduce you to careers in healthcare through direct, practical exposure. You will spend time in hospitals, community-based health centers, and health organizations, where you will learn about patient care, healthcare delivery systems, and the social factors shaping community health. Weekly sessions with health professionals will deepen your understanding of medical practice, public health, and policy, while field visits provide insight into how healthcare functions beyond the hospital setting. Throughout the program, you will develop professional skills, collaborate with experienced practitioners, and gain the opportunity to present what you have learned.
6. Summer Internship Programs, Houston Methodist Hospital
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, TX
Stipend: None
Dates: May 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | At least 16 years old by the program’s start date | U.S. citizen or permanent residents
The Houston Methodist Academic Institute’s 10-week summer internship offers high school students an experience in cutting-edge medical research. You will collaborate with expert faculty in areas like cancer treatment, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, and nanotechnology. You will design and execute your own research projects, presenting findings in a competitive poster session at the program’s conclusion. Weekly career development seminars and didactic lectures by leading scientists enrich the learning experience. Interns like you will gain hands-on exposure to advanced tools and techniques, including imaging, bioinformatics, and molecular medicine. You develop critical skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis, and professional communication, paving the way for future careers in healthcare and research.
6. Internships, Center for Youth and College Education, Cleveland Clinic
Location: Cleveland Clinic, OH
Stipend: $15 per hour
Dates: June 9 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th graders | At least 15 years of age by June 1 of the application year | Preferred cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale | U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or legal permanent resident | Other program-specific eligibility parameters can be found here
The Cleveland Clinic Youth Career Exploration (CYCE) internship programs provide paid, hands-on learning experiences across three tracks: Advanced Technology, Science, and the Louis Stokes Internship. Depending on your placement, you will gain exposure to clinical, nonclinical, and advanced technology careers while working alongside professionals at the Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, regional hospitals, and administrative centers. Interns refine critical skills such as project management, digital literacy, academic writing, and professional communication, preparing them for college or employment transitions. Program pathways include advanced technology fields like AI, robotics, and cybersecurity; nonclinical roles in healthcare administration, marketing, and design; and clinical areas such as nursing, pharmacy, and public health.
8. LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program
Location: Lillehei Heart Institute
Stipend: Hourly wage, amount not specified
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Current high school junior or Senior at time of application | 16 years of age or older | U.S. citizen
This highly competitive program is designed for those passionate about making a difference in the field of medicine. You will engage in hands-on research, working closely with a faculty mentor in a dedicated lab to tackle intensive basic or clinical research. The program takes a multi-disciplinary approach, exposing you to various facets of cardiovascular disease, from molecular biology to clinical applications. With weekly seminars led by industry leaders and field trips that provide insights into clinical, industrial, and academic medicine, you will gain invaluable knowledge of career opportunities in cardiovascular science. This experience, coupled with mentorship from experienced faculty, equips you with a competitive edge.
9. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University Labs, NYC
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer (June – August)
Application Deadline: Typically fall
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who reside in New York City and are from select partner programs and schools that serve students in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx
This structured program introduces you to neuroscience through direct involvement in laboratory research. Beginning with weekend training sessions during the academic year, you will learn fundamental laboratory skills, research methods, and scientific practices. In the summer, you will work full-time in a Columbia laboratory under the guidance of a neuroscientist, gaining hands-on experience in designing experiments, analyzing data, and presenting findings. The program emphasizes collaboration with professionals, exposure to the research process from start to finish, and opportunities to present your work within the scientific community, helping you build both technical and professional skills essential for future academic and career development.
10. Roswell Park Summer Research Experience in Cancer (SURE-CAN) Program
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY.
Stipend: Subsistence allowances are awarded to students who qualify for limited funding
Dates: June 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically fall
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are local residents of Western New York and attending schools in the Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua Counties | 15 years or older at the start of the program | U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident
This program provides a six-week introduction to cancer sciences and research. Through a combination of lectures, group discussions, and hands-on laboratory work in either “dry” or “wet” labs, you will learn core skills in cancer biology, imaging, genomics, and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in medical research. The curriculum also introduces research ethics, basic statistics, and principles of rigor and reproducibility, alongside opportunities to see how mathematics, physics, and engineering intersect with biology in advancing cancer research. You will work closely with faculty and research staff, collaborate within laboratory teams, and build skills in scientific communication. The program concludes with a formal research symposium.
11. Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Youth Summer Program
Location: BWH campus
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer (June – August)
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: Boston residents enrolled in high school who at least 16 years old by June 1
Brigham and Women’s Hospital offers a paid Youth Summer Program that allows high school students to gain hands-on experience in a large healthcare environment. This six-week internship requires about 30 hours per week on the hospital campus, where you may be placed in various departments such as radiology, materials management, transport, or research laboratories. The program is designed to help you explore different healthcare professions while developing essential workplace skills and professional habits. Alongside practical work, you will attend career development sessions that foster self-awareness, deepen understanding of community health, and complement your academic learning.
12. Summer Junior Volunteer Program – Johns Hopkins Hospital
Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland
Stipend: None
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer starting in July
Application Deadline: Typically March
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old by June 1 of the program year
The Summer Junior Volunteer Program (SJVP) at The Johns Hopkins Hospital is a six-week internship designed for high school students to gain firsthand exposure to patient care, hospital operations, and professional healthcare environments. You will learn practical skills in communication, organization, and teamwork while assisting in areas such as patient navigation, family-centered care, and specialized programs like Child Life Services, ART Cart, or Animal-Assisted Therapy. Hands-on experiences may include offering companionship to patients, supporting hospital tours, or contributing to initiatives that improve the quality of care through patient and family advisory councils. Beyond direct service, you will gain insight into the broader workings of a leading medical institution.
13. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC Campus, Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: None
Dates: June 23 – 27; July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors during the current school year | 16 years old by the first day of the camp to comply with CDC’s laboratory safety requirements.
The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp, held at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, is a competitive five-day program tailored for high school students interested in public health and epidemiology. You will gain practical experience through lectures and hands-on activities that simulate the daily work of CDC professionals, including outbreak investigations, lab sessions, and data analysis focused on global and environmental health. The camp also exposes you to various career opportunities in public health and features engaging exercises such as mock press briefings and tracking chronic diseases. With its active curriculum and close interaction with CDC scientists, the program offers an in-depth understanding of disease prevention and public health.
14. Child Health Research Internship, Children Hospital Colorado
Location: University of Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus
Stipend: $4,400
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: First week of February
Eligibility: High school seniors over the age of 18 and Colorado residents
The Child Health Research Internship provides an intensive summer research experience on the Anschutz Medical Campus. You will work directly in a laboratory under the mentorship of pediatric faculty, developing technical and analytical skills while contributing to ongoing child health research. The program emphasizes collaboration with professionals across disciplines, offering weekly seminars led by faculty to broaden your understanding of current pediatric research and clinical challenges. Throughout the internship, you will learn how to design, conduct, and analyze research, culminating in both written and oral or poster presentations of your work. In addition, you may have opportunities to submit abstracts for professional conferences, with institutional support for presenting at regional or national scientific meetings.
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 – University of Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus