Medical internships give high school students the chance to gain practical skills, explore healthcare careers, and experience real-world medical environments. These programs let you develop problem-solving abilities, learn professional protocols, and understand how different healthcare settings operate.
Florida offers a variety of hospitals, research centers, and universities that host internships for high school students each year. If you’re based in the state, participating in a local program can also be convenient and cost-effective, reducing the need for travel or housing expenses while still providing meaningful hands-on experience.
Below, we’ve put together a list of 11 medical internships for high school students in Florida, highlighting opportunities that provide practical exposure and help you explore the field early on.
1. Max Planck Florida Internship for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Application Deadline: March 4
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility: Students entering their junior or senior years in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school; 16 years of age or older by the start date of the summer internship
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) Summer Research Internship is a six-week program for high school students interested in neuroscience. You’ll work alongside MPFI researchers, contributing to projects that explore brain structure, function, and development. The program offers three tracks: Neuroscience, Scientific Programming, and Mechanical Engineering. In the Neuroscience track, you’ll gain hands-on experience with wet lab techniques such as genetic engineering, staining, and microscopy. The Scientific Programming track focuses on software development for analyzing large brain datasets using languages such as Python or C++.
2. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at UMiami’s School of Medicine
Location: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Juniors from Miami and Broward-area high schools
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine offers high school juniors a paid opportunity to explore biological and computational sciences. Over the course of eight weeks, you’ll work on research projects under the guidance of faculty and staff. The program emphasizes hands-on training in scientific inquiry and data analysis. You’ll develop skills in both laboratory techniques and computational approaches. At the end of the program, you will deliver a short oral presentation summarizing your work.
3. High School Summer Internship Program at FIU’s Center for Translational Science
Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Cost: Not specified
Application Deadline: April 8
Dates: June 9 – July 10
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who live and attend school in St. Lucie County
This program offers you five weeks of hands-on experience in biomedical science research at FIU’s Center for Translational Science. You will explore fields like heart and pulmonary physiology, infection and immunity, and spinal cord injury under expert guidance. By conducting experiments in advanced laboratories, you will learn how scientific questions translate into new knowledge. The program awards a participation certificate, a signed letter from the director, and eligibility for over 100 hours of volunteer work. Your experience ends with a poster presentation at the internship luncheon, where top projects earn certificates of achievement.
4. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Teen Academic Year Program
Location: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL; Virtual and hybrid options are also offered
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: No information available. Check the M-DCPS internships page to know more.
Dates: Year-round, from August to May
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with an unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher who are enrolled in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Academic Internship Program; must have an excellent attendance record
The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Teen Academic Year Program is designed for high school juniors and seniors enrolled in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Academic Internship Program. Running from August to May, the program is offered in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) to provide hands-on learning in healthcare administration. You will be expected to dedicate 5–10 hours per week, with flexible options for participation in virtual, hybrid, or in-person settings. Weekly timesheets and quarterly evaluations will help track your progress and ensure consistent learning outcomes. Additionally, this experience enables you to earn academic credit while gaining practical experience in healthcare systems.
5. FIU’s Summer Research Internship in Cardiovascular Health
Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 13 – August 8
Eligibility: High school juniors or graduating seniors who have committed to attend FIU or are accepted as FIU transfer students. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program and hold an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher.
FIU’s Summer Research Internship in Cardiovascular Health combines a structured curriculum with hands-on research through workshops, journal clubs, and case studies. Alongside this, you will complete at least 15 hours per week of research, coordinated with a faculty mentor to ensure participation in all program elements. Orientation provides you with lab books, safety training, campus resources, and program guidelines. You will work in interdisciplinary labs that integrate basic science with cardiovascular studies, developing critical thinking and experimental design skills. The program concludes with you submitting an abstract and presenting your research in a final presentation.
6. Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internships at the University of Florida Health
Location: Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $4,480
Application Deadline: March 2
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Eligibility: Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents will begin their junior or senior year in a Palm Beach or Martin County high school in the fall, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and are at least 16 years old by the first day of the program.
The Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship at UF Health introduces you to biomedical research through a structured summer experience. You will begin with a one-week course at Palm Beach State College that teaches fundamental lab techniques used in biomedical research. Following this, you will spend eight weeks working full-time in a UF Scripps laboratory under the guidance of a scientist. You will also attend seminars, submit a research abstract, and present your work through an oral presentation and poster. The program emphasizes experimental design, research planning, and data analysis, while providing you with practical bench experience.
7. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer between June and August
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week online program for high school juniors and seniors. Conducted fully virtually, it introduces you to neuroscience through interactive lectures and digital resources. You will study topics such as mental illness, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain development while exploring basic lab techniques and experiments. The program also includes research-based projects, mentorship, and career guidance from experts. With participants joining from across the country, the internship offers a comprehensive introduction to brain sciences. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate recognizing your participation and achievements.
8. American Cancer Society – High School Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the institute
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program starts
The American Cancer Society’s High School Program is a two-week virtual summer experience focused on cancer research. It is designed for students interested in careers in research, healthcare, or health sciences. You will collaborate with the eCLOSE Institute on projects and case studies that expand your understanding of cancer science and related career paths. The program combines research exposure with career exploration and guidance. After the summer, you can stay engaged through career development and networking activities offered year-round.
9. UCSD Bioengineering Research Scholars
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,600 – $3,000
Dates: Varies by cohort; you can find details here
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; you can find details here
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 | Minimum GPA of 3.0 | At least 14 years old by the start of the course.
The UCSD Bioengineering Research Scholars program introduces high school students to bioengineering through hands-on learning. It begins with BE-BOAT, a course covering core concepts, lab techniques, and experimental design using custom kits. You may then progress to BE-ROW, where teams design and carry out home-based research projects in areas such as biomechanics or tissue engineering. Exceptional participants can advance directly to BE-SHIP, working with university labs on independent projects. The program features live instruction, recorded sessions for flexibility, and weekly guidance from instructional assistants to support your research journey.
10. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) – Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (full financial aid available for both application and program fees)
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade in the fall, over the age of 14 by the start of the program
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program that introduces high school students to artificial intelligence in healthcare. You will attend lectures on AI fundamentals and their applications in medicine, supported by daily mentoring and collaborative research projects. Guest speakers from academia, industry, and government share perspectives on emerging technologies shaping healthcare. Career-focused “Lunch and Learn” sessions highlight pathways at the intersection of technology and medicine. After the core program, you may continue with additional research opportunities. A Certificate of Completion is awarded to participants at the conclusion of the internship.
11. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $25 application fee; waivers are available
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students who are 15 years or older by June 18
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University gives high school students the opportunity to conduct research with faculty mentors. During the program, you will gain hands-on experience with advanced technologies while exploring fields such as neuroscience, bioengineering, climate science, cybersecurity, and nanoscience. The internship emphasizes skills in scientific writing, communication, and problem-solving while connecting you with STEM role models. Participants may have their work published in journals or presented at conferences. Previous projects have ranged from renewable energy and robotics to infectious disease and exoplanet discovery.
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 – Florida International University logo