Medical internships offer high school students the chance to develop advanced skills in healthcare, biomedical research, and clinical practices. These internships provide hands-on experience with medical equipment, data analysis software, patient interaction protocols, and scientific research methods.
Maryland, which is home to top universities, research centers, and healthcare organizations, offers a range of internship programs designed for high school students. Choosing local options can lower expenses for travel and accommodation, making it easier and more affordable for residents of Maryland to participate.
Through these 11 medical internships for high school students in Maryland, you can build foundational knowledge and technical competencies essential for future medical careers.
1. MERIT Professional Summer Internships
Program Dates: June 15 – August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling; varies by internship
Cost: Free
Location: Baltimore, MD
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
MERIT provides tiered summer internships tailored to different grade levels. Rising sophomores participate in bioengineering and math internships, performing wet-lab experiments at Baltimore Underground Science Space (BUGSS) and receiving algebra support. Rising juniors complete a clinical internship shadowing over 20 healthcare providers across specialties such as emergency medicine, pediatrics, and pharmacy, with supplemental medical topic assignments. Rising seniors choose between a community health internship focused on public health equity and lab-based research internships, developing practical skills in clinical observation, biomedical research, and community health advocacy. You will gain exposure to medical procedures, research techniques, and patient care environments.
2. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Stipend: $500
Program Dates: June – August (8 weeks in-person); July – August (5 weeks virtual)
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: Free
Location: Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD / Virtual
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; in-person applicants must attend Baltimore City high schools
JHIBS provides high school students with hands-on exposure to neurological science through two program tracks. The in-person internship includes seminars, one-on-one mentorship, lab technique training, and opportunities to present research orally or via posters. The virtual track offers educational lectures, mentorship, and foundational lab skills development. Interns engage with neurobiology topics and scientific inquiry methods, gaining proficiency in research protocols and professional communication.
3. Johns Hopkins Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE)
Stipend: $3,000
Program Dates: June 23 – August 14
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Cost: Free
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Eligibility: High school students from low-income households (≤200% federal poverty level) and educationally under-resourced backgrounds
SARE provides an intensive eight-week biomedical research internship combined with advanced coursework in scientific writing, data analysis, mathematics, and bioethics. You will collaborate with researchers in leading labs, gaining practical experience with laboratory techniques and contributing to ongoing projects, with some scholars co-authoring publications. The program focuses on mentorship, strengthening academic skills, and professional development to prepare under-resourced students for careers in STEM and medicine. Scholars will also enhance their critical thinking and scientific presentation skills. Housing is not included.
4. UMMC Youth Services Summer Internship
Program Dates: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies; must register during YouthWorks enrollment period
Cost: Free
Location: Baltimore, MD (combination of virtual and in-person)
Eligibility: Baltimore City residents ages 16–21
UMMC Youth Services offers a 4-week summer internship that focuses on healthcare career exposure and professional skills development. The program combines virtual career exploration seminars with in-person leadership training and team-based community service projects. You will gain practical knowledge of healthcare roles, develop workplace readiness skills, and gain project management experience by designing sustainable initiatives that address community needs. Partnerships with local schools and community programs support employment pipelines and career readiness for Baltimore youth.
5. BACH Fellows Internship Program
Stipend: Paid summer internship; unpaid volunteer opportunities available during the school year
Program Dates: Summer (5-week paid internship); academic year (unpaid volunteer)
Application Deadline: Varies
Cost: Free
Location: Baltimore-area healthcare institutions
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from Baltimore City high schools; preference for allied health program students
BACH Fellows provides practical exposure to healthcare careers through paid summer internships and volunteer experiences during the school year. You will shadow health professionals and gain on-the-job experience in allied health roles, while developing job skills such as etiquette and conflict resolution. The program also supports college and certification planning. Partner institutions feature prominent hospitals and healthcare centers such as Johns Hopkins, MedStar Health, Mercy Medical Center, and the University of Maryland Medical System. The selection process is highly competitive, considering GPA, recommendations, attendance, and interviews.
6. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: Early spring
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in high school
PIPS offers a virtual, research-intensive internship focused on pediatric healthcare and biomedical science. You will be paired with Stanford faculty mentors to work on pediatric research projects, developing skills in research ethics, experimental design, and data interpretation. The program also includes seminars and professional development workshops led by Stanford researchers, providing a rigorous introduction to academic pediatrics.
7. Parkview Health – Virtual High School Internships
Program Dates: May – July
Application Deadline: March
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students nationwide
Parkview Health offers virtual internships through its FutureREADY and clinical observation programs, providing exposure to both clinical and administrative healthcare functions. You will work on project-based assignments and participate in team calls, gaining insight into hospital workflows across various departments, including radiology, human resources, patient care, and IT. Placement depends on student interest and departmental availability, making it a versatile option for exploring healthcare systems remotely.
8. Summer Bioscience Internship Program (SBIP)
Program Dates: 4 weeks in summer (e.g., late June to late July)
Application Deadline: Varies; typically early spring
Cost: Free
Location: Baltimore, MD
Eligibility: Baltimore City high school students interested in biomedical research and healthcare
SBIP immerses high school students in hands-on biomedical research and clinical experiences under mentorship from UMB scientists and UMMC clinicians. The program starts with comprehensive training in HIPAA compliance, lab safety, and specialized topics like surgical robotics and lung transplantation. Participants shadow in trauma centers or faculty research labs, documenting their experiences and sharing reflections at the end of the program. SBIP focuses on fostering early professional development, introducing biomedical science, and applying skills to real-world healthcare settings.
9. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Stipend/Cost: $4,380
Program Dates: July 28 – August 8 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: June 2
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
CSI is a highly selective, case-based virtual internship focusing on clinical medicine and hospital operations. You will engage with live patient simulations across specialties such as surgery, emergency medicine, and pediatrics, developing diagnostic reasoning and problem-solving skills. The program features interactive sessions with medical students, residents, and admissions officers, offering insight into clinical workflows and medical ethics within hospital settings.
10. UT Southwestern Medical Center – Virtual Internship (Mental Health)
Program Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: September
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
This virtual internship offers exposure to mental health careers, including psychiatry, psychology, social work, and neuroscience. Over the course of two weeks, you will attend live sessions with professionals, engage in discussions, and review scientific and media materials. Core topics include neuropsychological testing, psychotherapy, community psychiatry, and brain science, providing a foundational understanding of mental health practice and research.
11. Eve & Gene Black Virtual Medical Career Program
Program Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: March
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors
This selective virtual mentorship program provides exposure to careers in pediatric and general medicine. Participants attend daily sessions with healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, therapists, and radiologists. The curriculum covers hospital operations, patient care, and specialties, including surgery, infectious diseases, and child psychology. The program concludes with a group presentation and awards a certificate of completion.
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 – Johns Hopkins University logo