Updated October 2026
TL;DR
This list takes you through a wide range of medical internships and summer programs for high school students in Seattle, from clinical and hospital-based experiences to biomedical research, public health, and other healthcare-related opportunities. The programs vary in cost, length, eligibility, and the kind of experience you can gain, with options ranging from free programs to paid or fee-based opportunities. If you want to build your own research project with a professor or PhD mentor, you can explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
Finding a medical internship as a high school student can take some research, especially when programs have specific age requirements, limited spots, or residency restrictions. Fortunately, Seattle has opportunities for students interested in everything from biomedical research and neuroscience to pharmacy and patient care. Some programs offer hands-on experience, while others introduce you to healthcare through workshops or virtual projects. We have put together 15 options to help you compare what each program offers, how much it costs, and whether you are eligible to apply.For more local options, see our guide to summer medical programs for high school students in Washington.
Which Seattle medical internships pay you?
Several do. The UW Medicine Neuroscience Summer Student Program pays a $3,200 stipend over four university pay periods, and the Seattle Children’s Research Institute Summer Program gives a $2,000 stipend for transportation and meals. Fred Hutch SHIP is a paid internship, and BRIGHT-UP pays at least minimum wage.
Other programs are free but do not pay, and a few charge a fee. If earning money matters to you, start with the paid programs above. Our list of paid internships for high school students in Seattle covers more options outside medicine.
Do you have to live in Seattle to apply?
For most of these programs, yes. SHIP asks for residence in Greater Seattle or the surrounding area, and it does not accept international or out-of-state students. The Seattle Children’s program requires you to commute to downtown Seattle for the whole program. BRIGHT-UP is open to students across Washington State.
Four options work from anywhere. Ladder Internships is remote and open worldwide, Veritas AI is virtual, and the Stanford AIMI internship and the Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills internship are both online. For a wider list of local programs, read our guide to internships in Seattle for high school students.
Are these internships research, clinical, or career exploration?
They fall into three groups. Research internships put you in a lab with a mentor, and they include the Seattle Children’s program, SHIP, BRIGHT-UP, the UW neuroscience program, and the ISB internship. Clinical programs, such as COPE Junior Health Scholars, place you in a hospital. Career exploration programs, such as UW STEP and Doctor for a Day, introduce you to a field through short activities.
Choose the group first, because it decides how much time you need and how competitive the program will be. If you lean toward research, our list of research summer programs for high school students in Washington shows more places to look.
When should you apply?
Applications for these programs cluster between October and April. Here are the dates to watch:
- October: COPE’s winter cycle has a priority deadline of October 15 and a final deadline of October 30. The UW neuroscience program opened applications on October 31 and closed them on December 15 last cycle.
- November and December: Stanford AIMI’s application opens November 10.
- January: Stanford’s cardiothoracic internship opens January 4, Camp BIOmed registration opens January 15, and the ISB student programs open in mid-January.
- February to April: Most research internships close here. Last cycle, Seattle Children’s closed March 8, Fred Hutch Pathways March 6, SHIP March 13, ISB March 11, and UW STEP April 30.
Dates change each year, so check each program’s page before you plan. For more options with low or no cost, see our list of free programs for high school students in Seattle.
Which Seattle program fits your goal?
| If you want | Consider |
| A paid research internship | Fred Hutch SHIP, BRIGHT-UP, UW Medicine Neuroscience Summer Student Program, ISB SEE internship |
| A short first look at research, from one to four weeks | Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Fred Hutch Pathways Research Explorers, Camp BIOmed |
| To see healthcare careers in real settings | COPE Junior Health Scholars, Doctor for a Day, UW STEP, Rainier Scholars |
| To study AI, surgery, or startups from home | Stanford AIMI, Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills, Veritas AI, Ladder Internships |
| A program open to freshmen and sophomores | BRIGHT-UP, Camp BIOmed, UW STEP, Doctor for a Day, Seattle Children’s Research Institute |
| A program for students who are 18 or older | UW Medicine Neuroscience Summer Student Program |
Medical internships for high school students in Seattle
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships connects students with startups for remote internships across fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, technology, healthcare, marketing, journalism, and consulting. You’ll work with a startup manager on real-world projects and present your work to the company at the end of the internship.
Why it stands out: You’ll gain hands-on experience with a startup, work on projects with a real business application, and learn directly from your manager.
2. Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Program
Location: Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free; $2,000 stipend to help cover transportation and meals. Housing is not provided.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; capacity of 24 students in the previous cycle. Acceptance rate not specified.
Program Dates: TBA; previous cycle: July 13–August 7
Application Deadline: TBA; previous cycle: March 8, with recommendation letters due March 29
Eligibility: Current 10th- and 11th-grade students (rising juniors and seniors) who can commute to downtown Seattle throughout the program. Participants must have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to receive the stipend.
Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s four-week Research Training Program introduces you to biomedical laboratory research. You’ll learn about topics such as biochemistry, immunology, gene editing, and infectious diseases while practicing lab techniques, including microscopy, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. You will also complete an independent research project and present your findings at the end of the program.
Why it stands out: You’ll gain hands-on laboratory experience, complete your own research project, and receive a $2,000 stipend without paying program fees.
3. Veritas AI’s AI + Medicine Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, you will learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
4. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Pathways Research Explorers Program
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free; $500 participant award after successful completion. Lunch and housing are not provided. A free ORCA card is available for local public transportation.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; up to 32 students across two sessions, with up to 16 per session. Acceptance rate not specified.
Program Dates: TBA; previous cycle: July 27–August 7 (Session 1) and August 10–21 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: TBA; previous cycle: March 6, with recommendation forms due March 13
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 or 11 who have completed introductory biology or chemistry and live in Seattle or surrounding areas. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Fred Hutch’s two-week Pathways Research Explorers Program introduces you to cancer research and related careers. You’ll take part in hands-on laboratory activities, tour working research labs, and meet scientists and students at different career stages. The program also explores areas such as stem cell transplantation, cancer immunotherapy, public health, epidemiology, and biostatistics.
Why it stands out: You’ll explore several areas of cancer research through hands-on lab activities and conversations with working scientists, without paying a program fee.
5. Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free; paid internship with the award amount shared with finalists. A free ORCA card is provided for Seattle-area public transportation.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; cohort size and acceptance rate not specified
Program Dates: TBA; previous cycle: June 22–August 14
Application Deadline: TBA; previous cycle: March 13, including recommendation forms
Eligibility: Students entering their senior year of high school who are at least 16 by the start of the program and currently reside in Greater Seattle or surrounding areas. Applicants must be able to attend the full eight-week program in person. International and out-of-state students are not eligible.
Fred Hutch’s eight-week Summer High School Internship Program introduces you to biomedical research through two weeks of training in laboratory safety and techniques, followed by six weeks working with a research team. You’ll learn basic lab skills and explore research areas such as cancer biology, infectious diseases, genetics, and public health. You’ll finish by presenting what you learned to the Fred Hutch community.
Why it stands out: You’ll receive paid, full-time research experience with a mentor at a major biomedical research center, even if you haven’t had extensive research experience before.
6. Biomedical Research Internship for Growth of High School Trainees from Underrepresented Populations (BRIGHT-UP)
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free; paid at least minimum wage. Exact earnings depend on hours worked and the applicable wage rate.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size and acceptance rate not specified
Program Dates: TBA; previous cycle: summer, with one week of orientation followed by six weeks of laboratory research
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12, especially first-generation students and those from financially or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Applicants must be able to commit 30–40 hours per week for the full program. Open to students across Washington State.
The University of Washington’s BRIGHT-UP program introduces you to biomedical research through laboratory training and a summer research placement. You’ll spend one week learning research methods and laboratory techniques, followed by six weeks working with scientists on a research project.
Why it stands out: You’ll gain hands-on laboratory research experience through a paid program designed to support students who have had fewer opportunities to explore biomedical science.
7. UW Medicine – Neuroscience Summer Student Program
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free; $3,200 stipend paid over four university pay periods. Program-sponsored housing is available for a limited number of out-of-town students.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 12 students and a 1–2% acceptance rate are not confirmed on the current official page.
Program Dates: TBA; previous cycle: eight weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students and recent high school graduates must be at least 18 years old. College undergraduates aged 18 and older may also apply. Check the application page for additional requirements.
UW Medicine’s Neuroscience Summer Student Program gives you “bench-to-bedside” exposure to neuroscience through laboratory research and clinical observation. You’ll spend eight weeks in a neuroscience lab, complete a research project, observe neurosurgical procedures, and shadow physicians in neurology or neurosurgery clinics. The program ends with a final presentation of your research.
Why it stands out: You’ll combine hands-on neuroscience research with clinical shadowing and operating-room observation while receiving a $3,200 stipend.
8. UW School of Pharmacy – Students Exploring Pharmacy (STEP)
Location: University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Seattle, WA
Cost: $200 non-refundable program fee; scholarships may cover part or all of the fee. Lunch is included.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size and acceptance rate not specified
Program Dates: TBA; previous cycle: July 13–16
Application Deadline: TBA; previous cycle: April 30
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12, with priority given to rising juniors and seniors.
The University of Washington’s four-day STEP program introduces you to pharmacy and the different roles pharmacists play in healthcare. You’ll take part in hands-on activities, workshops, and discussions with pharmacists, UW faculty, and current pharmacy students. Activities may include basic medication compounding, medication safety, and exploring how pharmacists help treat common illnesses.
Why it stands out: You’ll explore pharmacy through practical activities and conversations with professionals while learning about career paths in hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies, and research labs.
9. COPE Junior Health Scholars Program
Location: Partner hospital sites; the currently listed Washington location is MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, WA. Confirm current placement availability with COPE before listing Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
Cost: 3-month track: $675; 6-month track: $600; 9-month track: $525, plus a $21 application fee. Scholarships may be available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; applicants are interviewed, and placement depends on site capacity.
Program Dates: Year-round; training and hospital shifts depend on the selected site and track.
Application Deadline: Seasonal deadlines. For the winter cycle, the priority deadline is October 15, and the final deadline is October 30.
Eligibility: Students ages 16–17 by the application deadline; no prior healthcare experience is required. Additional health screening, documentation, and site-specific requirements apply.
The COPE Junior Health Scholars Program gives you a chance to explore healthcare through supervised hospital experience. You’ll learn about patient support, communication, hospital procedures, and how healthcare teams work together. Depending on your placement and the hospital’s rules, you may assist with approved patient-care activities or work alongside an experienced Health Scholar. You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion after meeting the program requirements.
Why it stands out: You can gain practical hospital experience while exploring healthcare careers before college, with flexible three-, six-, and nine-month tracks.
10. Rainier Scholars Summer Internship – Medical Track
Location: Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area, Washington
Cost: No fee to participate; some internships are paid, depending on the host organization and position.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: TBA; high school internships typically take place during the summer, often July–August, with dates and duration set by the host organization.
Application Deadline: Varies by host organization and internship position.
Eligibility: Rainier Scholars high school students; opportunities depend on the specific internship and host organization. Confirm grade-level requirements and any prerequisites for each position.
Rainier Scholars connects eligible high school students with internship opportunities at organizations across different fields, including healthcare and biomedical research. Past internship partners have included Seattle Children’s, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and University of Washington research departments. Depending on the placement, you may support a research project, explore healthcare careers, or gain experience in a professional setting.
Why it stands out: You can explore healthcare or medical research through a host organization while gaining professional experience and building connections with people in the field.
11. Camp BIOmed – Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (NWABR)
Location: Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA
Cost: $845 for Molecular Biology of Cancer, Crime Scene Investigation, and Genetic Engineering for non-members; $795 for members. Bioinformatics, Microbiology, and Global Health cost $800 for non-members and $750 for members. Early bird discounts and financial assistance are available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 12–August 20; each session runs for one week. Exact dates depend on the track.
Application Deadline: TBA; registration opens January 15. Seats may fill before the program begins.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 in the fall.
Camp BIOmed is a hands-on summer science camp for high school students interested in biomedical research and healthcare. You can choose from six tracks: molecular biology of cancer, genetic engineering, microbiology, bioinformatics, crime scene investigation, and global health. Depending on your track, you may use lab techniques such as ELISA, study genetic engineering, investigate a simulated crime scene, or explore public health challenges.
Why it stands out: You can explore a specific area of biomedical science through hands-on experiments and learn how researchers approach real scientific questions.
12. Systems Education Experiences (SEE) High School Intern Programs
Location: Seattle, WA (summer internship is in person; STiSA is primarily virtual, with some in-person opportunities)
Cost: STiSA: Free, no stipend. Summer Internship: Free; paid positions are available, but the stipend amount is not specified.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: STiSA: Open enrollment for applicants who complete the full application. Summer Internship: 4–10 students.
Program Dates: STiSA: TBA; the next application cycle opens in mid-January. Summer Internship: TBA; previous cycle ran June 29–August 21.
Application Deadline: TBA; the previous cycle closed March 11.
Eligibility: STiSA: Current 10th and 11th graders. Summer Internship: Current 11th graders (rising seniors).
SEE offers high school students two ways to explore systems biology. Through the Systems Thinkers in STEM Ambassadorship (STiSA), you can attend a virtual workshop, take courses in systems medicine or environmental systems, and work on community projects. The eight-week summer internship gives selected rising seniors the chance to work on a research project in the Baliga Lab or another ISB lab. Research areas may include computational biology, cancer, microbiology, infectious disease, and the microbiome.
Why it stands out: You can choose between an open-enrollment STEM ambassadorship and a competitive, hands-on research internship, with paid internship positions available.
13. Doctor for a Day (DFAD) Program at UW Medicine
Location: University of Washington School of Medicine and community partner locations across the Pacific Northwest
Cost: Free; no stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open to all K–12 students; serves over 560 students per academic year.
Program Dates: Monthly themed events, typically held on Saturdays from September through May
Application Deadline: Registration opens two weeks before each event. Advance RSVP is required.
Eligibility: All K–12 students
Doctor for a Day (DFAD) introduces K–12 students to healthcare careers through hands-on activities led by medical students and healthcare professionals. Each event focuses on a different health topic and may include workshops on suturing, patient interviewing, and physical examination skills. You can also learn about different medical specialties and ask healthcare professionals about their work.
Why it stands out: Monthly events let you explore different healthcare fields through practical activities and direct interaction with medical students and professionals.
14. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 program fee and $45 application fee. Limited need-based financial aid is available and may cover part or all of the fees. No stipend.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 100 interns across two sessions; acceptance rate not specified.
Program Dates: TBA; previous cycle ran June 15–26 and July 6–17, with each session lasting two weeks.
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12, over 14 years old, attending a U.S. high school and residing in the United States throughout the program
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship introduces you to artificial intelligence in healthcare through lectures, mentored research, and team projects. You will explore how AI is used in areas such as medical imaging, clinical decision-making, and responsible AI. You will work with Stanford student leads and research mentors on a health AI project and learn from experts in research, medicine, and technology.
Why it stands out: You work on a mentored health AI research project and learn how artificial intelligence is applied to real healthcare challenges.
15. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center – Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,500 program fee and $95 non-refundable application fee. Financial assistance is available; the amount and coverage depend on eligibility. No stipend.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Program 1: June 21–July 2; Program 2: July 12–23.
Application Deadline: March 12; applications open January 4.
Eligibility: High school students; applicants must be at least 16 on the first day of the program, with an exception for high school juniors under 16
Led by Stanford faculty, surgical residents, and staff, this two-week program introduces you to cardiothoracic anatomy, physiology, and surgical techniques. Morning lectures cover heart and lung conditions, ECG interpretation, echocardiography, and medical imaging. In afternoon sessions, you practise skills such as knot tying, suturing, and handling surgical instruments using simulation models and supplies sent to you.
Why it stands out: You can practise surgical techniques at home with Stanford instructors and specialised simulation equipment supplied for the program.
Which Seattle program fits your budget?
| If your budget is | Consider |
| You want to earn money | UW Medicine Neuroscience Summer Student Program ($3,200), Seattle Children’s Research Institute ($2,000), Fred Hutch SHIP, BRIGHT-UP, ISB SEE internship |
| You want to pay nothing | Fred Hutch Pathways, Doctor for a Day, ISB STiSA ambassadorship, Rainier Scholars |
| You can pay a low fee, from $200 to $850 | UW STEP ($200), COPE Junior Health Scholars ($525 to $675), Camp BIOmed ($750 to $845) |
| You can pay a larger fee, with aid available | Stanford AIMI ($2,400), Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills ($4,500), Veritas AI, Ladder Internships |
One more option: the Horizon Academic Research Program
If you want to build your own research project instead of joining a set program, the Horizon Academic Research Program matches you with a professor or PhD researcher from a top university. You can choose subjects such as medicine, public health, data science, or psychology, and you work from your first question to a finished research paper. You can join from anywhere, so your address does not limit you.
For more options in your area, see our guide to fantastic summer programs for high school students in Seattle.
Questions to ask before you apply to a Seattle medical internship
It depends. Full-time internships take 30 to 40 hours a week for six to eight weeks, so combining two is hard. Shorter programs and a few paired options can fit around them, so check each schedule first.
Yes. Several programs accept students in grades 9 and up, and one runs events for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The research internships mostly want rising juniors and seniors.
Yes, for many of them. Several programs ask for a letter or a recommendation form, due on or shortly after the application deadline. Ask your teacher at least a month ahead.
Yes. You can work on an independent project with a mentor instead of waiting for the next cycle. If you want one-on-one guidance from a professor or PhD researcher through a finished paper, you can explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
Image source: Rainier Scholars