Medical internships for high school students open the door to early, hands-on experience in the world of healthcare and biomedical research. These programs allow aspiring medical professionals to explore areas such as clinical medicine, neuroscience, public health, and cancer research while developing advanced skills in observation, communication, and scientific analysis. Whether you are assisting with community health initiatives, conducting lab-based research, or learning alongside doctors and scientists, these internships help you gain a realistic understanding of medical careers and prepare you for future college-level studies in health sciences.
Utah is home to several highly regarded institutions, such as the University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Intermountain Health, that provide high-quality medical internship opportunities for motivated students each year. Choosing a local program can also be a financially smart decision for Utah residents, as it eliminates travel and housing costs while still delivering exceptional exposure to healthcare environments.
In this blog, we’ve rounded up some of the best medical internships for high school students in Utah.
13 Medical Internships for High School Students in Utah
1. Pathmaker Scholars
Location: University of Utah – Huntsman Cancer Institute, UT
Cost: None / $3,000 stipend
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their junior year before the start of the program | Citizens or non-citizen nationals of the USA, or have a valid Alien Registration Card I-551
The PathMaker Scholars Summer Research Program at the Huntsman Cancer Institute is a fully funded, 10-week residential internship focused on biomedical cancer research. Open to students across Utah and the Mountain West, the program provides the opportunity to live on the University of Utah campus while working under a principal investigator in a university lab. You’ll gain experience in core laboratory techniques, participate in weekly research meetings and seminars, and commit 40 hours per week to your project. Each scholar presents their findings at the annual Summer Research Symposium, and top-performing participants may be invited to attend national conferences or return for another research cycle.
2. NIH STEP-UP Summer Research Program
Location: Countrywide placements, including UT
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: 8 weeks in summer (flexible, typically June–August)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors ages 16+ | U.S. Citizen, non-citizen national, or legal permanent resident
The NIH Short-Term Research Experience Program to Unlock Potential (STEP-UP) connects high school juniors and seniors with eight-week biomedical research opportunities across Utah through the University of Utah’s College of Health. Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), this initiative focuses on fields such as endocrinology, nutrition, obesity, kidney disorders, and metabolic diseases. The program pairs you with experienced research mentors to conduct hands-on investigations in university or medical settings. The program extends beyond the summer with a nine-month mentorship period and concludes with a national symposium where you present your work.
3. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 + $40 application fee (financial aid is available for both fees) / Unpaid
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and will be 14 years or older by the program’s start
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program that introduces high school students to the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. Hosted by Stanford’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI), the program features daily lectures on AI fundamentals, data analysis, and medical imaging, paired with collaborative group projects that apply these concepts to real-world healthcare challenges. You’ll also participate in mentoring sessions with Stanford student leads and attend virtual “Career Lunch and Learn” talks with professionals from academia, industry, and government sectors.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer (July – August)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
JHIBS is a five-week virtual program that introduces high school juniors and seniors to neuroscience research and academic medicine. Through online lectures, mentorship, and data-based projects, you’ll explore topics such as neurological disorders, brain development, and cognitive function. The program pairs you with Johns Hopkins neuroscientists who guide you through virtual research experiences, professional development workshops, and collaborative projects focused on areas like juvenile epilepsy or HIV-related studies. At the end of the internship, you present your findings in a final symposium and receive a certificate of completion.
5. Crossroads UTAH AHEC – Pre-health Summer Program
Location: Salt Lake Community College’s Health Science Building, (Jordan Campus), West Jordan
Cost/Stipend: None / $15/hour stipend + free lunches and bus pass
Dates: Orientation: June 3; Program: June 9 – July 18; Graduation: July 22
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Salt Lake County (priority will be given to rising juniors and seniors interested in a career in healthcare, first-generation students, or students who qualify for free or reduced lunch)
The Crossroads Utah AHEC Pre-Health Summer Program introduces high school students in Salt Lake County to the diverse fields of healthcare through classroom learning, field trips, and mentoring. Designed especially for students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, the program integrates college-readiness classes in math, English, and science with hands-on experiences in simulated clinical environments. You’ll visit healthcare facilities, explore medical professions such as nursing, dentistry, and occupational therapy, and engage in projects on social determinants of health.
6. Uintah Basin Student Research Internship (USU)
Location: Utah State University, Uintah Basin Campus
Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: June 4 – July 31 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: High school students 16+ who have completed their junior year
The Uintah Basin Student Research Internship at Utah State University offers an eight-week research experience for high school students interested in scientific exploration and discovery. The internship pairs you with faculty mentors to design and execute original research projects, which you later present to the local research community. Topics vary by mentor but often include areas like nervous system evolution or medicinal chemistry.
7. Cancer Research High School Program
Location: Virtual (hosted by Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah)
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend up to $500
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors in Utah, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming
The Cancer Research High School Program is a two-week virtual experience for students in the Mountain West entering their sophomore or junior year of high school. This program introduces participants to the fundamentals of cancer research through online workshops, panel discussions, and guided lab activities using a science experiment kit delivered to their homes. During the first week, you’ll engage in hands-on cancer research experiments, while the second week focuses on career exploration and professional development in the field of oncology and biomedical science. You also connect with researchers and medical professionals across the country. Students must commit to completing 40 hours of virtual instruction to receive financial compensation.
8. IHealth Summer Program
Location: Various Intermountain Healthcare facilities (Northern Utah)
Cost/Stipend: None / Unpaid
Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: Not specified; enrolment starts in March
Eligibility: Sophomore to senior-level high school students between ages 16 – 18 residing in Salt Lake
The IHealth Summer Program, hosted by Intermountain Health, gives Utah high school students an inside look at a range of healthcare careers through short, immersive sessions held throughout June and July. Open to students aged 16–18 (and select cohorts for younger participants), this free, three-day program combines hospital tours, hands-on activities, and simulations across departments such as nursing, respiratory therapy, laboratory science, and pediatrics. You’ll have the chance to observe healthcare professionals in action, practice basic clinical skills, and learn how hospital teams collaborate to deliver patient care. The program includes both in-person and virtual options, with lunch and Trax transportation passes provided.
9. Wasatch Front High School Partnership
Location: Salt Lake County
Cost/Stipend: None / Unpaid
Dates: Semester-long (offered in Fall and Spring semesters)
Application Deadline: Varies by school; apply through your high school counselor
Eligibility: Salt Lake high school juniors and seniors between ages 16 – 18
The Wasatch Front High School Partnership is a semester-long medical work-study initiative that exposes Salt Lake area seniors to diverse healthcare environments. Operated in collaboration with the Utah Area Health Education Centers and local hospitals, the program blends classroom instruction with on-site learning. You spend part of your week visiting clinical and educational facilities such as Intermountain Health, Shriners Children’s Hospital, MountainStar Healthcare, and Salt Lake Community College health labs. You’ll observe healthcare teams in action while also participating in skill labs that teach CPR, first aid, and other medical fundamentals in a simulated setting.
10. Medical Laboratory Science Division’s Summer Immersion Program
Location: University of Utah’s Eccles Health Science Education Building
Cost/Stipend: $25 registration fee / Unpaid
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students 16–18 who are entering their sophomore, junior or senior year of high school at the start of the program
The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Summer Immersion Program at the University of Utah introduces high school students to the science behind diagnostic medicine. Over one week in June, you explore laboratory disciplines such as hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry, parasitology, and blood banking through hands-on experiments in a simulated lab environment. You’ll perform tests, use microscopes, and apply analytical techniques to understand how lab professionals detect and monitor diseases.
11. Health Care Career Academy
Location: Salt Lake County, UT (Primary Children’s Hospital & Intermountain sites)
Cost/Stipend: None / Unpaid
Dates: Fall semester (after school and some weekends)
Application Deadline: Varies by school; apply through your high school counselor
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Salt Lake County
The Health Care Career Academy is a semester-long experience designed for high school students exploring healthcare professions. You complete 21 observation hours at Primary Children’s Hospital, where you can shadow pediatric specialists and observe the workings of a children’s hospital. You’ll also attend interactive sessions led by medical residents on topics related to public and community health. In addition, you participate in non-patient, hands-on skills labs at Intermountain Health campuses to practice clinical techniques in a controlled learning setting. With class sizes ranging from 20 to 40 students, this program provides structured exposure to pediatric care, public health, and hospital-based healthcare systems.
12. Utah Department of Health & Human Services Summer Internship
Location: Salt Lake County & Utah County
Stipend: $15/hour
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 11
Eligibility: Utah youth ages 16–19 with prior involvement in DHHS programs (e.g., foster care, juvenile justice, disability services)
This eight-week, part-time internship allows participants to explore how public health and human services agencies function while developing professional, leadership, and communication skills. You’ll rotate through different DHHS divisions to learn about areas like communicable disease control, public health services, and risk management, all while earning $15 per hour and receiving a UTA transit pass. You also take part in mentorship and leadership development sessions, gaining firsthand exposure to how public agencies support community health and wellbeing.
13. Remote Immersive Science Experience (RISE) – Huntsman Cancer Institute
Location: Virtual (hosted from Salt Lake City)
Cost/Stipend: None / Up to $500
Dates: July 7 – 11; July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Typically late April
Eligibility: High school students in the Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, or Wyoming who have completed 9th grade
RISE at Huntsman Cancer Institute is a two-week virtual research program designed for high school students in the Mountain West, particularly those from rural or underserved areas. The program introduces participants to cancer research through a combination of live online workshops, professional panels, and at-home experiments using a laboratory science kit sent directly to each student. During the first week, you’ll conduct hands-on experiments related to topics like cell biology and genetics under real-time guidance from Huntsman instructors.
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 Utah Health