If you’re a high school student thinking about a future in healthcare, spending your summer in a hospital internship can be one of the best ways to see what the field is really like. These internships let you observe how hospitals run, shadow doctors and nurses, and take part in basic research or administrative work.
Some hospitals even offer stipends, making the experience both practical and rewarding. Beyond that, you’ll learn how healthcare professionals handle challenges, improve your communication and teamwork skills, and start to understand the daily responsibilities that come with medical careers.
These experiences can also help you figure out what area of healthcare interests you most, whether that’s medicine, nursing, medical technology, or hospital management. They’re a great way to test your interest in the field before you start college applications.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 13 summer hospital internships for high school students!
1. Mount Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education Medical and Scientific Exploration Program
Location: Varies by internship; includes Washington, D.C., regional archives, presidential libraries, and remote options.
Cost/Stipend: Free
Application Deadline: Applications for summer internships typically open March 16; deadlines vary by position
Dates: Internships are offered throughout the year, with summer roles typically running from May–August
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old, and enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college or university in good academic standing
The Mount Sinai Internship Placement (IP) Program, run by the Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE), gives New York City high school juniors and seniors a chance to explore hospital environments. You’ll be placed in a department within the Mount Sinai Health System, where you’ll observe medical teams, learn how hospitals operate, and build professional communication skills. The program focuses on hands-on learning. You might explore fields like neurology or neurosurgery, watch clinical work up close, and take part in immersive activities that show how doctors and researchers solve medical problems. You’ll also work on a project, analyze cases, and present your findings.
2. LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program
Location: Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus
Stipend: Paid hourly wage (based on University of Minnesota student rates)
Application Deadline: February 15
Dates: June 2 – July 25 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are current high school juniors or seniors, aged 16 or older at the time of application
The Lillehei Heart Institute Summer Research Scholarships give high school students a chance to work on cardiovascular research. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and spend the summer in a lab, studying topics that range from molecular biology to clinical medicine. The program is competitive and designed for students who are serious about science and medicine. You’ll take part in weekly seminars led by experts, go on field trips to research and clinical sites, and learn how scientists study heart disease and related conditions.
3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate; virtual interns receive a $500 stipend
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: June 30 – August 8 (6 weeks)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents from underrepresented backgrounds in science or medicine
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) is a competitive research opportunity designed for those with a strong interest in neuroscience and medical investigation. Over the course of the program, you contribute to ongoing brain science projects in areas such as neurodegenerative disorders, neural imaging, and brain development. You will build skills in analyzing scientific literature, applying laboratory techniques like PCR, gel electrophoresis, and microscopy, and working with neurological datasets using statistical tools. Alongside the technical work, you explore the clinical dimensions of brain-related conditions. The experience culminates in a formal research symposium, where you present your work to Johns Hopkins faculty, peers, and guests.
4. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center HOPP Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City
Stipend: $1,200
Application Deadline: February 7
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Eligibility: Applicants must have completed at least the 9th grade by June of the application year and have a strong academic record, particularly in science courses.
The HOPP Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is an eight-week lab-based internship for high school students interested in biomedical or computational research. You’ll work with a mentor on a self-directed project in areas like cancer biology, immunology, pharmacology, computational biology, or drug development. You’ll gain hands-on experience in lab techniques, attend research meetings, and learn how to ask and answer scientific questions. The program focuses on translational medicine, which means connecting lab discoveries to patient care. You’ll also join professional development sessions and events hosted by MSK’s clinical departments.
5. Manhattan-Staten Island Area Health Education Center (MSI AHEC) Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: In-person at MSI AHEC and partner sites in Manhattan and Staten Island, NYC
Cost: Free to participate
Application Deadline: March 14
Dates: June 30 – August 7 (6 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, and college freshmen who are at least 16 years old and legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP) is a six-week experience for high school students in Manhattan and Staten Island who want to explore careers in healthcare. You’ll spend time in hospitals, health centers, and community organizations, learning how patient care works and how social factors affect public health. Each week includes sessions with health professionals who explain medical practice, public health systems, and healthcare policy. You’ll also go on field visits to see how healthcare operates outside the hospital, giving you a broader view of the field.
6. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $13/hour
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: Orientation Day on June 3; internship runs June 4 – July 30 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school seniors graduating in Spring who reside in the Cincinnati metropolitan area, are at least 18 years old by June 3, and are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital High School Summer Internship Program is an eight-week paid opportunity for graduating seniors in the Cincinnati area who are interested in biomedical sciences. You’ll work 20 hours per week, shadowing mentors in pediatric specialties like Critical Care, Endocrinology, and Human Genetics. You’ll gain hands-on experience in clinical settings, including training with simulated pediatric patients at the SIM Center. Weekly professional development sessions help you build communication skills, explore healthcare careers, and connect with professionals in the field.
7. Summer Internship Programs, Houston Methodist Hospital
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas
Stipend: Undergraduate interns receive a stipend; high school interns participate unpaid
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: May 27 – August 1 (10 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to high school students (typically rising juniors/seniors) and undergraduate students.
The Houston Methodist Academic Institute’s 10-week summer internship gives high school students direct experience in advanced medical research. You’ll work with expert faculty on projects in cancer treatment, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, and nanotechnology. You’ll design and carry out your own research project, then present your results in a competitive poster session. Along the way, you’ll attend weekly seminars and lectures from top scientists, learning about careers in medicine and research. You’ll also get hands-on training in tools like imaging systems, bioinformatics platforms, and molecular techniques.
8. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid internship (amount varies; typically ~$2,500–$3,000)
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: June 23 – August 15 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors entering their senior year in Fall, aged 16 or older, U.S. citizens or permanent residents residing in Washington State
The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) at Fred Hutch is an eight-week paid research experience for high school students interested in biomedical science. In the first two weeks, you’ll get intensive lab training in techniques like sterile handling, tissue culture, DNA isolation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. You’ll also learn key biology concepts like hematopoiesis and the central dogma. For the next six weeks, you’ll join a research group and work with a mentor. You’ll help prepare lab solutions, collect data, and observe advanced procedures. Weekly sessions cover topics like ethics, health disparities, biostatistics, and data visualization.
9. Internships, Center for Youth and College Education, Cleveland Clinic
Location: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Stipend: $15 per hour
Application Deadline: February 7
Dates: June 9 – July 25 (7 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 9–12 who are at least 15 years old by June 1, with a preferred GPA of 2.5 or higher
The Cleveland Clinic Youth Career Exploration (CYCE) internship is a paid summer program for high school students in Northeast Ohio. You’ll get hands-on experience in clinical, nonclinical, and advanced technology fields while working at the Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, regional hospitals, or administrative centers. You’ll explore career paths in nursing, pharmacy, public health, healthcare administration, marketing, design, and cutting-edge tech like AI, robotics, and cybersecurity. As an intern, you’ll build skills in project management, digital tools, academic writing, and professional communication.
10. Child Health Research Internship, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: June 2 – August 1 (9 weeks)
Eligibility: Colorado high school seniors graduating in Spring who are at least 18 years old by the program start date
The Child Health Research Internship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine offers high school students a hands-on summer research experience focused on pediatric science. You’ll work in a lab on the Anschutz Medical Campus under the guidance of faculty mentors, gaining technical and analytical skills while contributing to child health research. The program includes weekly seminars on current clinical and research challenges, and you’ll learn how to design, conduct, and analyze your own project. At the end, you’ll present your findings through written reports or posters, with opportunities to submit abstracts to professional conferences.
11. Roswell Park Summer Research Experience in Cancer (SURE-CAN) Program
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
Stipend: Paid internships awarded to students who qualify (amount varies)
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: June 26 – August 8 (6 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors who are residents of Western New York and at least 15 years old by the program start date
The SURE-CAN program at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a six-week summer internship for high school students interested in cancer research. You’ll learn core skills in cancer biology, imaging, genomics, and AI in medicine through lectures, group discussions, and hands-on lab work in either “wet” (experimental) or “dry” (computational) labs. The curriculum also covers research ethics, statistics, and how physics, math, and engineering contribute to cancer science. You’ll work with faculty mentors, collaborate in lab teams, and present your findings at a formal research symposium. It’s a strong opportunity to build technical skills, explore biomedical research, and gain experience in scientific communication.
12. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute Summer Scholars Program
Location: Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Philadelphia
Stipend: $5,000
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: June 2 to August 8
Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in a four-year accredited college or university at the time of application, and have a minimum 3.3 overall GPA
The CRISSP program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is a 10-week, full-time summer internship for undergraduates interested in pediatric research and academic medicine. You’ll work closely with CHOP faculty on an independent research project in basic, clinical, or behavioral science, gaining hands-on experience in study design, lab techniques, and data analysis. Alongside your research, you’ll take part in mentorship sessions, career planning, and clinical shadowing. Structured activities help you build skills in project management, academic writing, and public speaking. The program ends with a poster presentation of your work.
13. Volunteer at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland
Stipend: No stipend, but an $8 meal card is provided
Application Deadline: Not mentioned, apply here
Dates: Not specified
Eligibility: Applicants must be 18 or older, but can be 15 or older in case of pre-placed volunteers
The Summer Junior Volunteer Program (SJVP) at The Johns Hopkins Hospital is a six-week immersive internship for high school students interested in healthcare. Through direct service in areas like patient navigation, Child Life Services, and Animal-Assisted Therapy, you’ll develop practical skills in communication, organization, and teamwork while supporting patients, families, and hospital staff. Beyond daily responsibilities, the program offers a deeper look into hospital operations and patient-centered care. You’ll collaborate with healthcare professionals, participate in quality improvement initiatives, and present your experiences in a structured capstone project.
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 Medicine