An internship in the field of medicine is a valuable tool for high school students considering a future in the medical profession. Such experiences offer early exposure to the field, allowing students to explore its varied facets and figure out if the field is a right fit. Internships also serve as a first step to studying medicine, as they can facilitate skill and knowledge building as you participate in hands-on learning, research-based lab internships, or hospital-based healthcare internships.

Also, early exposure through internships can give you an edge when it comes to the competitive college application process. It demonstrates a proactive approach to learning and a genuine passion for the field. Admissions committees look for applicants who have gone the extra mile to explore their chosen field outside the school curriculum, which tells them a student is committed to personal and professional growth.  

Medical internships are available across the country. If you’re a high school student in Florida, here’s 10 of the best medical internships available for you! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. Ladder Internships

A fairly selective virtual program, Ladder Internship offers high school students the chance to intern with start-ups and non-profit organizations around the world. The organizations are spread across a range of industries, with a number of intern positions in healthcare, medicine, health tech and digital health products. You can choose the field you wish to work in! As an intern, you will work on a real-world project and present your work at the end of their internship. You will work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach – who serves as a second mentor, helping you navigate the startup environment. This internship program allows you to apply theoretical knowledge in real world scenarios. The startups you’d have the chance to intern with are based all across the world, with the majority being in the United States, Asia, and then Europe and the UK. You can explore all the options here on their application form.

Location:  Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world. 

Cost: $1,990. Financial assistance is available.

Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year. 

Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year.

Eligibility: Open to all high school students, who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students! 

2. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at UMiami’s School of Medicine

The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship is ideal for students interested in the biological and computational sciences. Open to academically-motivated high school juniors in the Miami and Boward areas. If selected, interns will spend 8 weeks in this intensive and demanding research program at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG) laboratories. Each intern will be paired with a staff member, post-doc student or faculty member. Students will work with cutting-edge tech, hone their research and presentation skills, while exploring the subject in depth. The HIHG is dedicated to identifying genes involved in human diseases for the diagnosis, intervention, and prevention of illness.

Location:  John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL

Stipend/Cost: No cost. A stipend will be provided. 

Internship Dates: June 17 -  August 9

Application Deadline: Jan 31

Eligibility: Current high school juniors who have the right to work in the US can apply. 

For further details on eligibility and other program info, check this out. 

3. Max Planck Florida Institute of Neuroscience High School Internship

This six-week internship, designed for juniors and seniors in Palm Beach or Martin County high schools, dives into the intricacies of brain structure, function, and development, while providing hands-on experience with advanced imaging techniques and technologies. Interns can choose from three specialized tracks: neuroscience, scientific programming, and mechanical engineering. Interns will actively work with MPFI scientists. The program culminates with students writing a scientific abstract and delivering a concise presentation – see past intern presentations here. This full-time opportunity requires 40 hours a week and offers compensation at a rate of $12.50 per hour.

Location:  Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL

Stipend/Cost: No cost. Students will be paid $12.50 per hour

Internship Dates: June 17 - July 26

Application Deadline: March 4

Eligibility: Juniors or seniors attending a high school in Palm Beach or Martin County can apply.

4. High School Summer Internship Program at FIU’s Center for Translational Science

This 5-week program, offered by Florida International University’s Center for Translational Science (FIU-CTS) is perfect for motivated high school juniors and seniors who are looking to explore research in biomedical science. Interns will be guided by expert scientists at CTS, who work in the fields of neuroscience, aging and wellness, and drug discovery. During the program, you will work in the center’s laboratories, conducting experiments, analyzing data and your research results.

Interns network with professionals, showcase their achievements at a luncheon and receive a scientific poster for future competitions. Completing the program earns participants a certificate, a letter from the Program Director, and over 100 volunteer hours.

Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL

Stipend/Cost: TBA

Internship Dates: The program will be held in June. Exact dates are yet to be announced. 

Application Deadline: Dates are yet to be announced!

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors can apply. Further information will be announced by March.

5. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS): Project Pipeline Baltimore

A program aimed at making the field of neurological sciences more inclusive and representative, the Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program is an 8-week, fully funded summer research program for bright high school students from underrepresented communities. During the program, you will participate in research under the guidance and mentorship of leading researchers and will take part in hands-on projects, discussions, scientific seminars, weekly personal and professional development sessions, and interactions with leading neuroscientists at JHU.

The program is also offered virtually, for students who cannot attend the program on campus. At the end of the program, you will present your research via an oral or poster presentation. Get an idea of past projects here!

Location: Virtual and in-person options. The in-person program will be held at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology on the East Baltimore campus.

Stipend: In-person participants receive an hourly stipend (amount varies), while virtual interns receive a stipend of $500.

Internship Dates: 8 weeks, June - August (in-person); 5 weeks, July - August (virtual)

Application Deadline: March 1, every year.

Eligibility:

• Juniors and seniors from around the country are eligible to apply to the 5-week, virtual program.

• Juniors and seniors residing in Baltimore City and the metro area, who have a strong passion and interest in science and medicine, are from underrepresented groups, and have an academically strong background are eligible for the in-person program.

6. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Teen Academic Year Program

This program is for high school juniors and seniors who are enrolled in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Academic Internship Program. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital collaborates with M-DCPS to offer full academic year internships (that run from August to May). This program provides an opportunity for students to learn valuable healthcare administration skills and gain hands-on experience, while also earning academic credit. Students are expected to commit to 5–10 hours weekly, with a flexible schedule — Virtual, Hybrid, or In-Person. Weekly timesheets and quarterly grade evaluations ensure ongoing support and assessment during the internship.

Location: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL. Virtual and hybrid options are also offered.

Stipend/Cost: No cost or stipend. Students earn credit.

Internship Dates: Year-round, from August to May.

Application Deadline: The hospital does not provide any details on this. You can check the M-DCPS internships page.

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, who hold an unweighted GPA or 2.5 or higher, an excellent school attendance record, and are enrolled in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Academic Internship Program, can apply.

7. FIU’s Summer Research Internship in Cardiovascular Health

The Florida International University offers a Summer Research Internship for local area high schools and FIU transfer students to engage in cardiovascular health research over 8 weeks. This program is an opportunity for students to participate in innovative research, while honing their research, analysis, writing and presentation skills. Before the internship begins, students are matched with an FIU faculty research mentor, and have to complete at least five online safety courses. As an intern, you will be expected to attend weekly professional and academic development workshops, and participate in intern meetings featuring journal clubs and case study discussions. The program will culminate with interns submitting research abstracts and delivering presentations at an awards ceremony. The top presenters will be recognized with awards, and will be invited to showcase their work at the December MARC U*STAR symposium.

Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL

Stipend/Cost: No cost. There is no stipend information available. 

Internship Dates: June 17  -  August 9

Application Deadline: TBA

Eligibility: High school juniors or graduated seniors who have committed to attend FIU or are accepted FIU transfer students can apply. Those applying must be at least 16 old by the start of the program, and hold an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher.

8. Medicine Encompassed

Medicine Encompassed is a student-run nonprofit organization that assists with accessibility in the medical field. The organization offers multiple positions across its 18 committees. The applications for each of these positions (that are also known as general positions) are open on a rolling basis, so it is recommended you apply as soon as possible!

As an intern with Medicine Encompassed, you can work across any of the following departments: writing, editing, sponsorships and partnerships, graphic design, and marketing and social media, along with resource creation. This may involve researching medical topics, writing informative articles or guides, and developing educational materials that can be used by others to learn about various medical fields. Additionally, you can contribute to the ‘Project Cultivation’ outreach initiative, which aims to increase awareness and accessibility of medical education. The final outcome of the program typically includes a comprehensive set of educational materials that students have contributed to or created. 

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: No stipend is provided. You may receive a certificate. 

Internship Dates: Internships with ME are open year-round.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Eligibility: All high school students can apply.

9. Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internships at the University of Florida Health

This 9-week summer internship at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute laboratories in Jupiter, Florida is for Palm Beach and Martin county rising juniors and seniors. Established in 2005, Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internships expose students to the world of biological and chemical research, offering insight into potential careers in academic research, drug discovery, biotechnology, or biomedical engineering. This program focuses on helping students develop their lab skills, while they learn how to do research planning and data analysis, engage in experimental design work and interact with scientists.

Before interns start the program, they must attend a one-week, comprehensive introductory course that covers techniques and applications standard in biomedical research. The course provides students with a foundation of basic skills necessary to succeed in a biomedical research laboratory. In addition to attending weekly seminars during the internship, students will be expected to submit a written scientific abstract at the end of the program, and present their work!

Location: Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, Jupiter, FL. Housing or transportation is not provided.

Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will receive a total stipend of $4,480, which will be paid biweekly during the program.

Internship Dates: June 3 - August 2

Application Deadline: March 17

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; can apply.

10. Observer Program at Baptist Health Academics

While not a traditional internship program, the Baptist Health Academics’ Observer Program is part of their externships and shadowing opportunities offered to students. This program allows students to shadow and observe Baptist Health clinicians during patient care activities. Applicants can opt to shadow under the supervision of a Baptist Health employee or medical staff member, including physicians. This program allows observers to participate in rounds, witness medical procedures, and attend teaching conferences. The program aims to provide participants with an insider’s view of healthcare careers. The duration of the observership is determined by the clinician and can extend up to four weeks.

Note: This opportunity does not offer compensation, or any training leading to academic credit. 

Location: Baptist Health, South Florida, FL

Stipend/Cost: No cost for high school students. No stipend is offered.

Internship Dates: This will be decided by the clinician you’re paired with, and can extend up to 4 weeks.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round.

Eligibility: Participants must be at least 16 years old at the start of the program.

One other option — Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you are interested in a selective, structured research program in medicine and healthcare, consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, an online high school program for students founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers. The program pairs you with a full-time researcher to develop your own independent research project, in any discipline of your choice. Last year over 4000 students applied to 500 slots in the research program! You can find the application form here.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image Source: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience logo