Internships can significantly enhance your high school experience by offering practical experience and the chance to explore potential career paths. This is especially true in medicine and healthcare, where early exposure allows you to explore various medical specialties, narrow down your area of interest, and make informed decisions about your future. These experiences build confidence and showcase your commitment to a career in healthcare to college admissions officers.

If you're a high school student in San Diego, California, looking for internships in the medical field, we’ve compiled this list of 10 medical internships. These programs offer a range of experiences, from patient care to research, helping you find the ideal fit for your interests and career aspirations. 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 Internship Program

Cost: Starting at $2,490 (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 is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

2. Student Research Internship Program at Scripps Research Translational Institute

Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA (about 20 minutes away from San Diego). The institute provides resources to help students find housing.

Cost/Stipend: For Program I, information on funding is yet to be updated. For Program II, a stipend is provided, and travel and housing expenses are covered.

Dates: Internship I: June 3 – August 9 OR June 17 - August 23 | Internship II: May 20 - July 29

Application Deadline: March 30 (Program I) and February 29 (Program II)

Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 16 years old before the internship begins can apply.

The Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) offers two competitive internship programs that bring together students from across the country for a college-level experience in translational medical research. During this 10-week program, you will explore digital health, clinical genomics, and community engagement, focusing on precision medicine. You will be assigned a primary mentor based on your interests who will guide you through research design, analysis procedures, and clinical trials. You will also study design and analysis procedures relevant to translational research, including genomic/genetic association studies. At the end of the program, you will present a scientific concept to your peers and mentors in the intern poster symposium. 

3. Palomar Health Pathmaker Internship

Location: Palomar Medical Centers in Escondido, CA (30 minutes away from San Diego) and Poway, CA (25 minutes from San Diego)

Cost: $150 onboarding fee (upon acceptance)

Dates: The start dates are March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 (a 6-month commitment).

Application Deadline: Rolling applications open from October 1

Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and can commit 96 hours (6 months) are eligible to apply (Level I interns).

The Pathmaker internship offered by Palomar Health aims to provide experience to high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in the healthcare industry. As a Pathmaker intern, you will serve alongside healthcare professionals to provide patient support in a safe, comfortable, and confidential environment. You’ll assist with daily rehabilitation exercises and provide administrative support. You will gain experience in different departments, such as acute care, imaging, rehabilitation, intensive care, and emergency. You can check the details of the upcoming recruitment cycle here and apply through their website.

4. NextVet Internship at Banfield Pet Hospital

Location: Banfield Pet Hospital, San Diego, CA

Stipend: Minimum $15 per hour (exact rate may vary)

Dates: 6-10 weeks during the summer

Application Deadline: Applications are open early in the year

Eligibility: High school students aged at least 16 who can carry at least 50 pounds can apply. Specific internship criteria may vary.

If you are interested in exploring a career in veterinary medicine, the NextVet Internship at Banfield Pet Hospital could be a great opportunity for you. Banfield Pet Hospital is a veterinary care provider with branches all over the country. As a NextVet intern, you'll shadow veterinarians and veterinary technicians, participate in group sessions exploring different aspects of the veterinary industry, and receive guidance from professionals. The program is highly competitive, with only around 30 students selected from over 500 applicants. This internship can help you build a network of contacts within the veterinary field. 

5. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) by George Mason University

Location: In-person, remote, or hybrid options available.

Cost: There is a $25 application fee, which can be waived based on financial need.

Dates: June 18 - August 9 (8 weeks) 

Application Deadline: The applications typically close at the beginning of February.

Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old by June 18 can apply. Interns for “wet lab” or hybrid internships should be at least 16 years old.

George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) offers several internship opportunities that allow students to work one-on-one with faculty researchers at the university. Interns work on projects in various fields, including proteomics, molecular medicine, bioengineering, and neuroscience. You will have access to advanced technology and software to conduct your research and will develop skills in scientific writing and communication. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

6. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Experience

Location: In-person and virtual options are offered.

Stipend: Hourly wage/transportation funds (In-person); $500 stipend (virtual)

Dates: July - August (5 weeks)

Application Deadline: Applications typically close by March 1 every year.

Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations anywhere in the United States can participate in the 5-week virtual summer research experience.

The John Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a prestigious opportunity for high school students interested in biology and neurological science. This five-week program offers the opportunity to engage in brain science research. As part of the five-week virtual internship, you will participate in educational presentations, basic laboratory experiments and techniques, mentorship training, professional development training, and networking events with professionals in healthcare. You will work collaboratively on projects and present your findings at the end of the program. You can check out past projects here. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

7. Rady Children’s Hospital: FACES for the Future

Location: Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA

Stipend: Information about a stipend is currently not available. 

Dates: 3-year program, from sophomore year to senior year of high school.

Application Deadline: TBA

Eligibility: High school sophomores who reside in the City Heights area of San Diego.

FACES for the Future San Diego at Rady Children’s Hospital is a pathway program designed to prepare high school students from underserved areas for careers in science and health. Starting in their sophomore year, students participate in a three-year program that includes internships, health professionals mentoring, and healthcare environment exposure. The program also offers academic tutoring, college advising, and enrichment activities such as field trips, healthcare industry panels, and skills workshops.

8. Stanford University: SHTEM Summer Internships

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Dates: June 17 - August 9 (8 weeks)

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January. 

Eligibility: The applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors at the time of application and at least 14 years old by June 17.

Hosted by Stanford University, this prestigious virtual summer internship offers insight into several fields. This prestigious program exposes students to research, providing mentorship from Stanford faculty. You will work on projects that span a range of topics, including computer science, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, linguistics, psychology, and more. The program emphasizes collaborative work, allowing you to contribute to ongoing research while developing your skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. At the end of the program, you will present your projects as part of your team. You can find more information on their website and fill out this form to be notified when applications open! To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

9. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program at the Salk Institute

Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA (about 20 minutes from San Diego)

Stipend: $17 per hour  

Dates: June 17 - August 9 | 30-40 hours per week

Application Deadline: April 5

Eligibility: Students must be San Diego County residents who are at least 16 years old on or before June 17, have completed their most recent semester of high school at a public or private high school within San Diego County, have completed at least one year of high school chemistry and biology, with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (exceptions will be considered). Check their website for all the program requirements.

The Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program is a prestigious 8-week internship for high school students in San Diego County eager to gain experience in conducting research. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in STEM. During the internship, you'll work alongside Salk scientists on cutting-edge research projects, learning essential laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, data analysis, and science communication. The program includes a one-week boot camp, where you’ll receive training on basic lab equipment and skills. By the end of the program, you'll have the opportunity to present your research findings at the Summer Scholars Research Symposium. 

10. J. Craig Venter Institute’s High School Internship

Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA (20 minutes from San Diego)

Stipend: $17 per hour

Dates: Internships typically run from May to August, lasting around 10-15 weeks.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, as received once the position is posted.

Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and above can apply. Applicants must have a 3.0/B average. 

The JCVI Summer Internship Program offers motivated high-school, undergraduate, and graduate students a competitive summer research experience in STEM. This internship provides students with a structured research experience in fields like genomic medicine, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics. As an intern, you'll work with a mentor on projects tailored to your academic experience using state-of-the-art equipment and technology. You will participate in workshops and seminars aimed at enhancing your scientific knowledge and professional skills; these include journal clubs, career development sessions, and multi-disciplinary scientific seminars. To apply, you must submit your resume, a cover letter, your school transcript, and a 500-word statement of interest. You can check out the rest of the requirements on their website.  

One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.