14 Medical Internships for High School Students in Austin, TX

If you are a high school student in Austin, Texas, curious about careers in medicine, healthcare, or biomedical sciences, an internship can be a practical way to explore these fields. 

Medical internships offer a closer look at healthcare environments and allow you to observe the day-to-day work of professionals. As an intern, you may get to shadow healthcare professionals, assist hospital staff with tasks, or gain exposure to research projects. 

These internships also offer exposure to the various roles you can explore in healthcare, medicine, and medical research, helping you make informed decisions regarding future education and career. The experience can also help you develop technical and soft skills that are crucial for pursuing a career in medicine. 

Here we have listed 15 medical internships for high school students in Austin, TX. We have focused on programs that are either low-cost or fully funded and run by established institutions, making them more accessible and meaningful for students interested in gaining early experience. 

14 Medical Internships for High School Students in Austin, TX

1. Ladder Internship Program:  Healthcare and Medicine Track

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies by format; financial assistance available

Application deadline: Varies depending on the cohort—Spring: January | Winter: November | Summer: May | Fall: September

Dates: Multiple cohorts (summer, fall, spring, winter) run each year

Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, and gap year students who can work for 10 to 20 hours/week for 8 to 12 weeks

Ladder Internships offers high school students the chance to gain experience by working with early-stage start-ups. You can indicate your preference for working in medicine, healthcare, or health tech to intern for a start-up operating in these areas. During the internship, you will work under the guidance of a company supervisor and receive additional support from a Ladder Coach. You will have access to regular feedback to complete your tasks and develop new skills. At the end of the program, you will present your work to the company. 

2. UT Austin’s Health Sciences Summer Camps

Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX

Cost: $500 for Camp 1 (scholarships available) | No cost for Camp 2

Application deadline: TBA

Dates: Camp 1: June 16 – 20 | Camp 2 (GEAR UP Residential Camp): July 7 – 11

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11 are eligible for open application; if your school is in a partner district, you may require school nomination to participate.

The Health Sciences Summer Institute is designed for high school students interested in exploring the field of healthcare. Through activities such as clinical simulations, lab work, and hospital visits, you will learn about the medical field, including topics like patient care, medical ethics, and the structure of healthcare systems. At camp, you will learn clinical skills like drawing blood, taking vital signs, administering IVs, and performing intubations. You may even get to earn first aid or CPR/automated external defibrillator certification. Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to speak with doctors, nurses, and researchers about their work and career paths. While not an internship, this program can offer internship-like exposure to medical skills and careers.

3. High School Research Academy Program (HSRA) @ the University of Texas at Austin

Location: University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), TX

Cost: $4,000; need-based scholarships available

Application deadline: March 23

Dates: June 9  – July 16

Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who will be at least 15 by June 1

HSRA is a five-week summer program for Texas high school students interested in biomedical research. While not a typical internship, the program provides practical research experience in laboratory settings at UT Austin’s College of Natural Sciences. As a participant, you will work with a research group for 15 to 25 hours each week on projects in areas like biochemistry, biology, genetics, neuroscience, or genome engineering. Throughout the program, you will develop research skills and collaborate with university students and faculty in active research projects. You will also prepare and present a poster discussing your research at the end of the program.

4. UT Southwestern Medical Center’s High School Internship

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Not specified

Application deadline: Early February

Dates: Two weeks starting in June

Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students and rising college first-year students.

UT Southwestern Medical Center offers a two-week virtual internship for high school students interested in careers in mental health. The program is led by mental health professionals, including social workers, psychiatrists, and neuropsychologists, who will introduce you to various career options in mental healthcare. You will engage in assigned readings, interactive discussions, and Q&A sessions focused on various roles and areas within mental health. You will learn about topics like psychotherapy, neuroscience, psychological assessment, and community-based psychiatry. The internship provides an overview of these professions in real-world settings and the type of work involved in each.

5. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee + $850 program fee with fee waivers available; no stipend

Application deadline: February 28

Dates: June 16  – 27

Eligibility: U.S. high school students who are 14 years or older; preference given to those with strong math and/or programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project.

Stanford’s AIMI offers a two-week virtual internship focused on the use of artificial intelligence in medicine. The program offers lectures on AI applications in healthcare, project work, mentoring, guest talks from industry professionals, and social activities. You will explore the fundamentals of AI in healthcare through these virtual sessions. You will also work in a group on a research project, exploring ways AI can solve challenges in healthcare and medicine. You also have the option to extend your internship once the summer program ends.

6. Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology

Location: Virtual

Cost: None

Application deadline: TBA

Dates: July 14 – 25

Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in Central Texas within 50 miles of Austin, TX; applicants who are first-generation, from a background underserved in oncology or biosciences, of low socioeconomic status, or from a Title I school are given priority.

The SHE in Oncology is a multi-institutional program hosted by cancer centers across the country. The University of Texas at Austin offers this program to 20 high school students interested in learning about careers in oncology. If selected, you will get to attend virtual lectures and discussions on cancer care and cancer science. You will participate in a genetics-based research project with peers from various participating cancer centers. You will also get a laboratory kit to engage in experiments from home. The program also offers professional development and skill-building sessions led by professionals in cancer research and care.

7. Student Internship Program @ UT Health San Antonio

Location: University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX (1 and a half hours from Austin, TX)

Cost/Stipend: Not publicly disclosed

Application deadline: Varies by internship, and applications are open until positions are filled; applicants need to reach out to the program coordinator via email to participate.

Dates: Year-round internship; dates not specified

Eligibility: High school, college, pre-med, and pre-PhD students

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio runs a year-round internship program for students interested in interdisciplinary clinical research. You will be paired with senior researchers who provide mentorship and guidance while you contribute to research in laboratory settings and engage in field-based work. You may be assigned to one of three main research areas: immunology, molecular pathogenesis, or genetics and clinical epidemiology. Within these areas, you may contribute to research on current focus topics like HIV/AIDS, atherosclerosis, bone disease, neurobiology, lupus, or alcoholism.

8. University of Texas Health San Antonio’s Biomedical Excellence and Academic Training (BEAT) Academy

Location: University of Texas Health’s Lozano Long Campus, San Antonio, TX (1 hour from Austin)

Cost: $1,000 ($950 registration fee + $50 application fee)

Application deadline: June 20

Dates: July 14 – 18

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors

The BEAT Academy is a week-long summer program for high school students interested in exploring medicine and biomedical research. Held at the UT Health Science Center, the program introduces topics such as anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, aging, and neurological conditions. Although it is not a traditional internship, BEAT Academy provides hands-on learning opportunities and insights into medical and research-related fields. As a participant, you will visit the anatomy lab, interact with both real and simulated patients, and learn about gross anatomy and current medical technologies. The program also includes a college preparation session to support academic and career planning. 

9. Stanford’s Clinical Summer Internship

Location: Virtual

Cost: Summer: $95 application fee + $4,380 program fee | Fall: $35 application fee + $1,980 program fee

Application deadline: Summer: February 24 | Fall: June 2

Dates: Summer: July 28 — August 8; Fall: September 11 — November 13

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as undergraduate pre-med students who are at least 16 years old

Stanford’s Clinical Summer Internship is a virtual program designed for high school and undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. During the internship, you will attend lectures and sessions led by medical professionals, developing skills in suturing, injections, and physical exams. You will work on simulated medical cases, practicing how to assess symptoms, make diagnoses, and come up with treatment options. You will also collaborate with other participants on a group presentation, where you will discuss assigned medical cases. The program is designed to help you explore different medical fields and basic clinical skills.

10. St. David’s Medical Center Teen Summer Volunteer Program

Location: St. David’s Medical Center, Austin, TX

Cost/Stipend: None

Application deadline: April 15

Dates: 7–8 weeks; typically, early June – end of July

Eligibility: High school students who are 15 to 18 years old

The Teen Summer Volunteer Program at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin is a structured opportunity for high school students between the ages of 15 and 18 to gain experience in a hospital setting. As a volunteer, you may work in high-traffic areas such as the discharge lounge, information desk, or gift shop. Your tasks may include helping patients navigate the hospital, assisting with wheelchair discharges, restocking supplies at nurses’ stations, and offering basic support to patients and visitors. You will be able to rank your preferred assignments and follow a set schedule as long as you commit to two four-hour shifts each week. You can also find similar volunteering opportunities at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center.

11. Health Sciences Summer Camp  @  Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center

Location: Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Specialty Clinic, Temple, TX (1 hour from Austin)

Cost: Not specified

Application deadline: Typically in May

Dates: Session 1: June 16  – 20 | Session 2: July 14  – 18 (tentative, based on previous year’s program)

Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12

The Health Sciences Summer Camp is a five-day program for high school students with an interest in healthcare. Conducting in a pediatric hospital, the camp gives you the opportunity to observe various departments such as the NICU, Radiology, and Physical Therapy. Throughout the week, you will shadow healthcare professionals and see how different areas of the hospital function. The program is designed to provide a clear view of what working in pediatric healthcare involves, whether your interests are in direct patient care or medical support services. While not a typical internship, the program offers direct exposure to healthcare careers and roles.

12. Mayo Clinic Health System Austin  Volunteering Opportunities

Location: Mayo Clinic Health System, Austin, TX

Cost/Stipend: None

Application deadline: Open enrollment

Dates: Vary based on availability

Eligibility: Open to all

The Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin offers volunteer opportunities to people of all ages interested in working in a hospital setting. Here, you will assist patients, families, and staff and explore different departments in the hospital. As a volunteer, you may be assigned tasks such as greeting visitors, helping patients navigate the facility, escorting them to appointments, delivering supplies, or providing basic support and conversation. These roles are designed to support both the day-to-day operations of the clinic and the well-being of patients. This opportunity can give you insights into the healthcare environment and help you build interpersonal and service-oriented skills. 

13. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center's Summer Internship

Location: Virtual

Cost: $4,500 + $95 application fee; financial aid available

Application deadline: TBA; application window opens in January

Dates: Program 1: June 23 – July 4 | Program 2: July 14 – July 25

Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16; applicants under 16 are eligible only if they are juniors or seniors in high school

This two-week internship is a virtual opportunity to explore cardiothoracic surgery and surgical techniques. As a participant, you will engage in lectures and surgical lab sessions to learn about topics like imaging techniques, anatomy, cardiac diseases, and a wide range of surgical procedures. You will also gain experience in techniques like porcine heart dissection, vessel anastomosis, and suturing. The program offers training in the use of surgical instruments. Throughout the summer program, you will learn foundational surgical methods from Stanford faculty and surgical residents. 

14. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Track

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: None

Application deadline: March 1

Dates: Five weeks in the summer

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in North America

JHIBS is a five-week research-based summer internship for students interested in neuroscience and research. Here, you will attend online sessions led by researchers and scientists, learn about the scientific method and biomedical research, and engage in experiments. You will learn and practice laboratory techniques, participate in scientific presentations, and connect with professionals and peers. Additionally, the program offers professional development workshops and college prep classes to help you explore academic and career paths in neuroscience and other biomedical fields.

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you want to pursue medical or health-related research, consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, which is a selective high school program founded in partnership with Harvard and Oxford researchers. Last year, 4,000+ students applied for just 500 spots in the research program. You can learn about the application and available program formats on the application form here.

Additionally, you can check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, it offered 150 students full need-based financial assistance.

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.

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