16 Medical Internships for High School Students in Houston, TX
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 13
- 9 min read
If you're a high school student thinking about studying medicine in college or working in healthcare one day, doing an internship now is a solid way to get started. It doesn’t matter if you’re just curious or already sure—internships help you figure things out while building real experience.
Most medical internships in Houston are hands-on. You’ll learn how to check blood pressure, use basic lab tools, read patient data, and write short lab reports like a researcher. Some programs even let you shadow doctors and nurses, so you can see what their day looks like. Others place you in labs where you might help run small experiments or organize data for research projects.
This kind of experience also helps when it’s time to apply to college. Admissions officers want to see that you’ve done more than just say you're interested in medicine. When you’ve worked in a clinic, lab, or hospital, it shows you’re serious, and it gives you something real to write about in your essays or talk about in interviews.
To help you find the right one, we put together a list of 16 medical internships in Houston for high school students!
16 Medical Internships for High School Students in Houston, TX
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center
Cost: Free
Dates: The program runs from June 9 - August 1(8 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, at least 16+ by program start, with a Minimum 3.5 GPA
The High School Emerging Researcher Experience at Houston Methodist Hospital is an 8-week summer internship in Texas. You’ll work full-time in a translational research lab with college interns and expert mentors.
You’ll learn core lab skills like pipetting, cell culture, and data analysis using medical research tools. You’ll help with real biomedical research projects focused on improving patient care. The program also includes a career prep track with college planning workshops, resume building, and research presentations.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
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.
Location: University of Houston, Houston, Texas
Cost: None
Dates: June 2 - July 25 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising seniors (completed 11th grade of high school)
The Mohan Lab Summer Internship is an 8-week research program for rising high school seniors with a strong academic record and an interest in biomedical research, medicine, bioengineering, or health careers.
The program begins with 1 to 2 weeks of training where you’ll learn lab basics like pipetting, preparing samples, and following lab protocols. After that, you’ll work on your research project under the guidance of a scientist or graduate student.
At the end of the program, you will present your research findings at the lab’s joint meeting. Some students continue working with the lab beyond the summer to assist with data analysis or manuscript writing. Depending on your project, your work might contribute to a research publication.
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: June 9 – June 26
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: 10th and 11th Grade students and Sophomores (Houston residents)
The Rice University Bioengineering and Computer Science Summer Program is a free, 3-week hands-on opportunity for high school students to explore how technology is used in healthcare. You’ll work with tools like pulse oximeters and GPS devices while learning about digital design, circuits, physics, and basic programming through real-world simulations.
The program also helps you understand college options in bioengineering and computer science. No coding experience is required, but it’s very competitive. Only 12 students are accepted, and your school needs to support your application.
Location: University of Houston, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free. $750 stipend
Dates: June 12 – July 25 (6 weeks/20 hours per week)
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
The UT Health Houston High School Summer Research Internship is a six-week program that requires you to commit 20 hours per week, totaling 120 hours. During this internship, you will be paired with a mentor who will guide you through a research project based on your interests.
The program helps you develop skills such as laboratory techniques, data collection, analyzing medical data, scientific writing, and presenting research findings. At the end of the internship, you will take part in an in-person seminar where each intern presents their work.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free. $6800 stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 8 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Texas high school seniors aged 18 + by program start
The MD Anderson Cancer Center offers a 10-week summer program for up to 12 qualified students from Houston who are interested in careers in Allied Health. You will work full-time in research labs under the guidance of faculty mentors.
You will take part in hands-on projects that focus on basic scientific principles. The program includes seminars, competitions, and networking events. At the end, you will give a final presentation and join a celebration.
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Cost: Free, with some programs offering stipends
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: Not available
Eligibility: High school students interested in clinical research
Baylor College of Medicine’s High School Student Summer Internship in Clinical Research takes place on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women.
This program will enrich you with hands-on experience in clinical research through a variety of activities, including attending lectures, shadowing professionals, and assisting with research documentation.
Location: The Health Museum, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free. Stipend not mentioned
Dates: June 16 – July 26 (20 hours/week)
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students 15 & older with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
This program offers six weeks of hands-on training in genetics, data science, public health, and science communication. You will work with Texas Medical Center professionals, support lab activities, and practice explaining scientific ideas. The cell lab is open every day during summer, so you will work five-hour shifts on scheduled days and attend professional development sessions on Saturdays.
Location: University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost: No cost.
Program Dates: June 2 – August (8-10 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school students (18+) interested in anesthesiology, critical care, or pain medicine
The Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine (DACCPM) offers a 10-week summer research program for high school students. This competitive program gives you hands-on experience in medical research, working on clinical and lab projects with expert mentors.
You will learn skills such as managing data and reviewing scientific literature. At the end of the program, you present your work at a poster symposium, and your abstract is published in the CATALYST Summer Program abstract book.
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Dates vary
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in the Houston Independent School District (HISD)
The BioPath Career Program is a biotechnology internship that gives high school students hands-on experience with tools and techniques used by lab professionals. You’ll work in mobile labs that simulate real-world biotech settings and learn how biotechnicians test, analyze, and handle biological materials.
Run in partnership with the Texas Medical Center and Houston ISD, this program introduces you to different roles in the life sciences industry through practical training and exposure to career pathways.
Location: University of Houston, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free and fully funded! $2,000 scholarship provided
Program Dates: June (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
This research internship accepts only two high school students each summer. You’ll work directly with researchers at the University of Houston on projects related to infectious diseases. The program includes hands-on lab training in techniques such as handling biological samples, running PCR to study DNA, and applying microbiology methods.
You’ll also review medical research articles and attend weekly research discussions with faculty and graduate students. With close mentorship, you’ll take ownership of your research project and build foundational skills for careers in biomedical research.
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Cost: Free! A stipend might be provided
Program Dates: June 11 - August 4 (8 weeks/40 hours per week)
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
This full-time summer internship gives you lab experience similar to that of entry-level research interns. You will spend 40 hours each week working with Baylor scientists on research projects in areas like cancer biology, genetics, neuroscience, immunology, and infectious diseases.
You will gain skills in DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, sterile technique, cell culture, and data analysis. Weekly ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions and group seminars cover professional development and research ethics. The program ends with a symposium where you present your project findings.
Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston
Cost: Free
Dates: 10-week research internship program
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students completing their junior year at Augustana interested in healthcare
The Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship Program is open to all majors. This internship connects you with mentors across a wide range of fields, including clinical and research medicine, neuroscience, psychology, allied health, veterinary research, healthcare law, HR, finance, and policy. You will work on real-world projects while building practical skills through weekly one-on-one sessions with professionals.
Location: Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
Cost: Free (volunteer-based)
Dates: June 6 - July 17
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 to 17
Texas Children’s Summer Junior Program is a volunteer opportunity for high school students interested in pediatric healthcare. You will support hospital staff, assist with non-clinical tasks like delivering supplies or guiding visitors, and interact with young patients and their families.
You’ll observe how nurses, doctors, and other medical staff coordinate care in departments such as surgery, radiology, or inpatient units. You’ll gain experience in hospital routines, patient communication, and service delivery.
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Cost: None
Dates: 1 week in summer (specific dates vary)
Application Deadline: Typically available from March through affiliated schools
Eligibility: Rising seniors from South Texas-affiliated high schools
DocPrep is a one-week summer program at Baylor College of Medicine for rising seniors from affiliated high schools in South Texas. You will attend lectures on health careers, practice communication in workshops led by Rice University graduate students, and join simulation labs that teach basic medical skills like taking vitals, using medical tools, or examining patient cases.
You’ll also get help with college and medical school planning through one-on-one advising. The program is selective, with only 60 students chosen each year. You’ll meet Baylor faculty and medical students and get a closer look at what it takes to enter medicine.
Location: Various locations in Houston, TX (through Communities In Schools)
Cost: Paid internship (exact amount not specified)
Dates: Summer (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Typically early spring
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in Communities In Schools of Houston-supported campuses
WREDI is a paid summer internship for high school students enrolled in Communities In Schools of Houston-supported campuses. You will get hands-on experience in mental health settings by helping with client intake, completing clerical work, and shadowing professionals in psychology, counseling, or psychiatry.
The program introduces you to behavioral health careers and helps you build professional skills like communication, documentation, and observation. You’ll also meet and learn directly from therapists, counselors, and social workers working in Houston.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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 4,000 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.
Image Source - MD Anderson Cancer Center logo