15 Pediatric Internships for Undergraduates

If you’re an undergraduate student planning to study pediatrics or pursue a medical career focused on children’s health, joining a pediatric internship is a practical way to understand how this field works.

What is a pediatric internship? Why should I apply as an undergraduate?

A pediatric internship introduces you to how pediatricians, nurses, and medical teams care for children through observation, clinical assistance, and research work. You learn about growth patterns, childhood diseases, and the importance of preventive care. These internships help you see what day-to-day work looks like in a hospital, clinic, or research setting. 

Completing a pediatric internship as an undergraduate also strengthens your future medical school applications. It highlights your commitment to child health, builds your clinical understanding, and shows you can work in professional healthcare environments.

With that, here are 15 pediatric internships for undergraduate students! If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!

1. Mayo Clinic Child Life Specialist Internship (Minnesota)

Location: Rochester, MN, at Mayo Clinic facilities

Cost: Free

Dates: 16 weeks (640 clinical hours)

Application Deadline: September 6 (for the following year)

Eligibility: Seniors or undergraduate students majoring in child life, child development, psychology, or related fields who have completed the required ACLP coursework.

Mayo Clinic’s Child Life Specialist Internship is a 16-week clinical training program for students working toward child life certification. It focuses on building professional experience in pediatric care, developmental support, and therapeutic services under ACLP guidelines. You’ll work with Certified Child Life Specialists, gaining hands-on experience in therapeutic play, patient assessment, and family education. You’ll also learn to prepare children for medical procedures through age-appropriate explanations and activities that help reduce stress. Alongside your clinical work, you’ll attend educational seminars on child development and psychosocial care, connecting theory with real practice in healthcare settings.

2. The Child Center of NY Internship Program

Location: New York City, NY

Cost: None

Dates: Varies by placement

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students in social work, psychology, counseling, education, or related fields

The Child Center of NY internship gives you practical experience in youth development, behavioral health, and family support. You’ll work with licensed professionals who guide you through real community and clinical settings. Your role may include helping with case management, supporting tutoring or mentoring programs, assisting in group or play-based therapeutic activities, and learning trauma-informed care. You’ll also help families access resources and strengthen home environments. The program includes supervision and mentorship, giving you experience in communication, counseling, and teamwork while contributing to community well-being.

3. Weill Cornell Department of Pediatrics Summer Internship

Location: New York, NY (Weill Cornell Medicine / NewYork-Presbyterian)

Stipend / Cost: Modest stipend offered upon completion; housing, food, and travel not covered; visas not sponsored

Dates: 6- or 10-week full-time summer programs (June 2 – August 8)

Application Deadline: January 5 (applications open December 1)

Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors, undergraduates, and medical students; applicants may apply to up to two pediatric projects

Weill Cornell’s Pediatrics Summer Internship lets you explore medicine, public health, and pediatric research through direct experience. It’s open to high school and college students who want to understand how child health is shaped through clinical work, research, and policy. You’ll join faculty mentors on projects in areas like behavioral health, neonatal virus immunology, nephrology, and child health advocacy. Your work may include analyzing data, reviewing literature, supporting human subject research, shadowing pediatric clinicians, designing educational materials, or contributing to quality improvement initiatives.

4. Child Life Clinical Internship - Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Location: St. Petersburg, FL (with hospital affiliations across the All Children’s network)

Cost: None

Dates: 15 weeks, 600 hours (approx. 40 hours/week)

Deadline: NA

Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students nearing the end of their academic program in child life or related fields

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital offers a full-time Child Life Clinical Internship accredited by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). It’s designed for students preparing for Child Life certification and provides structured clinical experience in pediatric psychosocial care. You’ll rotate through hospital areas such as emergency, hematology/oncology, PICU, NICU, radiology, and outpatient clinics. Your daily work involves facilitating therapeutic play, supporting families, and helping children cope with hospitalization and treatment. Training includes seminars on child development and medical play, skills labs, reflective journals, and case studies. 

5. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP)

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Stipend: $5,000; housing provided; no program cost

Dates: Not specified 

Application Deadline: Applications will open in December 

Eligibility: Full-time undergraduates (sophomores–seniors graduating in spring) with a minimum 3.3 GPA; U.S. citizens or permanent residents interested in pediatric health research

The CRISSP program immerses you in pediatric biomedical research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Over ten weeks, you’ll work under the guidance of CHOP investigators, contributing to studies in areas such as genetics, immunology, or neuroscience. You’ll receive training in laboratory methods, data analysis, and scientific communication while attending sessions on bioethics, research integrity, and graduate or medical school preparation. You’ll be matched with a faculty researcher whose projects align with your academic focus. The experience concludes with a poster symposium, where you’ll present your findings to peers and mentors.

6. Wells Center Pediatric Research Summer Internship — Indiana University

Location: Indianapolis, IN|

Stipend: $4,000

Dates: 8 weeks (June 2 – July 25)

Application Deadline: Varies (typically in winter)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; enrolled undergraduates at least 18 years old

The Wells Center Pediatric Research Summer Internship at Indiana University’s Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research is an eight-week program for students interested in lab-based biomedical and pediatric research. You’ll focus on experimental design, data collection, and analysis while learning core lab techniques used in fields like immunology, endocrinology, and developmental biology. Alongside lab work, you’ll complete a literature review, practice scientific writing, and present your findings to peers and mentors at the end of the program.

7. Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Anesthesia Clinical and Research Internship (PACaRI)

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Cost: None

Dates: May – August (Summer Track)

Application Deadline: Not specified

Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA

The PACaRI program at Boston Children’s Hospital combines clinical shadowing and research over a 12-week summer term. You’ll begin with a structured training phase before observing anesthesia technicians in operating rooms one day a week. Alongside this clinical exposure, you’ll join a research project, exploring topics in anesthesiology and pediatric care. Weekly lectures and skill-building sessions cover literature review, professional development, and graduate school preparation. You’ll conclude the program by presenting your research findings to faculty and peers. 

8. University of Pittsburgh — Department of Pediatrics Summer Research Internship (SRIP)

Location: Pitt / UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center

Stipend: Paid at approximately $15/hour, 40 hours per week; housing provided for those who need it

Dates: 8 weeks (e.g., June 2 – July 25)

Application Deadline: Typically in the winter (announced annually)

Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in degree programs (science-based preferred); must have completed at least two semesters of college and plan to return or enter graduate work; minimum GPA ~3.2

The University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Pediatrics Summer Research Internship Program (SRIP) is an eight-week paid internship for undergraduates interested in pediatric medicine or biomedical science. It takes place at the John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center and gives you a full-time research experience in pediatric health. You’ll design and carry out a mentored project, spending about 40 hours a week in the lab while contributing to ongoing research. The program also includes seminars and career panels that help you understand different research and medical pathways. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your findings during Poster Day, which brings together mentors and researchers from across the center.

9. Cohen Children's Medical Center Pediatric Research Internship

Location: New Hyde Park, New York (CCMC, part of Northwell Health)

Cost: None; housing stipend of $300/week available for interns residing outside the immediate metro area

Dates: Varies by specialty (6–12 weeks)

Application Deadline: March 2

Eligibility: U.S. undergraduates who have completed at least one year of study, strong academic record, and interest in pediatric research

The Cohen Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Research Internship gives undergraduates hands-on experience in pediatric research. You’ll work across areas like neurology, cardiology, nephrology, genetics, and emergency medicine. You will work with faculty mentors on clinical research, data analysis, and literature reviews, and you may contribute to publications. You’ll also shadow clinicians to understand patient care and attend seminars and professional development sessions to build your skills. By the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at a formal research forum that also helps you connect with professionals in the field.

10. Children’s Hospital Colorado Summer Child Health Research Internship

Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO

Stipend: $4,400 (to assist with travel and housing costs)

Dates: June 2 – August 1

Application Deadline: February

Eligibility: High school seniors (18+), undergraduates, graduate students, and first-year medical students

Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Summer Child Health Research Internship is a 9-week, full-time program for high school seniors (18+), college students, and early medical students. You’ll gain hands-on experience in pediatric research through the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado Child Health Research Institute. You’ll work on mentored research projects with faculty at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Anschutz Medical Campus. Each week, you’ll attend seminars on pediatric science, research ethics, and career development, and join community events with mentors and peers. Your project may focus on areas like pediatric immunology, childhood diabetes, clinical genetics, developmental lung biology, or critical care. The program ends with a research showcase where you’ll present your findings to faculty and fellow interns.

11. Yale Child Study Center Undergraduate Developmental Science Summer Internship

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Stipend: Up to $4,000 for students without institutional funding; housing assistance provided

Dates: June 1 – July 24

Application Deadline: January 31

Eligibility: U.S. and international undergraduates entering their junior or senior year; strong academic record and interest in child health research

The Yale Child Study Center (YCSC), in partnership with the Department of Pediatrics, offers an eight-week, full-time internship for rising juniors and seniors. This research-intensive program immerses students in child health projects spanning neuroscience, developmental psychology, and clinical pediatrics. You will engage in hands-on research, including data analysis, wet lab techniques, and clinical observations. Weekly seminars and journal clubs expose participants to various aspects of child health beyond their assigned projects. At the program's conclusion, interns present their research findings in a formal poster session to YCSC and Pediatrics faculty, staff, and students.

12. Children’s National Hospital Emergency Department Clinical Research Internship 

Location: Washington, D.C.

Cost: Free; housing stipend may be available

Dates: September 29 – May 8; 15 hours per week (up to four shifts per week, including nights and weekends)

Application Deadline: Not specified; early application recommended

Eligibility: Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students; must be at least 18 years old and a sophomore at the time of application

The Emergency Department Clinical Research Internship at Children’s National Hospital gives you hands-on experience in pediatric clinical research. You’ll work in the emergency department, helping with patient enrollment, data collection, and data analysis for ongoing studies. You’ll work closely with doctors, nurses, and research staff, learning how clinical research operates in real hospital settings. The program also includes workshops on professional development and career exploration in healthcare.

13. Children’s Health Dallas College Summer Internship

Location: Dallas and Plano, Texas

Cost: Free; housing stipend may be available

Dates: 9 weeks

Application Deadline: Not specified; early application recommended

Eligibility: Undergraduate students entering their junior or senior year

Children’s Health Dallas College Summer Internship is a full-time, paid program for undergraduates interested in healthcare administration, clinical operations, or public health. You’ll work with professionals in departments like patient services, operations, and administration while contributing to projects that improve patient care and hospital efficiency. You’ll take part in process improvement initiatives, professional development seminars, and mentorship sessions. The internship helps you build practical skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving while gaining firsthand experience in how a large pediatric hospital functions.

14. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Undergraduate Medical Internship Programs

Location: Los Angeles, California

Cost: None

Dates: Varies by program (up to 3 weeks for Caltech program; small group shadowing for USC)

Application Deadline: Coordinated through affiliated institutions

Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled at Caltech or USC; selection coordinated through academic advisors

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles offers two undergraduate medical internship programs through partnerships with Caltech and USC. You’ll gain experience in pediatric medicine by shadowing physicians, joining hospital rounds, and observing both clinical and research activities. The program helps you understand how medical teams operate and how patient care and hospital systems function day to day. You’ll work with your academic advisor to be nominated through your university. The internship gives you a strong introduction to medical careers, professional experience in a hospital setting, and connections within one of the leading pediatric centers in the country.

15. Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Epilepsy Research Internship

Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Remote options available)

Cost: None

Dates: Fall/Spring: 8–10 hours/week; Summer: 30 hours/week

Application Deadline: Fall applications open on August 21, portal available by September 12

Eligibility: Undergraduate students (preferably juniors or seniors) majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology, Health Policy Management, or related fields; must receive academic credit or external funding.

The Pediatric Epilepsy Research Internship at Boston Children’s Hospital gives you firsthand experience in healthcare research with a focus on pediatric neurology. You’ll work on tasks like data entry, database optimization, patient enrollment, and administrative support. The internship introduces you to the basics of seizures and epileptic encephalopathies while helping you learn medical terminology, research methods, and how to manage clinical data. You’ll also help develop monitoring tools for clinical biomarkers and take part in research collaborations within epilepsy networks. This internship is a good fit if you’re interested in healthcare research or planning a career in pediatric neurology.

BONUS 

16. Ladder University Internship Program - Health Track

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies by program type | Financial aid available

Application deadline: Cohorts throughout the year, including summer

Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer 

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks | Open to high schoolers, undergraduates, and gap-year students

The Ladder University Internship Program is an eight-week virtual internship where you work on real projects with start-ups and corporate businesses. Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, the program focuses on applied learning through assignments guided by start-up founders and supervisors with experience at places like Harvard Business School, McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft. You’ll develop problem-solving and project management skills, gain insight into entrepreneurial practices, and receive weekly mentorship from your manager and a Ladder Coach. The program ends with a final project presentation to strengthen your resume and professional portfolio.

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 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.

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