15 Summer Hospital Internships for Undergraduates

If you are an undergraduate student considering a healthcare career, a summer hospital internship can be one of the most direct ways to learn what working in the field is actually like. These internships place you inside hospitals or clinical settings, where you might shadow physicians, support ongoing research, or assist healthcare teams with patient care tasks.

Hospital internships give you professional skills, industry exposure, and the chance to work alongside doctors, nurses, and researchers who can become mentors. They also help you understand the realities of hospital work, which is useful if you’re deciding between medicine, nursing, research, or other healthcare pathways. On top of that, they’re a strong addition to your resume and can make your applications for graduate school or jobs more competitive.

In this blog, we’ve gathered 15 summer hospital internships for undergraduates. For prestigious internships in other fields like STEM, check out this set of blogs!

1. Vanderbilt Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program (UCRIP)

Location: Nashville, TN

Cost/Stipend: No cost, $1,500 stipend

Application Deadline: February 1

Program Dates: June–August

Eligibility: Undergraduates at accredited US institutions, US citizens, GPA ≥3.5

The Vanderbilt Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program (UCRIP) is a full-time, 8-week summer program designed for undergraduates pursuing careers in medicine. Hosted by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, UCRIP combines clinical shadowing with mentored research in either basic science or clinical settings. You will be paired with faculty mentors and assigned a research project aligned with their interests. They also join hospital-based general medicine teams for weekly clinical rounds, gaining firsthand exposure to patient care.

2. Massachusetts General Hospital Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP)

Location: Boston, MA

Cost/Stipend: No cost. $5,000 stipend, free housing near Harvard Medical School

Application Deadline: January 17

Program Dates: 8 weeks, June 2–July 25 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)

Eligibility: US citizens or permanent residents; seniors in college, master’s, post-baccalaureate, or gap year students; underrepresented in medicine groups prioritized

The Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP) at Massachusetts General Hospital is an eight-week, full-time research experience for students underrepresented in medicine. You are matched with a faculty mentor in biomedical science, behavioral research, or health policy based on your interests. You conduct original research, attend weekly lectures, and receive training in scientific writing and career development. You also participate in mentorship and networking events with MGH researchers and staff. The program ends with a formal research presentation to the MGH community. 

3. The Ladder University Internship Program - Healthcare 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

Ladder Internships offers students the chance to gain experience working in fast-paced, early-stage companies. You can choose from over 50 host organizations across industries like technology, healthcare, media, nonprofits, consulting, and AI/ML. Many of these companies are led by founders with ties to well-known accelerators and past roles at established tech firms, and several have experience raising early funding. During the eight-week program, you’ll work directly with a manager at your assigned company while also receiving guidance from a Ladder Coach. By the end of the internship, you’ll complete a project you can add to your portfolio. 

4. Kaiser Permanente Launch

Location: You are eligible to work in a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business offices closest to your home address. If you’re unsure of where your closest location is, you can find out online here.

Cost/Stipend: Free; interns earn local minimum wage

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in November or December annually

Program Dates: From June to August. Specific dates unspecified!

Eligibility: Must be 16–19 years old

The KP LAUNCH program is a paid, full-time summer internship offered by Kaiser Permanente for high school and college students in Northern California. You work at the Oakland headquarters or local medical offices, focusing on non-clinical areas like operations, administration, finance, and support services. You gain professional experience by contributing to real projects, attending weekly Education Days, and building workplace skills. You’re matched with mentors who guide you through career exploration and help you understand the range of non-medical roles in healthcare. 

5. INSPIRE Future Generations Internship at Cedars-Sinai

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (stipend amount unspecified)

Application Deadline: Not specified

Program Dates: 6–10 weeks during the summer

Eligibility: Current undergraduate students or recent graduates who have overcome challenges or barriers such as economic hardship, language difficulties, educational limitations, physical or mental disabilities, or who are protected veterans

The INSPIRE Future Generations Internship at Cedars-Sinai is a paid summer research program for undergraduates or recent graduates who have overcome significant challenges. You work on clinical, bench, or translational research projects under the guidance of Cedars-Sinai faculty. You receive training in study design, data analysis, and scientific communication while contributing to active research in a leading healthcare setting. You also attend workshops focused on skill-building, networking, and career exploration.

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

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Cost/Stipend: $5,000 stipend; housing provided; limited travel support available

Application Deadline: January 31

Program Dates: June 2 — August 8 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)

Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate sophomores, juniors, or spring graduates; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; minimum 3.3 GPA

The CRISSP program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers a 10-week, full-time summer research experience for undergraduates interested in pediatric science and biomedical research. You are matched with a CHOP faculty mentor and complete an independent research project in a lab focused on basic, clinical, or behavioral science. You also participate in weekly seminars, career development workshops, and professional skills training. The program includes clinical shadowing, informational interviews, and a final poster presentation of your research.

7. Abbott Summer Internship Program

Location: Various U.S. locations

Cost/Stipend: Paid; academic credit may be available

Application Deadline: Varies by position (typically late fall to early spring)

Program Dates: Summer (10–12 weeks)

Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students in health sciences, life sciences, engineering, or related fields

The Abbott Summer Internship Program is a paid, 10 to 12-week opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to work on meaningful, project-based assignments in fields like science, healthcare, engineering, information technology, and business. You’re placed in a functional area based on your background and interests, and you receive mentorship from experienced professionals while contributing to real-world projects that impact the company. You also participate in training sessions, career development workshops, and networking events with peers across Abbott’s global locations.

8. Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research Summer Internships

Location: New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: None, $2,000 stipend

Application Deadline: January 24 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)

Program Dates: May 28–July 23 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)

Eligibility: US college students interested in medical research

The Feinstein Summer Student Internship Program is an eight-week, full-time mentored research experience for undergraduates interested in disease-oriented biomedical research. You are matched with a faculty mentor from one of five institutes: Behavioral Science, Bioelectronic Medicine, Cancer Research, Health System Science, or Molecular Medicine. You work on an ongoing research project and gain exposure to lab techniques, data analysis, and research ethics. At the end of the program, you present your findings in an academic poster session. 

9. NIH Clinical Center

Location: Bethesda, MD

Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (stipend varies)

Application Deadline: Typically Late February to early March

Program Dates: June 16 to August 8

Eligibility: Undergraduate students, including rising sophomores through seniors

The NIH Clinical Center Summer Internship Program offers you an eight-week, full-time research experience at the nation’s largest hospital dedicated exclusively to clinical research. You join a team at the Bethesda, Maryland campus and work under the guidance of NIH physicians and researchers. Your experience includes hands-on exposure to biomedical science, patient care, and clinical protocols. Research areas may include bioethics, informatics, rehabilitation medicine, radiology, transfusion medicine, and more. You also present your work at NIH’s Summer Poster Day and attend lectures by leading investigators.

10. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Cost/Stipend: Stipend available, no cost to participate

Application Deadline: Usually late winter (January-March)

Program Dates: June–August

Eligibility: Undergraduate students at accredited colleges

UCLA’s summer research programs give you direct exposure to translational medicine and clinical research through placements at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, one of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals. You work on active research projects with UCLA investigators, shadow healthcare teams in real clinical environments, and present your findings in a final symposium. The program blends academic rigor with hands-on experience, offering mentorship, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities with faculty and peers. 

11. Keck School of Medicine of USC

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided; some travel and housing support

Application Deadline: February 1

Program Dates: June–August

Eligibility: Undergraduate students (pre-med, science majors preferred)

The Keck School of Medicine of USC offers competitive summer research programs that immerse you in hospital-based labs and clinical departments. You work directly with USC faculty clinicians on hands-on research projects, gaining exposure to advanced medical technologies and translational science. You also attend seminars focused on medical careers, healthcare innovation, and professional development.

12. Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Location: Rochester, MN; Jacksonville, FL; Scottsdale, AZ

Cost/Stipend: Unspecified

Application Deadline: February 3

Program Dates: May 26 — July 31

Eligibility: Current undergraduate students interested in biomedical research

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at Mayo Clinic is a 10-week, full-time research program for undergraduates interested in biomedical science. You work on a dedicated research project at one of three Mayo campuses: Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; or Scottsdale, Arizona, under the guidance of faculty mentors, postdocs, and graduate students. You gain hands-on experience using advanced research instruments and techniques in fields like neuroscience, immunology, molecular biology, and regenerative medicine.

13. Texas Children’s Hospital Child Life Internship

Location: Medical Center Campus, Houston, TX, or North Austin Campus, Austin, TX

Cost/Stipend: No cost or stipend provided

Application Deadline: Not specified. More info here

Program Dates: Not specified. More info here

Eligibility: Last semester college seniors, graduates or graduate students

The Child Life Clinical Internship at Texas Children’s Hospital is a 640-hour, 16-week program accredited by the Association of Child Life Professionals. You work alongside Certified Child Life Specialists and rotate through several hospital units, including inpatient, outpatient, and a specialty area. The experience is designed to help you build practical skills in delivering developmental support and therapeutic interventions to pediatric patients while following national standards and professional guidelines.

14. The Seacole Scholars Program

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Cost/Stipend: No cost

Application Deadline: Unspecified

Program Dates: 7- 8 weeks from June to August. Specific dates unspecified.

Eligibility: Must be 16–19 years old and have a CNA.

The Seacole Scholars Program is a paid summer employment opportunity at Lifespan Hospital for students ages 16 to 19 who hold a valid Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license. You work 40 hours per week for seven to eight weeks, spending four days on nursing units providing direct patient care and one day in training sessions led by Lifespan’s Workforce and Youth Development team. You will join a cohort of around 80 youth employees and gain hands-on experience in a hospital setting.

15. Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP) at NYU Langone Health

Location: New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free program, unpaid internship

Application Deadline: Typically December or January 

Program Dates: Session One: May 26–June 19 | Session Two: June 22–July 17 | Session Three: July 20–August 14

Eligibility: College students, recent graduates, and high school seniors aged 18 or older

The Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP) at NYU Langone offers a four-week observational clinical experience for college students, recent graduates, and high school seniors aged 18 or older. You are assigned to a single specialty at one of several NYU Langone facilities, including Tisch Hospital, NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn, and Bellevue. Each weekday, you shadow healthcare professionals and attend educational lectures focused on rehabilitation medicine, medical ethics, and patient mobility challenges. You follow hospital protocols, participate in seminars, and engage in group discussions.

16. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)

Location: Stanford, CA or virtual

Cost/Stipend: $1,980–$6,380 (tuition fees; need-based aid available)

Application Deadline: November 1 for Summer Sessions

Program Dates: 2–10 weeks during the summer

Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors and undergraduate students aged 16 or older

The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) is a two-week medical training program for rising high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate pre-med students. You learn clinical skills and medical knowledge through hands-on simulations, guided dissections, and scenario-based exercises led by Stanford faculty, medical students, and residents. The program emphasizes mentorship, professional development, and exposure to real clinical environments. You can choose between in-person and virtual formats. 

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.

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