15 Summer Medical Volunteer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 13
- 11 min read
Updated: Oct 18
If you are a high school student interested in the field of medicine, nursing, biomedical sciences, or any related discipline, a medical volunteer program can be a great way to spend your summer break. Volunteering at a hospital, clinic, medical institute, or any health facility can help you get great firsthand insights into the daily operation of these organizations and get hands-on experience in healthcare.
Volunteering programs, unlike regular programs with participation fees, tend to be free, typically unpaid opportunities that allow you to engage in community service and social upliftment activities. So, as a volunteer, you get to serve the community, make a difference, and learn something new at no cost!
Today, you can choose from many summer medical volunteer programs that allow high school students to contribute to meaningful causes and simultaneously explore careers in health-oriented fields. Such experiences also look great on your resume and college applications, as they highlight your ability to take initiative, get involved in the community, and serve others.
Continue reading to discover 15 summer medical volunteer programs designed for high school students!
Cost: Free (with a $20 fee for a uniform shirt)
Location: UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, Manassas, VA
Application deadline: April 11
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – June 27; Session 2: July 7 – July 18; Session 3: July 21 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors (who have finished their sophomore year before the program starts) and have a minimum 3.5 GPA (B average).
The UVA Health Prince William Auxiliary offers a two-week Summer Teen Volunteer Program, providing a variety of volunteer opportunities in areas like the Emergency Department, surgical services, guest services, physical therapy, materials management, and more. As a volunteer, you will assist with various tasks, including transporting patients, restocking supplies, welcoming visitors, and delivering medical equipment. You may also assist the staff with discharging patients, rounding and socializing, cleaning medical equipment, and providing comfort or care to patients. This hands-on experience offers a comprehensive view of the healthcare field, allowing you to develop valuable skills and gain insight into the workings of a hospital. You can learn more about the program and application here.
Cost: Free
Location: Multiple UHealth placement locations in Miami, FL
Application deadline: April 1
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older
The UHealth Summer High School Student Volunteer Program can offer you an immersive experience in the healthcare field with a focus on patient interaction and communication. As a volunteer, you will assist with patient transfers between hospital floors, guide patients and visitors to their destinations, and provide customer service to patients, visitors, and staff. Your duties may also include restocking supplies and offering general support. This program is designed to help you develop strong interpersonal skills, build compassion for patients, and gain insight into a wide range of healthcare careers. You can also engage in behind-the-scenes activities if you are interested in administrative tasks. The five-week commitment requires four to six hours of work per day, up to 20 hours a week.
Cost: Free
Location: Children’s National Hospital, Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Application deadline: TBA, but applications open in early February
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Current high school students who are 15 years of age or older and not seniors
The Children’s National Summer High School Volunteer Program is a hands-on, intensive experience. As a volunteer, you will be directly supervised by the Volunteer Services team at the Children’s National Hospital and take on tasks like providing support to different hospital departments, greeting patients and visitors, and assisting them with wayfinding. Throughout the two-week program, you will also attend guest speaker lectures, participate in team-building activities, and engage in workshops designed to help you prepare for life after high school. Additionally, you will collaborate with other students in small groups to complete a project benefiting the hospital and its patients. Volunteers typically work from 10 am to 4 pm, five days a week.
Cost: Free
Location: UW Medical Center, Montlake campus and Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Application deadline: Rolling applications for the Harborview Medical Center; Applications for the UWMC Summer Teen Program (Montlake campus) open in early spring
Dates: Volunteer opportunities can last one month in the summer to six months.
Eligibility: High school students; for opportunities at Harborview Medical Center, you need to be 16 or older
The University of Washington Medicine offers various volunteer opportunities across its campuses in the Seattle area. Its Summer Teen Program, hosted at the Montlake campus, offers high school students a chance to get hands-on healthcare experience, explore customer service, hone professional skills. Here, you can assist with non-medical tasks, including providing comfort to patients, escorting them to appointments, answering calls, distributing materials to patient rooms, and assisting with wayfinding. If you are interested in volunteering over a long period, Harborview Medical Center’s opportunities require a six-month commitment. Here, you will get to assist the staff with administrative tasks, restocking supplies, directing patients and visitors to the right departments, socializing with patients, and much more. This experience can help you get a firsthand look at the daily operations of a well-equipped healthcare facility.
Cost: Free
Location: 18 different locations throughout TX
Application deadline: Varies by year and location, but it is best to apply as early in the calendar year as possible
Dates: Vary depending on the specific Texas Health location/program; however, these programs run in the summer
Eligibility: Students who are 16 to 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number
The Texas Health Resources Junior Volunteer Program is an opportunity to gain exposure to healthcare facilities while working on key career-building skills. In multiple hospital locations across the state, Texas Health offers a range of experiences, typically focused on clerical work, through which you will learn about the inner workings of healthcare operations. While the exact tasks may vary by location, all volunteers contribute meaningfully to their communities and get a first-hand look at various healthcare fields and professions.
Additionally, Texas Health Resources offers a competitive Student Service Learning Program at its Dallas location, providing specialized volunteer opportunities with increased exposure to medical work. This program is designed for students who want a deeper involvement in healthcare, but spots here are limited.
Cost: None | You have a chance to win one of two available $2,500 Junior Volunteer Recognition Scholarships
Location: Children's Hospital Colorado branches—Anschutz Campus, Aurora, CO; Colorado Springs Hospital, CO; North Campus, Broomfield, CO; South Campus, Highlands Ranch, CO
Application deadline: None; applications are typically accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Vary based on the opportunity | Volunteers typically commit to three to six hours per week over six months
Eligibility: Students who are 13 – 18 years old
Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Junior Volunteer Program provides teens with a chance to contribute to their community while getting hands-on healthcare experience. You can choose between full-year and summer opportunities, and also get volunteer credit for your scholarship applications. While volunteering here, you will get to engage with professionals in clinical roles as well as nonclinical staff like IT specialists and human resources professionals. You may work in any one of the various hospital departments and engage in tasks like supporting fundraising events, organizing activities for patients, and coming up with interactive craft projects. Volunteering at Children’s Hospital Colorado can help you get a behind-the-scenes look at pediatric healthcare and its impact on patients and families.
Cost: Free
Location: UCLA healthcare centers in Los Angeles, CA
Application deadline: Applications typically open in January and close in early spring.
Dates: TBA; however, orientation is typically scheduled for the third week of June, and you must complete 50 volunteer hours by August 31.
Eligibility: High schoolers who are at least 16 years old
UCLA Health’s Volunteen Summer Program offers high schoolers a chance to gain hands-on experience in areas like patient transport, wayfinding, and delivering essential items throughout the hospital. As a volunteer, you will assist with discharging patients, transfers, transportation services, greeting visitors, and providing wheelchair assistance. You may also be responsible for delivering patient mail and newspapers. This program will also allow you to work on your communication and patient service skills while you are contributing to the hospital’s daily operations. The program requires a commitment of at least 50 volunteer hours in the summer, and you can design your schedule to fit within this time frame.
UCLA Health also offers a hybrid program, an alternative for anyone who cannot attend in person.
Cost: Free
Location: Multiple locations in Kansas City, KS
Application deadline: None specified
Dates: TBA, but opportunities are typically available in the summer
Eligibility: High school students from rising freshmen to rising seniors
The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City offers a summer volunteer program for high school students interested in learning about the workings of an academic medical center. As a participant, you will get hands-on experience in both clinical and nonclinical settings, helping you explore various roles in healthcare. You will observe medical procedures, interact with patients, and get solid insights into the day-to-day operations of a healthcare facility. The program is designed to offer you a comprehensive understanding of health sciences and the different medical fields you could pursue in the future.
Cost: Free
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Application deadline: February 10
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students who are 15 to 17 years old
CHLA’s summer volunteer program is a seven-week learning opportunity for high school students. During the program, you will support patients, families, and staff by assisting with tasks like escorting patients to appointments, greeting them at the hospital, and providing administrative support. This competitive program admits only 20 students annually. If selected, you will be expected to contribute 15 hours per week. If you're interested in pediatric care, this can be a worthwhile opportunity to get some hands-on experience in a hospital setting.
Cost: No participation fee; however, you will have to buy a $30 volunteer jacket.
Location: Multiple locations in Los Angeles, CA
Application deadline: Winter/spring session: December 5; summer session: April 4; fall session: August 7
Dates: Year-round opportunities requiring a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer work
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 – 17 years
Cedars-Sinai offers high school students volunteer opportunities at its hospitals across the greater Los Angeles area. This program is meant for students interested in exploring healthcare careers, providing both clinical and clerical tracks. During the program, you can expect to engage in hands-on hospital work that supports the staff and patients. In the clinical track, you may get to assist with patient phone calls, data entry, helping patients get oriented, or delivering flowers and amenities. You will be expected to commit to at least four hours a week, though additional hours can be added.
If you are interested in research, Cedars-Sinai also offers a research internship, providing an opportunity to learn more about medical research.
Cost: None
Location: USC Arcadia Hospital, Arcadia, California
Application deadline: None
Dates: TBA
Eligibility: High school freshmen who are at least 14 years old
The Student Volunteer Program at USC Arcadia Hospital gives high school students a hands-on opportunity to engage with patients, staff, and hospital operations and build key skills in a healthcare setting. As a volunteer, you will assist with a range of non-clinical tasks, attend required orientations and trainings, and participate in at least three hospital events each year. You will also get in-service training and get to explore various roles and departments in the hospital. You must commit to completing 100 service hours during your time in the program. Volunteer opportunities are based on hospital needs, so recruitment cycles and openings can vary each year.
Cost: Free
Location: Houston Methodist, Houston, TX
Dates: May 27 – August 1
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
The Houston Methodist Summer Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to work with scientists and doctors in a leading hospital. Although this is not a traditional volunteer opportunity, it is a chance to explore careers in medicine and interact with leading physician researchers and scientists. Throughout the program, you will engage in research projects related to regenerative medicine, cancer therapies, and cardiovascular health. You will also gain hands-on lab experience, attend insightful lectures, and explore innovations in the medical field, all under the mentorship of experienced professionals. This program can be a chance to develop your research skills while contributing to cutting-edge medical research.
Cost: Free; Participants are awarded a stipend.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Boston/Cambridge high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16, have a minimum GPA of 2.7, and belong to underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds
Harvard Medical School’s Project Success is designed for high school students seeking a hands-on experience that exposes them to medical settings and goes beyond typical volunteer roles. Although it is a paid internship, the experience will help you get early exposure to biomedical research, attend career seminars, and work in a Harvard research lab—all at no cost. This experience will also provide you with hands-on learning, direct mentorship, and the opportunity to build critical skills in the medical field. Hospital visits are also part of the program, making it a worthwhile free opportunity for you to get a firsthand look at healthcare facilities.
Cost: Free | Stipend of $1,250 provided.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Application deadline: March 17
Dates: Jun 23 — Jul 25
Eligibility: First-generation high school juniors in Northern California who belong to low-income backgrounds
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program is a five-week, tuition-free summer experience for you to participate in hospital internships, academic lectures, and hands-on research that focuses on health disparities. You will work in small teams to address real-world public health challenges and enhance your understanding of the medical field. The program provides a stipend and access to essential tools like seminars on anatomy, research methods, and college preparation. You will also be mentored during the program as you explore community service, science fields, and medical career paths.
Cost: No cost. A stipend of $3,000 (taxable) will be provided.
Location: Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois, and Rush University, Chicago, IL
Application deadline: January 20
Dates: Second week of June through the first week of August
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, at least 16 years old at the start of the program, with a strong interest in scientific research or medicine, and able to commit to 8 weeks of full-time programming (40 hours per week)
UChicago Medicine’s ResearcHStart Program offers high school students the chance to dive into cancer research during the summer. In this program, you will work with scientists in cutting-edge labs, conducting experiments and analyzing data in fields of cancer biology, immunotherapy, and genetics. You will also attend lectures, participate in career workshops, and network with professionals in the medical and scientific research fields. Its focus on cancer research and medical science makes it an option to consider if you are looking for a summer program that provides medical exposure, skill-building, and career insights. This free program also helps you explore medicine while contributing to meaningful scientific advancements.
One other option — Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to participate in a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you should also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program 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.
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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