11 Best Summer Medical Internships for High School Students in California
Summer internships are a fantastic way for high school students in California to gain hands-on experience, practical skills, and industry exposure without the financial burden of traditional programs. With numerous in-person and virtual opportunities provided by prestigious organizations, you have access to some of the best summer medical internships for high school students in California.
For those passionate about pursuing a medical career, summer medical internships offer invaluable learning, mentorship, and real-world experience that can set the foundation for future success. In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of the top 11 summer medical internships for high school students in California to help you explore your interests and take the first step toward a healthcare career.
1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) Program
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Stipend: All students receive a minimum of $500; students from underrepresented groups will receive at least $1,500
Cohort Size: 50 students
Dates: June 10 - August 1 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: Applications generally open in December and close in February
SIMR, a highly prestigious research internship program, allows students to collaborate one-on-one with a mentor, a Stanford graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow, and engage in hands-on research. You will have to select one of eight study fields – Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics and Genetics and Genomics. Once selected, you will be assigned a particular field of study (branch) based on your preference, and spend two months as a mentee. This is a fairly competitive program with a cohort size of about 50 students – at an acceptance rate of less than 3% (approximately).
You will spend a majority of the program in full-time lab work, and a portion of your time attending lectures. During the last 2 weeks of the program, you will work on your research poster of your project, which you present at the end of the program.
2. KP Launch
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or other business offices. Check your closest location here
Stipend: $23/hour
Cohort Size: 40-50 students
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 – 19 who can legally work in the U.S.; must have permanent residency in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area; priority is given to juniors and seniors. Read more here
The Kaiser Permanente Launch (KP Launch) program—one of the best summer medical internships for high school students in California—is designed to give high school students from underrepresented backgrounds a paid internship experience in the healthcare field. The program focuses on non-medical careers and places interns at Kaiser Permanente’s Oakland headquarters and other Northern California locations.
As a participant, you will gain practical job skills, explore careers in healthcare administration, and work alongside experienced professionals. You’ll also receive mentorship and exposure to real-world projects while earning an hourly wage of $23 per hour.
Location: Remote
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: 10%-20% (based on previous year)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The spring cohort starts on March 3
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. February 9 for the spring cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program that’s usually 8 weeks long and for ambitious high school students! During this program, you will get to work with a high-growth start-up on an internship 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, you will work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
4. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
Location: Standford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Stipend: Students who demonstrate financial need are eligible for a stipend of up to $3,000
Cohort Size: Around 40 students
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 8 – February 24
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors in high school who are at least 16 years old. Must have a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 3.0. Check out the “PIPS eligibility requirements” in the FAQs for more.
For students looking for the best summer medical internships for high school students in California, PIPS provides a comprehensive introduction to the field. This 6-week program is designed for high school students who want to explore careers in science, medicine, and research. It aims to increase diversity in the fields of medicine and science, welcoming students from underrepresented backgrounds.
As an intern, you will collaborate with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers on medically-oriented projects. You will complete a research poster that summarizes your research project, eventually presenting it during the Poster & Family Symposium at the end of the program. You will also get to attend interactive workshops where you will be separated into multiple cohorts and learn how to conduct research, explore the career paths available in science and medicine, and develop leadership skills. You’ll even get insight into the college application process.
A stand-out feature of the program is the Near Peer Mentor (NPM) Program, which will pair you up with 2-3 NPMs, who will be Stanford undergraduates, graduates, medical students, residents, or fellows. You’ll get to attend weekly 1:1 sessions with your NPM and discuss your progress, potential career paths that interest you, their college journey, and more.
5. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) Program
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Cost: Ranges from $1,980 to $6,380 (financial aid available). See details here
Cohort Size: Relatively small cohorts; 24 students attend the Fall Intensive program
Dates:
- Summer Session 1 (In person): July 14 – 25
- Summer Session 2 (Virtual): July 28 – August 8
- Fall Intensive (Virtual): September 11 – November 13 (projected)
Application Deadline:
- Summer: November 1 – February 24
- Fall Intensive: May 1 – June 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 16 or more. Applicants are encouraged to finish a high school biology course before applying.
The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) offers high school students the chance to explore real-world medical practices. As one of the best summer medical internships for high school students in California, it focuses on accessibility and offers three distinct modalities: the Summer On-Campus Learning, the Summer Virtual Learning via Zoom, and the 10-week Virtual Fall Intensive (One Night Per Week).
As a participant, you will work alongside Stanford’s faculty, medical students, and residents, gaining exposure to medical case simulations, clinics, and dissection sessions. For those looking for the best summer medical internships for high school students in California, this program is ideal as it equips you with practical skills like suturing, injection administration, and patient history-taking.
Location: Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Acceptance Rate: Low. LA-HIP is a selective program. See more here
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
Dates: June 16 to the beginning of August
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current junior in high school from an underrepresented minority in medicine and science; have a social security or DACA number
The Children’s Hospital LA-HIP (Los Angeles-HIP) is a seven-week laboratory-based research training program that takes place in the summer. It is designed for high school juniors from underrepresented minorities in STEM and medicine. As one of the best summer medical internships for high school students in California, LA-HIP also offers insight into the college selection and application process. You’ll get to participate in campus tours and informational sessions that will prepare you for college.
This program combines hands-on biomedical research training at the Saban Research Institute with intensive college counseling, SAT prep, and workshops on college applications. As an intern, you will be able to contribute towards ongoing research in the lab and participate in making scientific discoveries and advances. You’ll also get to keep a laboratory notebook, interact with other scientists, and present your results in laboratory meetings. At the end of the program, you’ll be able to present your work at the closing Science Symposium.
7. CURE Research Internship Program
Location: UCSF campuses, San Francisco, California
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend for the successful completion of the internship (exact amount not specified)
Cohort Size: 10-11 interns
Dates: June 12 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Current 11th graders in high school OR current community college students at CCSF who have gotten at least a B in biology or chemistry; must be at least 16 years old and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. More details here
The CURE Research Internship at UCSF is a paid, two-month program tailored for underserved high school and community college students keen on exploring health careers. As a participant, you will gain hands-on experience in various research fields, including basic, clinical, and population sciences. For those exploring the best summer medical internships for high school students in California, this program offers mentorship from UCSF faculty, the opportunity to conduct and present research, and robust college preparation support, making it a stepping stone for future biomedical research careers.
8. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual and in-person options. The in-person program will be held at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology.
Stipend: In-person interns will receive $15/hr as a stipend. Virtual interns do not receive a stipend but receive a certificate of completion.
Cohort Size: Only 8 students will be selected for in-person internship.
Dates: 8 weeks, June – August (in-person); 5 weeks, July – August (virtual)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility:
- In-person: High school juniors and seniors from Baltimore City public schools
- Virtual: High school juniors and seniors from across the United States
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) provides high school students, especially from underrepresented communities, the chance to explore neurological science. The program includes both in-person and virtual options, with activities like research projects, educational seminars, and mentorship. The in-person internship is highly competitive, selecting only 8 students.
As an In-person intern, you will gain direct laboratory experience and clinical exposure at Johns Hopkins, while virtual participants still engage in meaningful research activities, professional development, and networking. Both formats provide valuable insights into brain sciences and health careers, fostering important academic and career skills.
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California
Stipend: Compensation is based on the level of education. See details on the stipend rate here
Cohort Size: 20-25 students (based on previous years’ stats)
Dates: May – August (10-15 weeks)r
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 years or older with a 3.0/B average. See more details here
The JCVI Summer Internship Program provides high school students with an opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research in genomics and related fields. As an intern, you will collaborate with renowned scientists, gain hands-on experience in genomic medicine, microbial genomics, and synthetic biology, and receive mentorship from dedicated faculty. The program also includes career development workshops, seminars, and a judged poster presentation, offering an in-depth introduction to scientific research and professional development.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 (financial aid available)
Cohort Rate: Around 25 students
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students entering 9th grade through 12th grade in the fall who are over the age of 14 by the start of the program; U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Priority is given to students with strong math or computer programming skills or experience with a healthcare project.
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a competitive 2-week virtual program aimed at high school students interested in the intersection of AI and healthcare. It provides an opportunity to explore the technical and clinical applications of AI in medicine, particularly in medical imaging.
As a participant, you will engage in hands-on research projects, attend technical lectures, and benefit from mentorship with Stanford researchers. You will also have access to networking events with industry professionals. Once you complete the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
11. CSSEC High School Student Stanford Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,500
Cohort Size: Around 30 students
Dates:
- Program 1: June 23 – July 4
- Program 2: July 14 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
The CSSEC High School Student Stanford Summer Internship offers high school students an intensive, hands-on experience in cardiothoracic surgery, focusing on both surgical techniques and cardiothoracic anatomy. As a participant, you will engage in lectures and lab sessions, learning skills such as knot tying, dissection, suturing, and techniques related to cardiac and thoracic surgeries like valve replacements and bypass surgeries. The program aims to provide a comprehensive foundation for those considering a career in pre-med or medicine, with mentorship from Stanford faculty and surgical residents.