12 Medical Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
Internships during high school can give you insight into the professional world, and a glimpse of what your chosen field looks like in the real world. They offer the opportunity to explore subjects you’re planning to pursue in college while boosting your resume and college applications.
If you’re keen on medicine and its related fields, an internship is a great place to start. Medical internships will help you figure out which sub-fields are best suited for you, and expose you to potential career paths in that area.
With an internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience, and get to build your knowledge — giving you a headstart before college. These experiences can set your application apart when it comes to the competitive college admission process.
If you’re a high schooler in LA, this list is for you! Here are 12 best medical internships in Los Angeles that you can consider as a high school student.
1. Ladder Internships—Healthcare and Medicine Track
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Starts at $1,990 (financial aid available).
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year. The summer 2024 cohort starts on June 3 and runs till August.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. Applications for the Summer II cohort close on June 26, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 5-15 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students!
Founded and run by Harvard alumni, Ladder Internships offers ambitious high school students the chance to intern with startups and nonprofits across the world in a virtual setup. As an intern, you have the freedom to choose which field you wish to intern in, with Ladder’s partner companies operating in a wide range of industries, including technology, health tech, healthcare, medicine, machine learning, AI, computer science, finance, environmental science, sustainability, business, marketing, media, journalism, and more.
You will work on projects that contribute to the startup or nonprofit’s larger goal, and present your work at the end of the program. For the program, you will be paired with a manager at the startup, and with a Ladder coach, who will serve as your second mentor. The program also includes one-on-one communication and time management training, among other skills, and group training sessions with fellow interns.
2. BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship at UCLA
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost/Stipend: None.
Dates: The program will run from early June to late August, with exact dates to be announced. Work will likely be three to four half-days per week, for approximately 16 hours per week.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Eligibility: Rising juniors, with the intent that you may be a mentor for a rising junior next year. The university recommends you apply, especially if you’re interested in extending the internship into the academic year.
If you’re interested in the workings of the brain and want to know more about neuroscience and research, you should consider applying for this internship. Hosted by UCLA, it provides a valuable opportunity to explore cutting-edge research and work alongside leading scientists and clinicians in the field of brain health and sports-related concussions. During this internship, you will gain insight into concepts in neuroscience, get the opportunity to hone your research skills, and contribute to ongoing studies that have real-world implications for sports medicine and brain injury prevention.
As an intern, you will engage in a range of hands-on activities and projects. You will work directly with the project staff to recruit patients, enter research data, and conduct study protocols. You will attend weekly lab meetings with the BrainSPORT team, along with seminars, lectures, and discussions led by experts in the field. At the end of the program, you will present your project on a research topic.
3. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Various medical centers in Los Angeles, with some virtual options.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid. Each participant will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program, and one $500 scholarship will be awarded.
Dates: 4 weeks (July - August).
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2024 program are closed and will reopen for the 2025 cohort in January.
Eligibility: Current 11th and 12th-grade students are eligible to apply.
The Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program, offered by the Los Angeles Pediatric Society, gives a small cohort of high school students the opportunity to work in different hospitals with medical mentors and experts. As an intern, you will attend workshops led by general pediatricians and specialists, including surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, infectious disease specialists, ophthalmologists, radiologists, child life, and therapists (like physical, speech, occupational, or cognitive therapists) and more to understand how patient healthcare works.
Ensuring a hands-on learning experience, the program will assign you to a hospital in the Los Angeles area, like the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, to observe and help out with various medical procedures, treatment plans, and patient care to gain exposure as a young nurse and health care worker. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion and the opportunity to receive a $500 scholarship from the Edward M. Rissman Scholarship Fund! You can keep an eye on the website for any updates on the 2025 cohort.
4. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Experience
Location: Both virtual and in-person (Baltimore, MD) options are offered.
Stipend: In-person interns receive a $500 stipend.
Dates: July-August (5 weeks).
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by March 1 every year.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations anywhere in the United States can participate in the 5-week virtual summer research experience.
The John Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a solid opportunity for high school students interested in neurological science, especially those from underrepresented communities. The program offers both in-person and virtual opportunities for students from across the country.
As part of the five-week virtual internship, you will participate in activities like educational presentations, basic laboratory experiments and techniques, mentorship training, professional development training, and networking with professionals in the healthcare industry. You will engage in collaborative projects and discussions and present your work in final presentations at the end of the program. You can check out the past projects here.
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost/Stipend: You will receive a stipend. Information about the exact number is not available.
Dates: July - September 2024 (6-10 weeks).
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024.
Eligibility: Students must be in high school for the 2024-25 academic year and be at least 16 years old prior to the program's start (Monday, July 1, 2024).
The Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre offers a summer internship program for high school students — Inspiring New Scientists through Professional Internships and Research Experience (INSPIRE). This internship is designed to provide high schoolers with an overview of biomedical research and introduce them to careers in healthcare. Interns will have access to faculty members as mentors and an opportunity to develop and enhance skills for college and career readiness.
As an intern, you will receive mentorship from experienced professionals and learn about a variety of topics through hands-on training, such as the research process, working in a lab, data collection and analysis, and the review process for scientific literature. You will also attend workshops focused on skill-building, networking, and career exploration. You can apply for the program through their website!
6. Stanford University’s SHTEM Summer Internships
Location: Virtual.
Cost/Stipend: None. Financial support is available.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024 (8 weeks).
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: The applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors at the time of application and at least 14 years old by June 17.
This virtual summer internship offers valuable insight into a number of fields. Themes will span and combine the science of information and communication, engineering, the arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design, among other areas. The program is designed to offer high school students exposure to cutting-edge research in an academic environment while also introducing them to a diverse range of research topics. As an intern, you will be engaged in projects and collaborative work, which will provide hands-on experiences and equip you with practical skills. You may expect 30-40 hours of work a week.
Stanford faculty and industry experts will be your guides as you deepen your understanding of your preferred field and network within Stanford’s community. Teams can choose to work on research projects in various areas, including biology, neuroscience, psychology, the science of information and communication, technology, computer science, the arts, and more. At the end of the program, you will present your projects as part of your teams.
7. COPE Health Scholars’ The Junior Health Scholar Program
Location: Centres in Los Angeles, CA.
Cost/Stipend: Program fee ranges from $324 - $631, along with an application fee of $21; Unpaid.
Dates: Varies depending on the location. 3-month, 6-month, and 9-month program options are available.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the location.
Eligibility: Scholars must be accepted to or enrolled in high school and be 16-18 years old by the application deadline for the entering cohort they wish to enroll in.
The Junior Health Scholar program allows high school students to shadow a current Health Scholar or work independently in the patient care setting, dependent on on-site requirements. As a Junior Health Scholar, you will observe how care, delivery, and administrative teams work together to deliver excellent care and explore whether a career in health care is right for you.
As a part of this program, you can observe care in various clinical environments. You’ll learn about potential career paths, develop a network, and receive mentoring opportunities from staff and Health Scholars. Upon graduation, you will also receive a completion certificate from Keck Graduate Institute, a member of The Claremont Colleges. You can choose from multiple locations in California: Los Angeles (East) and Los Angeles (South). You can check the details of your preferred location and apply by filling out this form!
Location: Virtual.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. This is an unpaid internship. Students will receive a certificate upon completion and the potential to extend their internship.
Dates: June 17 - 28, 2024.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024.
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over 14 years old with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project.
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) offers a virtual summer internship for students interested in exploring the technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare. In this 2-week virtual internship, you will participate in introductory and technical lectures on AI in healthcare, mentoring activities with researchers and students, social activities, hands-on group sessions for research projects, and virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers from academia, non-profits, industries, and the government. If you’re interested, you can even opt for an extended independent research internship opportunity.
This internship is highly competitive and accepts only around 20 students each year. To apply, you must fill out this application form.
9. Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Summer Employment Program (SYEP)
Location: Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, CA. You can find a location near you where you can intern.
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to attend. Students will receive a stipend of $15.50 - 18 per hour.
Dates: June 17, 2024 – August 2, 2024.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close December-end.
Eligibility: Students who are aged 16-19 by June 1, 2024, and are current high school students and/or graduating seniors of the Class of 2024 can apply. Priority is given to juniors and senior-level students. Those applying must have the right to work in the US.
Kaiser Permanente’s Summer Employment Program (SYEP) provides high school students with supportive and meaningful employment experiences in the field of healthcare. During this internship, you will have the chance to work alongside healthcare professionals and learn about various medical disciplines, such as nursing, pharmacy, laboratory sciences, and more. The experience will provide you with hands-on experience in the healthcare industry and give you exposure to the practical workings of the profession. As an intern, you will attend weekly workshops designed to provide participants with valuable personal and professional skills development and introduce them to the possibilities of pursuing a career in healthcare.
In addition to the weekly stipend offered, you will also get opportunities to network with peers and senior leaders through work-based activities, community service projects, or social events. You can find further details on their website and fill out this form to get updates on when applications open again!
10. CAMP CHLA – Health Care Career Exploration
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to attend. Unpaid.
Dates: Camp 1: June 24 – June 28, 2024 | Camp 2: August 5 – August 9, 2024.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, or juniors in high school who live in Los Angeles County and have not attended Camp CHLA are eligible to apply.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles offers a free 5-day, in-person healthcare career exploration camp called Camp CHLA twice every summer for Los Angeles County high schoolers. Through this camp, you can explore potential paths in healthcare. As a participant, you will take part in healthcare-related activities, observe healthcare professionals, and engage in skill-building labs. Along with networking opportunities in the healthcare industry, you will also learn hands-on skills in health promotion and disease/injury prevention, such as CPR, first aid, body ergonomics, and more. You can apply through their application portal; find the sample application form format here!
11. Project Stride - Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science (CDU)
Location: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Unpaid.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 14, 2024.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: Students must:
- Be a current high school student in the 11th grade when applying.
- Have a 3.0 or better grade point average in general and in math and science courses in particular.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science offers a ten-week summer clinical research program for 11th-grade high school students called Project STRIDE (Students Training in Research Involving Disparity Elimination). They aim to increase the number of underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students in the pipeline who are committed to research careers in the health and biomedical sciences. As an intern, you will learn the intricacies of research through hands-on projects and practical applications.
To apply, you can start by filling out this application form electronically. You must email a signed copy of the completed application, your official high school transcript (emailed directly from your school), and two letters of recommendation (one must be from faculty or the academic counselor) to projectstride@cdrewu.edu by March 15, 2024.
12. Student Research Internship Program at Scripps Research Translational Institute
Note: The institute offers two internships under this program: one focused on translational science (I - Student Research Internship Program and the other on precision medicine (II - Medical Student Research Internship Program). Both have substantial overlap in the subjects covered.
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA (about 2 hours from Los Angeles). The institute provides resources to help students find housing.
Cost/Stipend: For I, information on funding is yet to be updated. For II, a stipend will be provided; travel and housing expenses will be covered.
Dates: Internship I: June 3, 2024 – August 9, 2024 OR June 17, 2024 - August 23, 2024 | Internship II: May 20, 2024 - July 29, 2024.
Please note: If these dates do not work for you, the institute recommends you note your specific available dates in your application (You are required to give 10 weeks for I, 8 weeks for II).
Application Deadline: March 30, 2024 (I) and February 29, 2024 (II).
Eligibility: Highly motivated students in high school who will be at least 16 years old before the internship begins can apply.
The Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) offers two internship programs under its Student Research Internship Program. These competitive 10-week internships bring together 40 talented and motivated students (high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional) from across the country for an immersive, college-level research experience in the realm of translational medical research.
During the program, you will gain knowledge about current topics in translational science and precision medicine, focusing on digital health, clinical genomics, and community engagement. Based on your interests, you will be assigned a primary mentor for the program who will guide and advise you. You will also study design and analysis procedures relevant to translational research, including genomic/genetic association studies. You will observe the steps of proposing, designing, undertaking, and analyzing clinical trials. At the end of the program, you will present a scientific concept to your peers and mentors in the intern poster symposium.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.