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8 Medical Internships for High School Students in California

If you’re a high school student in California looking to pursue medicine in the future, medical internships should definitely be on your radar! Internships are a great way to gain real-life exposure to the industry and learn from professionals in the field. They help you build skills like time management, technical skills, research skills, and more that help you through college and your career. 


Additionally, engaging in an internship while in high school showcases to admissions officers that you are passionate about medicine and are willing to go above and beyond to learn more. It helps you level up your college applications and provides a valuable glimpse into what a career in medicine looks like. 


To help you get started, we have put together a list of 10 medical internships for high school students in California! 


1. Ladder Internships - Medical Track 

Ladder Internships is a selective program for high school students to engage in virtual internships at startups and nonprofits around the world! The startups cover a variety of industries and students can select which field they would like to work in. This is a great way for students to explore different areas of interest and understand what professional career opportunities are available. The fields include healthcare and medicine, technology, business, marketing, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.

As part of their internship, students work on a real-world project that aligns with the startups needs and goals. At the end of their internship, they present the completed project. Each Ladder intern has a manager that they work with at the company, as well as a point of contact at Ladder Internships that they can reach out to for support and guidance. Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management and other such valuable skills. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

For a detailed review of Ladder Internships, check out this blog

Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management and other such valuable skills. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long

Location:  Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world

Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)

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

Application deadline: Winter cohort - November 24, 2024

Program dates: 8 weeks (starting in December)

2. Kaiser Permanente Launch

The KP Launch program, offered by Kaiser Permanente, provides a range of internships at its Oakland headquarters and medical offices throughout Northern California. KP Launch is a great fit for students interested in various aspects of healthcare that do not require a medical background, such as administration or infrastructure management. The program aims to help students explore potential careers in the medical field and is specifically geared towards high school students from underrepresented backgrounds and limited financial means. 

Additionally, it helps students develop practical job skills and gain valuable real-world work experience. As a bonus, accepted participants receive hourly minimum wage, up to $23 per hour. As an intern, you will work with health care professionals and leaders that will give you the support you need to explore the many non-medical careers that are available in health care.

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: There is no cost for this internship, KP Launch interns will be paid minimum wage based on the State of California and city’s standards depending on where your local program is located

Eligibility: Must be 16 - 19 years old

Application deadline: January 2025 (tentatively, based on previous years)

Dates/duration: June - August, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous years)

3. The J. Craig Venture Institute’s Summer Internship Program

The JCVI Summer Internship Program is a highly reputed opportunity, designed to guide and inspire talented students who are keen on pursuing science in the future. JCVI’s internship program is conducted during the summer months and allows students to dive deep into research. 

Key elements of the program include dedicated mentorship, collaboration and networking with renowned scientists, and hands-on involvement in tailored research projects aligned with your mentor’s academic background. See here for openings as JCVI’s internship program is on a rolling application and admission basis. 

Location: San Diego, CA

Cost: There is no cost

Eligibility: Must be 18 years of age

Application deadline: Rolling admissions

Dates/duration: 10 - 15 weeks (from June to August)

4. Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA) Internship 

MISA has specifically designed internships and courses to expose high school students to pre-med and pre-health fields. Students get to engage in hands-on clinical experiences in a range of healthcare settings that provide them with valuable learnings and a competitive edge as they apply to universities and begin their careers in healthcare. 

MISA has partnered with local health institutions like Alameda Health Systems, Samuel Merritt University, and private clinicians in Oakland to allow students from all over the country to gain a deeper understanding of what a career in medicine and healthcare looks like. Additionally, students can also receive recognized certifications for CPR, first aid, stop the bleed, teen mental health first aid, and blood borne pathogens. 

Location: Oakland, CA

Cost: $1450

Eligibility: High school students

Application deadline: Applications for 2025 will open in January

Dates/duration: 4 weeks

5. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)

The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) is a 6-week program aimed towards high school students keen on learning about science, medicine, and research careers. Students interact with and learn from Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and researchers to work on a medically-oriented project. 

The primary goals of PIPS are to help students deepen their understanding of biological sciences and medicine, help students understand the scientific research process and allow them to conduct research projects, and help students from diverse backgrounds engage in research and medicine.

Location: Stanford, Palo Alto, CA

Cost: No cost. Students who demonstrate financial need are eligible for a stipend of up to $3000

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from Northern California

Application deadline: February, 2024 (tentatively, based on previous years)

Dates/duration: 6 weeks, 30 hours per week (June-July)

6. UCSF Program for Investigation & Training for Centers in Health (PITCH)

Program for the Investigation and Training in Careers in Health (PITCH) is a 3-week summer program for high school students that takes place at the UCSF campus. Students get a chance to gain hands-on experience in the field of healthcare from UCSF professors and students. 

Through the program, students are paired with UCSF student mentors, who are from the dental, pharmacy, medical, and nursing schools of the university, to work on a group research project of their choice at the intersection of healthcare. They also get a chance to participate in labs, receive college guidance, and explore the UCSF campus. 

Location: UCSF campus, San Francisco, CA

Cost: $3000 + additional costs if you opt for housing on campus

Eligibility: Must be at least 14 years of age (or 16 for some projects)

Application deadline: April, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous years)

Dates/duration: 7 weeks (June-July)

7. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)

Stanford CSI aims to bring together curious high school students who are keen on diving deep into the science behind medicine. Through the program, students interact and learn from Stanford faculty, medical students, and residents. They get a chance to engage in simulations of real medical cases, visit Stanford clinics, and engage in guided dissection sessions. 

This internship experience is a great fit for students interested in gaining hands-on experience in the field of medicine. Not only do students learn the theoretical aspects of medicine, but get a chance to learn skills like suturing, injection administration, how to take patient history and record vitals accurately – all while experiencing the pressure of making critical, time sensitive decisions and providing immediate care. 

Location: Stanford, Palo Alto, CA

Cost: Ranges from $1980 to $6380 depending on the cohort and duration of the sessions (financial aid is available)

Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years of age

Application deadline: Applications for summer 2025 will open in November, 2024

Dates/duration: Varies based on the cohort

8. Children’s Hospital LA-HIP

LA-HIP is a comprehensive, year-long internship for high school students that combines biomedical research and college counseling. Through the internship, students gain access to instruction in biology, SAT prep classes, and college admission workshops. 

This is a great fit for students interested in the research aspect of medicine given that they get a chance to perform cutting-edge biomedical research experiments under the mentorship of scientists at the Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospitals Los Angeles. Note that this opportunity is geared towards students from underrepresented minorities in medicine and science. 

Location: Stanford, Palo Alto, CA

Cost: Ranges from $1980 to $6380 depending on the cohort and duration of the sessions (financial aid is available)

Eligibility: Current junior in high school, identify as an underrepresented minority in medicine and science, have a social security or DACA number

Application deadline: February, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous years)

Dates/duration: 1 year, typically starts in June

If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 


Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!



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