10 Medical Internships for High School Students in Houston

Houston, home to world-renowned medical institutions like the Texas Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Baylor College of Medicine, offers countless opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals. Whether students are interested in cancer research, neuroscience, gynecology, surgery, or anything in between, Houston has it all! In fact, it may be difficult to narrow down which medical internships are best, which is why we’ve gone ahead and done the research for you! 

Interested in learning about the 10 best medical internships in Houston? Look no further! This article provides you with everything you need to know about 10 of the best medical internships for high school students in Houston. 

Why Explore Medicine in High School?

Going to medical school is a huge endeavor. One that takes lots of time, money, and perseverance. In other words, it’s a big decision to make. Exploring medical careers through high school internships is a great way to gain early career exposure. This will help you be sure that attending medical school is the right choice for you. Medical internships also offer insight into various specialties, from surgery to research. Overall, exploring medicine in high school through medical internships, volunteering, and pre-med summer programs gives students more insight into medical professions and specialties, as well as grants their college and pre-med applications a competitive edge. 

What to Expect from a Medical Internship

There are lots of different types of medical internships, which is why you’ll want to research each program carefully. Some programs take place in hospital settings and research labs, while university programs may primarily take place on a college campus. It’s also important to note that medical internships have different focuses as well. That means that these programs may provide different types of learning experiences, such as job shadowing, lab support, or administrative work assistance. Lastly, time commitments and program duration can vary greatly. While some programs may only last a week, others may last the entire summer. 

Top Qualities of a Strong Medical Internship Program

Now that we’ve established that there are many different types of medical internship programs, let’s take a moment to discuss some of the top qualities of a strong medical internship program: 

Hands-on learning and mentorship opportunities are among the most valuable traits of a medical internship. After all, a medical internship is meant to expose you to the in’s and out’s of real-life work scenarios so that you can better decide if a medical career is right for you. This is why activities such as job shadowing and laboratory work are so important. And remember, while observation can lead to valuable insights, the best programs balance observation with interactive learning. 

Additionally, you’ll also want to look for programs with a well-established, structured curriculum. Ideally, you want a program that is going to challenge and inspire you. Carefully designed programs, with both hands-on learning experiences and a structured academic curriculum, will give you a little bit of everything. 

Finally, you’ll want to look into whether programs include support systems like peer cohorts, seminars, or evaluations. This will help ensure that you are actively engaged and are making the absolute most out of your medical internship experience. 

10 Medical Internships for High School Students in Houston

There is no shortage of medical internships in Houston. With top-tier medical schools and the world’s largest medical complex, Texas Medical Center, there are opportunities everywhere! Here are 10 of the best medical internships for high school students in Houston:

1. Houston Methodist: Summer High School Research Internship

The Houston Methodist Summer High School Research Internship provides high school students with hands-on experience in biomedical research at Houston Methodist Research Institute. Interns work in professional labs under the mentorship of leading scientists, learning research methods, laboratory techniques, and exploring careers in medical science.

Ages: 16+

Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas

Timeline: May 27th – August 1st, 2025

Deadline: January 31st, 2025 (applications open December 2)

Cost: Free, Unpaid

2. University of Houston: MohanLab Summer Internship Program

Hosted by the Mohan Neuroplasticity Lab, the MohanLab Summer Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to engage in neuroscience research focusing on brain plasticity, memory, and behavior. Interns assist with data analysis, experiments, and literature reviews, gaining insight into cognitive science and academic research.

Ages: Rising high school seniors

Location: University of Houston, Houston, Texas

Timeline: June 3rd – July 26th, 2025

Deadline: March 31st, 2025

Cost: Free, Unpaid

3. UTHealth Houston: Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship

The Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship connects high school students in the Rio Grande Valley with research opportunities in health sciences and public health. Interns explore topics such as epidemiology, biomedical science, and healthcare access, while gaining exposure to academic research and health careers.

Ages: Rising high school juniors and seniors

Location: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas

Timeline: June 6th – July 19th, 2025

Deadline: May 9th, 2025

Cost: Free, Paid internship (stipend of $750 upon completion)

4. Baylor College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Summer Internship

Designed for students interested in medicine and women's health, the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Summer Internship places students in the OB/GYN department at Baylor College of Medicine. Participants shadow healthcare professionals, learn about reproductive health research, and gain insight into clinical and laboratory practices.

Ages: 16+

Location: Houston, Texas

Timeline: June 23rd – August 1st, 2025

Deadline: Late March 2025

Cost: Free, Unpaid

5. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program

The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program allows high school students to work with leading cancer researchers at MD Anderson. Interns participate in cancer-related research projects, attend lectures and seminars, and gain valuable mentorship and laboratory experience in one of the nation's top cancer centers.

Ages: 18+

Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Timeline: June 3rd – August 9th, 2025

Deadline: January 2025 (exact date TBD)

Cost: Free, Paid internship (stipend of $6,800)

6. Rice University: PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Internship

The PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Internship immerses high school students in the field of digital health technology. Interns collaborate with researchers on projects aimed at improving healthcare access and equity, focusing on engineering, computer science, and biomedical innovation.

Ages: Current high school sophomores and juniors

Location: Rice University, Houston, Texas

Timeline:

Session 1: June 10th – June 27th, 2025

Session 2: July 8th – July 25th, 2025

Deadline: April 10th, 2025

Cost: Free, Unpaid

7. Stanford University: SHTEM Summer Internships

The SHTEM Summer Internships at Stanford provide high school students with interdisciplinary research opportunities. Interns work with faculty and graduate students on diverse projects, from AI and neuroscience to ethics and digital media, fostering academic exploration and innovation.

Ages: 14+ (must be current juniors or seniors)

Location: Virtual

Timeline: June 17th – August 9th, 2025

Deadline: January 2025 (exact date TBD)

Cost: Free, Unpaid (financial aid available)

8. Harris Health Junior Volunteer Program 

The Harris Health Junior Volunteer Program is a great way for high school students to give back to their community while learning about various careers within the healthcare industry. High school volunteers are placed at various clinics and hospitals throughout Harris County, Texas, and are committed to volunteering for 6 weeks. Volunteer tasks may include working as a greeter, clerical assistant, patient educator assistant, medical records assistant, and more. 

Ages: 14-18

Location: Various locations throughout Harris County, Texas

Timeline: 6 weeks of service

Deadline: March 3rd, 2025

Cost: Free, Unpaid

9. Baylor College of Medicine: DocPrep Program 

Each year, the Baylor College of Medicine selects 60 rising seniors from South Texas affiliated high schools to participate in their DocPrep Program, a week-long academic enrichment program that helps students prepare for medical careers. Throughout the course of this program, students attend medical lectures, college and medical school counseling, simulation laboratory experiences, and a communication course taught by Rice University graduate students. 

Ages: Rising seniors from South Texas affiliated high schools

Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

Timeline: Week-long program in the summer

Deadline: TBD (applications open in March)

Cost: Reach out to [email protected] for more information

10. Envision and Polygence’s joint Medicine & Health Care Research Program

Hosted by Envision and Polygence, the Medicine & Health Care Research Program is a unique program with two distinct portions: During the first portion, students tour top-tier medical schools, shadow doctors, participate in clinical rotations, and experience cutting-edge medical simulations. Then, after students return from their week-long trip, they are paired with a PhD-level research program mentor who helps students design, execute, and present an independent research project on a topic of their choosing. 

Ages: 9th-12th graders

Location: Various locations, including Rice University in Houston, Texas

Timeline: June 22nd – 29th | July 5th – 12th

Deadline: Rolling

Cost: Tuition varies by location ($6,700 to $8,000) | payment plans available 

How to Apply and Prepare

In order to prepare for medical internship applications, high school students should start working on polishing their resumes, asking teachers for recommendation letters, and drafting a compelling personal statement that highlights their interest in healthcare. Remember, it's important to emphasize science-related coursework and extracurricular activities, such as science clubs, volunteer work, or science fairs and competitions throughout your application. After all, these experiences will help you stand out from your peers by highlighting your commitment. 

Throughout the application process, you’ll also want to pay close attention to application deadlines and be prepared for interviews, which often include questions about your career goals, teamwork experiences, and reasons for pursuing medicine. Take time to really reflect on your goals. You may even want to keep a journal to help you explore why a medical career is important to you and what you hope to gain from a medical internship. 

Soft Skills You’ll Gain from a Medical Internship

Medical internships aren’t just about learning how to read a chart or shadow a surgeon—they’re also powerful incubators for essential life and career skills.

• Communication
  Whether you're speaking with healthcare professionals, asking thoughtful questions, or learning to listen actively, clear and respectful communication is critical in every clinical setting.

• Professionalism
  Showing up on time, dressing appropriately, maintaining confidentiality, and navigating workplace dynamics all help you build a professional mindset early on.

• Adaptability
  Hospitals and labs are fast-paced environments. Things change quickly, and medical interns learn to adjust to shifting schedules, new tasks, or unexpected challenges with confidence.

• Empathy
  Observing patient care firsthand helps you understand the emotional side of medicine. You begin to grasp the importance of compassion, cultural sensitivity, and emotional intelligence in healthcare.

• Teamwork
  Medicine is collaborative by nature. Interns often work alongside peers, mentors, researchers, and clinical staff—learning how to contribute, support, and lead within a team.

• Time Management
  Balancing tasks, observing protocols, and managing study or application responsibilities alongside your internship builds strong time management skills that will serve you far beyond the summer.

No matter what path you take in healthcare—or even if you pivot to something else—these soft skills form the foundation of any successful career.

Begin Your Journey into Medicine

As previously mentioned, going to medical school is time-consuming and expensive. It’s also an incredibly competitive process. This is why it’s important to explore your career goals while you’re still in high school. By participating in medical internships, not only will you have a better idea of whether a medical career is right for you, but you’ll also gain a competitive edge on your college and medical school applications. 

There are lots of medical internships in Houston, so do yourself a favor and start thinking about applying today! After all, the sooner you begin your research and application process, the better your odds are at getting accepted into one of these prestigious programs.