Boston Medical Internships: A Guide for Aspiring Healthcare Professionals

Boston, a hub for medical innovation and research, offers a plethora of internship opportunities for students eager to delve into the healthcare field. Whether you're an undergraduate exploring career paths or a medical student seeking specialized experience, Boston's hospitals and research institutions provide invaluable hands-on learning experiences. These internships not only enhance your resume but also offer a glimpse into the dynamic world of medicine, research, and patient care.

The Allure of Interning in Boston

Boston is home to world-renowned hospitals and research institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. Interning at these institutions provides a unique chance to learn from experienced professionals, observe clinical practices, and contribute to projects that support public health and medical innovation. You’ll also join a diverse community of peers and mentors who share your interests in medicine, science, and community health.

Featured Internship Programs

2026 Summer Academy Program at CEMS

The 2026 Summer Academy Program is designed for undergraduate students studying biology, biomedical engineering, all pre-med and related fields, as well as medical students. This program at the Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery (CEMS) intertwines research and education, inviting young physician-scientists and engineers to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Interns will perform application-oriented, cutting-edge research to increase their competitiveness for future education. Each intern is assigned to a post-doctoral fellow for supervision, and they will be expected to attend meetings and present their results at the end of the internship. The program also offers opportunities to interact with other interns and scientists through research seminars, weekly meetings, and scientific development workshops. Weekly journal club meetings allow interns to prepare and give presentations on topics of their interest under the supervision of fellows. Selected applicants should be prepared for in-person interviews with prospective mentors.

ATP-Bio, a National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) co-led by the University of Minnesota and Massachusetts General Hospital, with academic partnerships at various universities, focuses on engineering research aimed at eliminating or mitigating the challenges of biopreservation: ice formation, cryoprotective agent (CPA) toxicity, and slow or non-uniform rewarming.

Eligibility requires current enrollment in a 4-year university or community college, planning to major in a science discipline (engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, or related fields), and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

Boston Children’s Hospital-Northeastern University Summer Internship Program (Summer 2026)

This 8-week paid internship program is held on the campus of Boston Children’s Hospital. Interns will learn about careers in academic medicine. Interns will gain skills and knowledge about medical research through both didactic learning and the design and performance of their own group research project with the goal of authoring an original scientific manuscript. Research mentors will provide medical journal to learn about careers in academic medicine through shadowing opportunities, career development talks, and opportunities to interact with future mentors.

At the conclusion of this internship, interns will have gained the skills and knowledge to design and execute a research project from start to finish including literature review, study design, data collection and analysis, data interpretation, manuscript drafting, and the presentation of scientific data. Interns will understand the types of careers that exist in academic medicine including the necessary prerequisites and training, day-to-day job responsibilities, academic opportunities and the joys and rigors of working in a field that positively impacts the lives of others.

Program Details:

Duration: July-August
Commitment: Full-time (40 hours/week)
Salary: $5,000 over 8 weeks
Application Deadline: March 30th, 2026 (or when the first 50 completed applications are received)

Responsibilities:

Perform a group research project under the supervision of a research mentor
Attend didactic learning experiences on research, clinical care, and career development
Attend structured clinical shadowing experiences

Qualifications:

Entry level position; no prior research or clinical experience is required

Celebrating the Summer 2025 Cohort

The Summer 2025 Cohort successfully completed a clinical research study and drafted an abstract that was accepted for presentation at the 2026 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

The interns also logged more than 40 hours shadowing a diverse range of providers in the emergency department, gained hands-on clinical skills, attended educational sessions for residents and fellows, and benefited from over 20 hours of career-focused talks on academic medicine.

Testimonials from the 2025 Cohort:

Imma Pierre: "This internship allowed me to gain important experience in clinical and research settings that furthered my appreciation for patient care… The program reinforced my dedication to becoming a Physician Assistant and created my interest in emergency medicine and pediatrics."
Chanelle Boadu: "This experience not only solidified my passion for academic medicine but also broadened my interests in the different fields of medicine. Pediatric care, especially emergency, holds a special place in my heart."
Lucia Gizzi: "This summer internship program was incredibly influential for me and my future career plans… You will develop lasting relationships with your fellow interns as well as with mentors… I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my summer.”
Yachne Elysse: "This internship has given me a new perspective and appreciation for all fields in medicine, not just physicians… The staff at BCH fosters a welcoming and genuine environment where they want to see all the interns grow and hopefully encourage their path in medicine."

Other Internship Opportunities at Boston Children’s Hospital

Boston Children’s Hospital offers various internship programs that provide meaningful, hands-on experience for students interested in clinical care, research, healthcare administration, and beyond. These internships provide an environment built on support, collaboration, and purpose.

COACH (Community, Opportunities, and Advancement at Children’s Hospital) Summer Internship Program: This flagship initiative provides high school and college students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the healthcare environment.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Internship Programs

BWH offers a range of opportunities for students to work or volunteer and learn, whether over the summer months or on a part-time basis during the school year. Each program is geared toward different types of students at different levels.

Health Careers Connection (HCC): HCC is dedicated to assisting students in making well-informed decisions about healthcare careers and gaining practical experience in healthcare organizations. It provides paid internships, career resources, and networking opportunities to undergraduates interested in pursuing careers in healthcare.
Rising Stars in Science and Medicine Program: This is a distinguished summer research opportunity for undergraduate rising seniors, seniors, pre-med, and first-year medical students with a strong interest in pursuing advanced careers as research scientists, physicians, and/or health care professionals. The program recruits students from around the nation into an eight-week mentored summer program.
Medical Career Exploration Volunteer Program (MCEP): MCEP is designed to give undergraduate college students (freshmen, sophomore and juniors) an opportunity to gain experience in a prestigious Harvard affiliated teaching hospital in order to help them make informed career/educational decisions while also availing them the opportunity to give back to the community.
BWH Summer Internship Program (pdf): This exploration program introduces high school and college students to dynamic careers in health care. If selected, students will be offered an internship in a hospital department, receive hourly wages, and have opportunities to learn about health care careers.
Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP): This is a year-round internship program at BWH designed to introduce 90 Boston high school students to medical and science professions. Students are matched with health care professionals who provide mentoring and serve as role models. SSJP partners with eight Boston public high schools and The Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) to recruit students.
Project TEACH (Teen Education About Careers in Health): This is a summer program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital geared to expose 10th grade students attending partnering public high schools and community agencies to health, science and medical careers. The Program spans the nephrology divisions of four Harvard-affiliated hospitals - Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston’s Children’s Hospital (BCH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Additional Boston Hospital Internships for College Students

Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) Internship: This internship provides a research-focused experience in computational health informatics and artificial intelligence applied to biomedical and public health challenges. You will be mentored by faculty at CHIP, engaging with data analytics, machine learning, and digital surveillance in healthcare settings. You’ll participate in weekly didactic sessions, seminars, and journal clubs to deepen theoretical knowledge alongside practical projects. The work includes analyzing large healthcare datasets, clinical decision making via high-throughput molecular data, and public health informatics. You should have proficiency in programming languages such as R, Python, or Stata and be prepared to multitask and work independently.
Summer Undergraduate Research Internships - Lurie Center for Autism (Mass General Hospital): This nine-week summer program at the Lurie Center for Autism (Massachusetts General Hospital) provides you with training in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research, including clinical, preclinical, and translational areas. During the internship, you will be matched with a faculty mentor to guide a semi-independent research project, with regular mentoring and weekly seminars on ASD and fundamental research methods. You will gain experience in tasks such as study design, patient recruitment, biosample processing, and data analysis, among others. You will also get opportunities to observe clinical care in specialties including neurology and psychiatry. The internship is full-time (35 hours/week), in-person, and culminates in a final presentation for Lurie Center staff and peers.
Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Anesthesia Clinical and Research Internship (PACaRI): PACaRI at Boston Children’s Hospital runs for 12 weeks and combines clinical observation with research tasks. After a short orientation, you’ll spend one day each week in the operating room shadowing anesthesia technicians. You will also work with a small group on a research project and participate in scheduled lectures and workshops focused on anesthesiology and pediatric care. Your weekly responsibilities include clinical observation, reviewing scientific literature, and completing structured activities such as interview practice and application preparation. The program ends with a research presentation. It’s a practical option if you’re interested in healthcare roles in pediatric settings and can accommodate up to about 25 hours of involvement per week.
BMC Autism Program Internship & Volunteer Placement: As an intern with the BMC Autism Program, you’ll assist with projects that support children and families affected by autism spectrum disorder. Depending on your interests, your work may include contributing to research, developing family resources, observing clinical appointments, or supporting initiatives like Teens Engaged as Mentors (TEAM). The internship can be completed in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format, with some activities requiring on-site participation. Interns typically commit 4-15 hours per week and receive regular supervision to support their professional development and project goals.
Women’s Sports Medicine Summer Internship Program: This one-month summer internship is designed for undergraduate students interested in premedical studies and those considering careers in medicine or sports medicine. The program provides you with direct exposure to the field of women’s sports medicine through a combination of clinical shadowing and hands-on research. You will have the opportunity to observe orthopaedic surgery, attend outpatient clinics, and participate in physical therapy sessions, gaining insight into the multidisciplinary care provided to female athletes. In addition to clinical experiences, you will complete a research project under faculty supervision, which may involve data collection, literature review, or analysis of patient outcomes. The program is structured to help you build foundational skills in clinical observation, patient interaction, and research methodology.
Mass General Orthopedic Visiting Research Program: In this visiting research program, you will participate in orthopaedic research that spans clinical, translational, and basic science projects. You’ll work with faculty and staff whose functions include biomechanics, biomaterials, new materials, surgical techniques, and device design. As an intern, you are expected to be literate in Microsoft Word and Excel, and prior coursework in statistics or computer science is considered helpful. You must be currently enrolled in an academic program and be able to commit to at least four months on-site.
Mass General Brigham Faculty Mentor Internship: In this research internship, you will conduct an eight-week basic science or translational research project under the guidance of a Mass General Brigham faculty mentor, with structured mentoring and cohort-based activities. The program includes clinical shadowing, career development seminars, weekly talking circles, networking events, and required orientation in the first days of the program. The program’s mission centers on preparing future leaders in Native health through research training, mentorship, and community-focused professional development.
Mass General Brigham Internship: Over eight weeks, participants take part in mentored research and clinical exposure at Mass General Brigham, one of the largest Harvard Medical School teaching hospital systems and a leading NIH-funded academic medical center. Each student works on a defined research project with structured guidance in scientific writing and presentation, including crafting an abstract and delivering a final presentation. You’ll also take part in social outings designed to foster informal networking and community building. You will be paired with a mentor who supports your academic and professional development, with a focus on careers in research, medicine, and public health in underserved communities.
Pediatric Epilepsy Research Internship - Boston Children’s Hospital: At the Loddenkemper Research Laboratory, you can participate in pediatric epilepsy research, focusing on both clinical and laboratory-based project work. Your tasks may include data collection, assistance with neurophysiology studies, or support for ongoing clinical trials centered on epilepsy and related seizure disorders. The position is suitable for those planning careers in medicine, neuroscience, or psychology. Some of the key elements of the program include participation in lab meetings, potential opportunities for shadowing, and the chance to work with patient data. This hands-on hospital setting provides you with regular mentorship from established professionals in the field.
Codman Square Health Center Medical Student Internship Program: This six-week program allows you to shadow clinicians in primary care, HIV, sexual health, and substance use disorder clinics across multiple Boston hospital settings. You will spend time at Codman Square and at partner institutions such as Boston Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital. The program pairs you with a mentor, involves you in a quality improvement project, and includes didactic training on HIV, STI, and HCV care. Selected interns gain direct clinical exposure and an understanding of health disparities in urban communities.
Medical Career Exploration Program (MCEP) - Brigham and Women’s Hospital: The Medical Career Exploration Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital offers undergraduate students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a Harvard-affiliated hospital environment. You will be expected to commit to a minimum of 12 months and 140 hours of volunteering, which includes 60 hours as ambassadors in Patient Access Services and 80 hours in departmental roles. As a Patient Access Ambassador, you will greet patients, assist with directions, answer questions, and escort visitors, gaining direct interaction with patients and families. Alternatively, you can serve as a Central Transport volunteer, assisting with patient transport, laboratory specimens, and equipment movement, providing insight into hospital logistics and behind-the-scenes operations. The program culminates with the opportunity to shadow a physician for a day and receive a recommendation letter upon completing the hours.
Newborn Medicine Summer Student Research Program: This program offers motivated undergraduates an intensive experience in laboratory and clinical research related to neonatal care. You will observe newborn care in hospital clinics and NICUs, and engage in bench, translational, or epidemiological research projects. The program includes weekly conferences and teaching sessions led by faculty mentors. It aims to develop your understanding of neonatal medicine, research methodologies, and clinical practices. The internship encourages applications from students from diverse backgrounds, especially underrepresented groups in medicine.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) Social Work Internships: BIDMC offers social work internships designed to provide college students with experience in healthcare social services within a major hospital setting. As an intern, you will gain exposure to patient care coordination, psychosocial assessments, discharge planning, and community resource linkage under the supervision of licensed social workers. The internship provides direct insight into the role of social work in acute care, chronic illness management, and patient advocacy. You will learn communication and counseling skills pertinent to patients and families facing health challenges.

How to Make the Most of Your Internship

For college students interested in healthcare, hospital internships can be a strong way to explore professional environments while developing both academic and practical skills. These programs allow you to gain early exposure to medical settings, contribute to ongoing research or patient care projects, and build an understanding of how different healthcare teams operate. Internships also help you strengthen critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills that are essential in any medical or research career.

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