Exploring Opportunities: Mayo Clinic High School Internship Programs

Mayo Clinic offers a variety of programs designed to provide high school students with hands-on learning experiences in healthcare and related fields. These programs aim to support students in their career exploration journey and expose them to the diverse career options available within Mayo Clinic.

Avenues for Career Exploration

Mayo Clinic provides several avenues for high school students to explore potential careers:

Student Experience Programs: Offer participants different ways to learn hands-on about careers at Mayo Clinic to help support them on their journey to their very own life-changing career.
Virtual Career Tours: Students can see what the day in the life of a specific career is like.
Career Meet & Greet: Provides high school (10th-12th) students the opportunity to learn and observe professionals in non-patient careers. Through observation and connecting with professionals, students will be able to confirm their career interests.

High School Internship Program

The High School Internship Program provides students in the 11th and 12th grades the opportunity to learn and work alongside professionals. High School Internships exposes students to various health care fields and careers through practical, real-world applications for their academic knowledge through in-person and/or virtual learning experiences. All internships are a minimum of 60 hours over the course of a semester/summer and must be completed for school credit. Students should work with their Education Coordinator (School Staff responsible for issuing the school credit) to get the process started.

Discover Mayo Clinic Programs

Several "Discover Mayo Clinic" programs offer hands-on experiences in specific areas of healthcare:

Discover Mayo Clinic Explorers: Provides students in the 10th-12th grades interested in health-related careers with the opportunity to engage with professionals in hands-on and engaging activities around medical and allied health careers over 7 weeks. Topics and careers may include: Histology, Surgical Skills, Emergency Medicine, Nuclear Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Casting. The topics and careers presented vary from year to year.
Discover Mayo Clinic (Nursing): Provides students in the 10th-12th grades interested in Nursing careers with the opportunity to engage with professionals in a hands-on and engaging atmosphere over 3 weeks. All level of Nursing careers at Mayo Clinic are explored from entry level roles requiring a high school diploma and/or certification to Advanced Practice roles requiring post graduate education.
Discover Mayo Clinic: Lab Explorers: Students dive into hands-on lab activities and connect with Mayo Clinic professionals in laboratory science. Highlighted careers include Phlebotomy, Histology, Lab Assistant/Lab Processing Assistant, and Medical/Clinical Laboratory Scientist. Event is free and open to students 8-12 grade.

Health Care Career Festival

The annual Health Care Career Festival offers high school students in grades 9-12 enrolled in participating southeastern Minnesota schools the opportunity to explore a wide range of exciting career opportunities in a festive, engaging atmosphere. It's a fun day of learning, sharing, and hands-on experience that provides career awareness education, information on career fields, and opportunities to use patient care equipment. The festival will take place on October 22, 2025.

Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology (SHE)

SHE (Summer Healthcare Experience) in Oncology is a virtual, multi-institutional, synchronous program for high school students. Program activities are designed to foster an interest in health-related careers, recognizing the unique challenges of rural Minnesotans. Programming is delivered in part through a partnership with eCLOSE Institute. The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is pleased to enroll up to 20 SHE in Oncology applicants each year. Program datesSHE in Oncology is a two-week, part-time, virtual summer program held on weekdays. Summer 2026 dates are pending. The application window for the Summer 2025 session is now closed, and the program has concluded.

Career Immersion Program

The Career Immersion Program offers an opportunity to explore and get an inside look at a wide range of allied health careers. While you may be familiar with roles like doctors, nurses, and researchers, there are many others you might not know - such as radiographers who capture X-rays or respiratory therapists who help patients breathe more easily. During this program, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences will pull back the curtain and share insights and information about several careers most students don’t even know exist. The Career Immersion Program is designed for students eager to explore hands-on, in-demand careers such as sonography, phlebotomy, respiratory care, paramedic, histology, and other allied health professions available through Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. Applications are accepted each year from Jan. 1 through March 15.

The application process includes:

Essay: Answering a question about interest in allied health careers.
Transcripts: Uploading the most current unofficial transcript that includes the fall semester grades.
Recommendation: Providing a educational reference from a person familiar with the applicant's educational qualifications and potential for success in the Career Immersion Program.

Applicants considered for admission into the program will be contacted for a short interview in April. The mission of the program is to expose students to the wide spectrum of healthcare careers by providing engaging learning experiences and opportunities to meet Mayo Clinic professionals, establish connections, and discover new possibilities for their personal and professional journeys. The program strives to foster learning about personal strengths, develop professionalism skills, promote wellness, and ultimately inspire students to become a future leader in the healthcare workforce.

MedEx Program

This program provides medical experiences to high school and college students considering careers as a nurse practitioner, physician or physician assistant. Students must be 16 or older and a junior or senior. Before applying to the MedEx program, students must demonstrate a significant commitment to volunteering at Mayo Clinic Health System. This requirement is satisfied by completing at least one academic term (fall, spring or summer) of volunteering with two- to four-hour weekly shifts, with satisfactory completion defined as attending at least 75% of scheduled shifts. Volunteer participation will be verified by Mayo Volunteer Services.

Mayo Clinic High School Volunteers Program

The Mayo Clinic High School Volunteers Program is a year-round volunteer program in Rochester, Minnesota, with service opportunities in both outpatient and inpatient settings. For training and scheduling purposes, the program is divided into three sessions a year. Priority will be given to students who submit their application and attend the Volunteer Orientation. A regularly scheduled weekday shift for a minimum of one session per year is required. Minnesota law requires facilities licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to complete applicant background studies on all individuals who have direct patient contact. This two-step process includes verification of identity, submission of a photograph and fingerprints. Note: There are certain times throughout the year when High School Volunteer Program applications are considered for acceptance. Ensure that you have reviewed the program sessions and application dates listed above prior to submitting your application.

General Requirements and Information

Commitment to Volunteering: Before applying to the MedEx program, students must demonstrate a significant commitment to volunteering at Mayo Clinic Health System. This requirement is satisfied by completing at least one academic term (fall, spring or summer) of volunteering with two- to four-hour weekly shifts, with satisfactory completion defined as attending at least 75% of scheduled shifts. Volunteer participation will be verified by Mayo Volunteer Services.
Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Benefits: As your career evolves, our compensation and benefits packages are designed to change with you-meeting needs now, and anticipating what comes next. We offer a variety of opportunities to continue to learn and grow with Mayo Clinic. Ranging from internships to fellowship programs, there is no stopping where you could go next.

The Mayo Clinic Environment

Mayo Clinic offers a unique and collaborative environment. At Mayo Clinic, you are a colleague of some of the most talented, experienced physicians in the world. You work with patients, conditions, and cases that most doctors will never encounter in their professional lives. Join a team where your voice is welcomed, and your insights and skills contribute to comprehensive, holistic care. Whether you're an experienced RN or a new graduate, our commitment to professional development empowers you to explore your passions and shape your career. Join the nursing team at Mayo Clinic and transform not only the lives of others but also your own.

Mayo Clinic has a legacy of inspiring hope and contributing to health and well-being by providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education and research. Envision yourself working for a global leader in an industry fueled by innovation and growth. You’ll find a world of non-medical focused careers with the power to change lives. At Mayo Clinic, we offer a wide range of opportunities that can be done completely remote. We lean on the variety of our colleagues’ perspectives and backgrounds to continuously challenge ourselves and to create a workplace that supports belonging.

Read also: Undergraduate Research Fellowship

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