Exploring Allied Health Careers: The Turner UCLA Internship Program and Beyond

The healthcare sector offers a multitude of career paths beyond the well-known roles of physicians and nurses. Allied health professions, encompassing nearly 60% of the healthcare workforce, are in high demand and provide competitive wages, health insurance, and other benefits. However, many students remain unaware of these opportunities. The Turner UCLA Allied Health Internship program, along with other initiatives in Southern California, aims to bridge this gap by exposing high school students and recent graduates to the diverse world of allied health.

The Turner UCLA Allied Health Internship: A Gateway to Healthcare Careers

Implemented by the UCLA Community Engagement Program in partnership with Bobby and Lauren Turner, the Turner UCLA Allied Health Internship provides invaluable learning opportunities for high school students and recent graduates interested in entry-level allied health professions. This one-week summer program addresses workforce shortages by offering career education and highlighting rewarding healthcare careers that don't necessitate a traditional four-year college education or medical school.

Program Highlights:

Exposure to Diverse Roles: Participants gain insights into clinical, administrative, and frontline healthcare roles through shadowing experiences at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center.
Hands-on Activities: The program incorporates hands-on activities and guest speaker panels to provide a comprehensive understanding of allied health professions.
Career Education: The internship exposes students to issues related to health disparities and encourages them to consider short-term allied health training programs and related scholarship options.
Support and Mentorship: Beyond the internship week, participants have access to support services, including professional development, scholarship opportunities, and networking events.

The program's goal is to inspire students to pursue careers in the helping professions and address workforce shortages in healthcare. Through the Allied Healthcare Careers Program and the expansion of the Turner-UCLA Allied Health Internship Program, UCLA hopes to inspire many more students to enter the helping professions.

Application Information:

The Summer 2026 application is now live. The deadline for all applications is Friday, April 10th, 2026, at 4:59 PM. Attending an information session is highly encouraged to learn more about the program.

Beyond Turner UCLA: Other Medical Internship Opportunities in Southern California

For high school students in Southern California eager to explore the medical field, numerous other internship programs offer diverse experiences and opportunities. These programs cater to various interests, from biomedical research to clinical shadowing and public health.

Research-Focused Internships:

Samuels Family LA-HIP High School Internship Program (Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles): This year-long paid internship focuses on biomedical research for underrepresented high school students. Interns conduct experiments, attend lectures, and receive mentorship from scientists and doctors, working on projects related to pediatric health and disease. The program also includes college application preparation and counseling.
City of Hope - Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy: This 10-week, full-time research experience allows high school students to design and carry out their own projects based on their scientific interests, including medicine. Participants work closely with faculty mentors, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and lab staff.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Medicine Track (Virtual): This rigorous research program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project across various subjects, including medicine, biology, and neuroscience.
Bridge Undergraduate Science Jr. Program (BUGS Jr.) (University of Southern California): This summer program pairs high school students with a USC Faculty Member and a research lab to conduct research and work on a research project.
Scripps Student Research Internship (Scripps Research, La Jolla): This 10-week summer internship program focuses on translational medical research, allowing students to study relevant topics in translational science, learn study design, analyze procedures, observe clinical trial proceedings, and present their own research.

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Moores Cancer Center OPTIMUS (UC San Diego): This 8-week cancer research internship program allows high school students to collaborate with researchers on active projects at cancer research labs, shadow physicians, doctors, and researchers, and learn research techniques.
Summer Youth Science Fellowship Program (UCI Cancer Research Institute, Orange County): This lab-based cancer summer research program allows high school students to spend 30 hours a week in a research lab, receive mentorship from oncologist researchers, observe ongoing project work, review literature, and conduct their own research.
The Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute Summer Research Program: This program provides high school students with research exposure in the field of diabetes and metabolism, where they will gain practical experience in research through bench work while directly working on lab experiments.

Clinical and Healthcare Exploration Internships:

Children's Hospital Los Angeles - High School Summer Volunteer Program: This program allows high school students to support patients, families, and hospital staff while gaining confidence and real-world experience.
Los Angeles Pediatric Society - Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program: This program encourages high school students to explore careers in the health professions by offering structured mentorship and exposure to numerous medical specialties.

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Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Camp CHLA: This five-day program introduces high school students to careers in healthcare through presentations, hands-on learning in areas such as CPR and first aid, and direct exposure to hospital environments.
Rady Children's Health Medical Academy (San Diego): This 2-week summer program offers insights from healthcare professionals and interactive projects to build practical skills, exploring various healthcare careers and understanding essential skills needed for success.
Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (Mi4) Summer Internship Program (CHOC’s Medical Intelligence & Innovation Institute, Orange): This program allows high school students to explore various careers in the medical field, receive guidance from healthcare professionals, learn about innovations in medicine, and participate in clinical workshops.
UCLA - High School Pre-Med Summer Scholars Program: This one-week daytime summer program is designed for high school students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field.

Other Unique Internship Opportunities:

Veritas AI - Deep Dive: AI + Medicine (Virtual): This program introduces high school students to the implications of artificial intelligence in shaping modern healthcare, through guided sessions, coding tasks, and collaborative projects focused on applying AI to real medical challenges.
UCLA - BrainSPORT Internship: This internship allows students to work with the multidisciplinary BrainSPORT team, supporting research on adolescents experiencing long-term post-concussion symptoms.
UCLA - COSMOS Pre-College Program: This four-week residential pre-college program allows high school students to study advanced STEM subjects under the guidance of UCLA faculty, researchers, and scientists while working in modern laboratories and research spaces.
University of Southern California - The Brain: Introduction to Neuroscience: This program introduces high school students to key questions about human behavior, cognition, and aging through lectures, laboratory work, and guided investigations.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources

Many of these programs offer financial aid or stipends to help students cover the costs of participation. Additionally, several resources are available to help students find and apply for scholarships and financial aid:

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): The U.S. Department of Education provides this application to help students access federal financial aid.
California Student Aid Commission: This commission administers Cal Grants and provides information on other types of aid, including the Federal Pell Grant and the Board of Governor's Fee Waiver.
Board of Governor's Fee Waiver: This waiver covers enrollment fees for California residents attending a California Community College.
Online Scholarship Databases: Numerous free searchable databases offer information on various scholarship opportunities.

When applying for scholarships, it's essential to stay organized, meet all deadlines, and proofread applications carefully. A compelling personal statement or essay can significantly enhance your application.

Additional Programs and Initiatives

Beyond internships and scholarships, several other programs aim to support students interested in healthcare careers:

Generation Xchange: This program places older community volunteers in elementary school classrooms to help students improve reading and math skills, promoting health and wellness outcomes for both generations.
Family Medicine "Bridging the Gap" Program (UCLA): This program partners with local high schools to bring role models and medical education to students interested in healthcare careers.
Long Beach Polytechnic High School Biomedical Research Program: This semester-long honors program provides students with instruction in experimental design, patient safety and ethics, and mentored research at medical-research sites.
UCLA School of Dentistry's Basic Dental Principles (BDP) program: This program offers undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students an opportunity to explore the field of dentistry through a structured, two-part experience.
UCLA Public Health Scholars Training Program: This program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to explore the field of public health through hands-on training, structured workshops, group events, volunteering opportunities, and leadership and professional development.
UCLA/DREW Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP): A free program for 1st and 2nd year educationally and economically disadvantaged undergraduate and community college students to explore their interests in medicine, dentistry, and nursing.
UCLA Pre-medical Enrichment Program (UCLA PREP): A free, six-week intensive summer program for educationally and economically disadvantaged students interested in strengthening their readiness to study medicine.
UCLA Re-Application Program (UCLA RAP): A 11-month post-baccalaureate program for students seeking to enhance their qualifications for medical school.

The Importance of Experiential Learning

Experiencing healthcare professions firsthand is crucial in helping students determine if a career in the field is right for them. Opportunities such as shadowing professionals at hospitals or doctor's offices and volunteering during the summer can provide valuable insights into the daily realities of various healthcare roles.

tags: #turner #ucla #allied #health #internship #requirements