High School Programs
High School Summer Internship Program

Gain Hands-On Experience in Pediatric Biomedical Sciences

The High School Summer Internship Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is an eight-week program in which graduating high school seniors work 20 hours per week with a mentor in one of multiple pediatric specialties. This internship is a paid, part-time position for Cincinnati-area graduating high school seniors only. The program is very competitive, offering an exciting opportunity for highly motivated students interested in pursuing higher education (MD, PhD, or MD / PhD) to learn more about careers in Biomedical Sciences.

Important Details

Interns work in person part-time (20 hours per week) and are paid $13 per hour. Attendance is mandatory on Orientation Day, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Please note that applicants must be a resident in the Cincinnati metropolitan area and graduating from high school in spring 2025.

The Experience

All Summer interns will shadow their primary mentor in the clinic and can participate in clinical or research projects (see photos from past summers below). Follow the links to mentor faculty webpages in the box below to help you decide which specialty and faculty mentor you would like to work with. You will be asked to rank the top specialties you are interested in and discuss your reasoning for your ranking in an essay as part of the application. Please note, all applicants are required to complete the online application and all requirements before a placement is confirmed.

Each summer intern will have a unique experience. Interns also have the option of observing in other specialties upon request. All interns attend a weekly group luncheon every Tuesday to network with their peers and interact with other specialists. There are also scheduled group activities including a hands-on training session with computerized simulated pediatric patients in the SIM Center (see photos), group community service opportunities and lunch seminars with featured speakers from a variety of specialties. At the end of the internship, students present a summary of their unique experiences to the group at the graduation party.

Below is a list of the 2024 mentors. The final list of mentors will be made in 2025.

Use the links below to learn more about the 2024 mentors and their specialties:

Mihir Atreya, MD, MPH: Critical Care

Jennifer Kaplan, MD, MS: Critical Care

Mansa Krishnamurthy, MD, MSc: Endocrinology

Yutaka Maeda, DVM, PhD: Neonatology and Pulmonary Biology

Ekemini Ogbu, MD, MSc: Neuroinflammatory Disease Services in Rheumatology

Scott Rankin, MS: Developmental Biology

Debora Sinner, PhD: Neonatology and Pulmonary Biology

Anne Slavotinek, PhD, MBBS: Human Genetics

Joshua Waxman, PhD: Molecular Cardiovascular Biology

Matthew Zackoff, MD, MEd: Critical Care

In addition to all of the above opportunities, there are additional shadowing offerings. Last year's opportunities were arranged in:

  • Hospital Medicine
  • Emergency Department
  • Intensive Care Unit

Thank you for your interest in the High School Summer Internship program. The 2025 application will open in early November and will close on February 1, 2025. Please be prepared to provide the following:

  1. Academic record (official transcript and weighted GPA through fall semester, 2024).
  2. All standard test scores, if available (SAT and ACT preferred, PSAT scores not necessary).
  3. Select top three specialties and mentors in which they are most interested. We make every effort to match interns with their specialty of greatest interest.
  4. Resume featuring leadership in extracurricular activities, community service, and employment.
  5. Please be prepared to answer a series of essay questions, including giving a personal statement, explaining why you are interested in your top ranked specialties, describing your academic and career goals and your motivations for wanting to join the program.
  6. Two letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant's scientific potential, maturity, and responsibility.

If selected to move forward, students will be asked to submit a pre-recorded video giving additional information about this passions, experiences and goals.

Interested students with questions about the program or application process should contact us at hssummerinternship@cchmc.org .
High school summer internship group.
The internship group gathers outside to enjoy some summer weather.
Members of high school summer internship program with simulator.
Summer interns have the opportunity to learn and practice what they've learned with a simulator.
High school internship member with mentor.
Wearing scrubs is part of the learning experience for many of the internship participants.
Members of the high school internship group working together on a task.
Group activities are great for team building and accomplishing tasks together. 
Members of the High School Summer Internship in class.
Members of the summer internship program spend time on hands-on learning activities.
  • High school summer internship group.
  • Members of high school summer internship program with simulator.
  • Member of high school internship with mentor.
  • Members of the high school internship group working together on a task.
  • Members of the High School Summer Internship in class.
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