Virtual Internship in Medicine, Healthcare and Medical Research
A two weeks of medicine intership for students in grades 8-12
Dates: 7-18 November 2026 (except 12th & 13th)
Eligibility: Grades 8 – 12
Fees: USD 600 + VAT
What Is Medicine Virtual Internship?
This internship is an intensive two-week medical immersion for ambitious students curious about medicine, healthcare and medical research.
Think Like a Doctor: Explore How Modern Medicine Really Works
Explore clinical reasoning, genetics, neuroscience, medical research, communication, ethics and AI through real-world case studies and an immersive medical project.
Go Beyond Textbooks and Discover How Medicine Works in the Real World
Through clinical cases, interactive exercises, research and project work, students explore how doctors move from symptoms to diagnosis, how genetics and neuroscience inform clinical decisions, how medical evidence is evaluated, and how emerging technologies such as AI are transforming healthcare.
Students will explore:
- Clinical reasoning and diagnostic thinking
- Genetics and genomics
- Neurology and neuroscience
- Medical research and evidence evaluation
- Patient communication
- Medical ethics
- AI and emerging healthcare technologies
- Scientific presentation and communication
No prior medical knowledge is required.
A JOURNEY FROM PATIENT TO DIAGNOSIS
The programme is designed as one connected learning journey rather than ten separate classes.
Week One: From Patient to Genome and Back
Students begin with a patient story and explore how symptoms, DNA, mutations, sequencing, genetics and neurological findings contribute to real-world diagnoses.
Week Two: Medicine Beyond the Diagnosis
The focus widens to patient communication, ethics, AI in medicine, medical careers and research, and how scientific discoveries and clinical evidence become real-world treatments.
At the centre of the programme are two essential skills: reasoning through a patient case and understanding the research evidence that informs clinical decisions.
This is your opportunity to showcase your diplomacy, leadership, and debate skills while competing for one of the conference’s most prestigious recognitions. Scholarship covers conference registration fees only. Travel, accommodation, visa, and related expenses remain the responsibility of the delegate.
WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAMME UNIQUE?
Think Like a Doctor
Students learn how clinicians approach medical problems, moving from patient symptoms and clinical findings towards a reasoned diagnosis.
Work on a Clinical Case
Students work on a patient case throughout the programme, applying what they learn and developing their clinical reasoning step by step.
Explore Modern Medical Science
From DNA sequencing and genetics to neuroscience and polygenic risk scores, students discover the science driving modern medicine.
Communication & Medical Ethics
Students explore consent, confidentiality, uncertainty and challenging patient conversations, developing skills rarely introduced at school level.
AI & the Future of Medicine
Students discover how artificial intelligence is already being used in hospitals, how medical AI systems are developed, and the challenges surrounding evidence, regulation and implementation.
Understand Medical Research
Students learn how to search for clinical evidence, understand research papers and critically evaluate whether findings can meaningfully inform treatment.
Present Like a Clinician
Students conclude the programme by presenting their clinical case, diagnostic reasoning, treatment research and evaluation of the available evidence.
YOUR FINAL CLINICAL CASE PROJECT
Throughout the two weeks, students work collaboratively on a clinical case.
The project develops progressively alongside the programme. During Week One, students build the clinical reasoning leading from the patient’s presentation towards a diagnosis. During Week Two, they research an aspect of treatment and examine the evidence supporting it.
Students develop skills in:
- Clinical reasoning
- Evidence-based thinking
- Medical research
- Scientific communication
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Critical thinking
- Presentation
The programme culminates in a final clinical case presentation where students explain their reasoning, evaluate research evidence and demonstrate how they handled uncertainty.
MEET YOUR MENTOR
Dr Sophia E. Hodgkinson
Physician-Researcher | Neurology, Neurosurgery & AI
Dr Sophia E. Hodgkinson grew up across five countries before earning her MD, with research undertaken at Harvard Medical School and King’s College London spanning neurology, neurosurgery and AI.
Her work has covered areas including motor-eloquent glioma surgery, neuroimaging and artificial intelligence. Most recently, she worked as a Clinical Researcher at Hologen, a UCL/KCL neuro-AI startup, focusing on drug-development modelling and translational neuroimaging.
She has more than 3,000 hours of teaching and mentoring experience, including designing and leading her own two-week medicine course for seven cohorts at Oxford summer programmes.
A TEDx speaker, EAN Fellowship winner and former EdTech founder, she has been accepted to Stanford’s 2027 M-TRAM programme and will continue her research alongside neurology training in Switzerland.
She particularly enjoys teaching students who are curious about medicine, science and where both fields are heading.
WHO SHOULD JOIN?
This programme is designed for Grades 8–12 students who are:
- Considering medicine or healthcare as a future career
- Interested in biology, neuroscience, genetics or AI
- Looking to explore medicine beyond the school curriculum
- Interested in medical research and evidence-based thinking
- Preparing for competitive university applications
- Looking to develop reasoning, research and presentation skills
Futures Abroad
Phone: +971 58 590 6682
Email: contact@futuresabroad.com