Learning what it means to be a physician is essential for discerning a career in medicine, and there are a variety of activities that provide exposure to diverse settings to help you explore your path. Shadowing allows a pre-medical student to observe as the healthcare professional provides care to patients.
A shadowing experience not only introduces the profession of medicine and the day-today responsibilities of the health care provider, but it also offers the physician and/or other health care provider the opportunity to model professional, ethical, culturally sensitive treatment of patients.
Shadowing a physician can help you:
- Determine your fit in the medical profession, including aptitude, dedication, and attributes needed to pursue this path.
- Enhance knowledge of how the patient perspective impacts quality of care.
- Better understand the many roles within a healthcare team.
Shadowing at UChicago Medicine
Shadowing intake and physician pairings take place at the beginning of each quarter. Due to a high volume of shadowing requests and limited availability of physicians, these opportunities are reserved for UChicago undergraduates with no prior shadowing experience.
In order to join the waitlist for shadowing at UCM, please complete this form to request access to a set of required HIPAA and hospital safety training assignments.
CIH and our partners at UCM will reach out to individuals from the waitlist on a rolling basis at the beginning of each quarter to coordinate a date, time, and physician assignment for accepted individuals.
Please do not reach out or request shadowing with UChicago Medicine independently. This revised process streamlines the shadowing procedures for students and physicians, so it is important to follow the above outlined steps!
Managing Your Shadowing Experience
Here are some steps to consider before, during, and after your shadowing opportunity takes place, to make the most of your experience. These are applicable whether you shadow at UCM or at any other hospitals or clinics!
Before:
- Dress in business casual attire. Remember to maintain good hygiene and present yourself in a put-together manner.
- Set up a place to meet. Make sure you know exactly where you will be going so there is no confusion on the day of.
During:
- Be sure to be respectful and punctual – do not arrive late!
- Take instructions directly from you’re the physician you are shadowing.
- You can take notes; however, be sure to refrain from documenting patient-related data.
- If a patient addresses you, you should identify yourself as a pre-medical student and kindly answer their questions only if they are general; for any care-related questions, politely refer them to a member of the staff.
After:
- Send a thank you message within one week to the physician you shadowed, thanking them for everything they taught you.
- For your own records, document the time you spent shadowing, and thoroughly write about the experiences you have at the end of each shadowing session.
- Keep note of the date, number of hours, the facility or environment, and the name of the physician you shadowed.
- This can be referred to later, when you are filling out your Work & Activities section of medical school applications.