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Shadowing

Find physicians to shadow, track your hours, and craft the perfect outreach message.

01
Step-by-step

How to Get Shadowing

A practical, step-by-step guide to actually landing shadowing opportunities. Most students overcomplicate this.

Use Your Connections First

This is by far the most effective method. Before cold-calling anyone, think about who you already know — or who the people around you know.

  • Family members who work in medicine or healthcare
  • Family friends who are physicians, nurses, PAs, or work at hospitals
  • Parents' colleagues or neighbors in healthcare
  • Your professors — especially biology and chemistry faculty who often have clinical connections
  • Your school's pre-med advisor (they usually maintain a list of willing physicians)
  • Upperclassmen who already have shadowing — ask who they shadow and if they can introduce you
Tip: A warm introduction is 10x more likely to lead to a shadowing opportunity than a cold call. Even a simple "my professor recommended I reach out" changes the entire dynamic.
Call Private Practices Directly

Private practices are your best bet for cold outreach. Unlike hospitals, the doctor is the decision-maker — there's no bureaucracy, no volunteer services department, no 6-week application process. If the doctor says yes, you're in.

Here's exactly what to say when you call:

"Hi, my name is [Name] and I'm a [year] premed student at [school]. I'm looking for shadowing opportunities and was wondering if Dr. [Name] would be open to having a student shadow for a day or a few sessions. Who would be the best person to speak with about this?"

Tips for the call:

  • Call Tuesday through Thursday, mid-morning (10–11 AM) — Mondays are hectic, Fridays are short
  • Ask for the office manager — they're the gatekeeper and often the one who arranges this
  • Be polite and brief. If they say no, ask: "Would you happen to know any other doctors in the area who might be open to shadowing?"
  • It's a numbers game — expect to call 5–10 practices before getting a yes
Try Hospitals and Clinics

Many hospitals have formal volunteer or shadowing programs run through their Volunteer Services department. This is more structured but also more competitive and slower to set up.

  • Check the hospital's website — search for "volunteer" or "student shadowing program"
  • Call the Volunteer Services department directly and ask about shadowing opportunities
  • Be prepared for a longer process: applications, background checks, orientation sessions, and specific scheduling windows
  • Academic medical centers (teaching hospitals) are often more receptive to students than community hospitals
Tip: Even if the formal program has a waitlist, it's worth getting on it. In the meantime, pursue private practices for faster access. Most programs require a background check and immunizations — start early, takes 2–4 weeks to process.
Follow Up and Stay Organized
  • If you called or emailed and haven't heard back, follow up once after one week — a single polite follow-up is expected and professional
  • Keep a simple spreadsheet of who you've contacted: practice name, doctor name, date contacted, response, follow-up date
  • Don't get discouraged by rejections — many doctors want to help students but are genuinely too busy. It's not personal
  • Once you get one shadowing placement, it gets easier. That doctor can introduce you to colleagues in other specialties
Tip: Your goal is to shadow at least 2–3 different specialties. Once you have one physician willing to let you shadow, ask them: "Do you know any colleagues in [other specialty] who might be open to having a student shadow?"
02
Search

Find a Practice to Shadow

Search for private practices and clinics near you. Once you find one, call them directly using the phone script above.

Search Practices Near You
Find private practices and clinics open to shadowing
How to search effectively: Look specifically for private practices rather than large hospital systems. Search terms like "cardiology private practice near me" or "family medicine clinic [your city]" work well. Once you find a practice you like, call them directly using the phone script in the How to Get Shadowing section above.
03
Your progress

Shadowing Hours Log

Track every shadowing session. Your data is saved locally in your browser.

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Progress to 100h
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Record your shadowing session details
Date Doctor Specialty Location Hours Observations
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05
Make the most of it

Shadowing Tips

Everything you need to know before, during, and after your shadowing experience.

  • Confirm logistics ahead of time: dress code, parking, where to meet, what time to arrive
  • Review the specialty basics so you can follow along with what the doctor is doing
  • Bring a small notebook to jot down observations (never record patient information)
  • Turn your phone completely off — not silent, off
  • Dress professionally: business casual at minimum, closed-toe shoes, no strong fragrances
  • Eat beforehand — you won't always get a break
  • Bring immunization records in case they ask
Tip: Arrive 10–15 minutes early. First impressions matter, especially if you want to be invited back.
  • Observe quietly and stay out of the way — your job is to watch and learn
  • Pay attention to how the doctor communicates with patients, not just the medical content
  • Note interesting cases, surprising moments, and things that confirm or challenge your interest in medicine
  • Never discuss patient cases outside the clinical setting — this is a HIPAA requirement
  • Ask questions only when appropriate — between patients, during downtime, never during active patient care
  • Be genuinely curious. Doctors can tell when you're just going through the motions
  • Write your reflections immediately while the experience is fresh — what did you observe, what surprised you, what confirmed your interest in medicine
  • Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. Keep it short, specific, and genuine
  • Log your hours in the Track Hours section right away so you don't forget details
  • If the experience went well, ask if you can return for additional sessions
Tip: Your reflections are application gold. The specific moments you write down today become the stories you tell in your personal statement and interviews.
  • Be specific — name the specialty, describe a specific moment you witnessed
  • Show what you learned, not just that you showed up and watched
  • Connect it to why you want to be a doctor — what did this experience teach you about the profession?
  • Don't just list hours — admissions committees want depth over breadth

Example reflection structure:

  • Situation — Where were you? What specialty? What was happening?
  • What you observed — What specifically did the doctor do or say?
  • What you felt — What was your honest emotional response?
  • What you learned — What insight did this give you about medicine?
  • How it connects to your goals — Why does this matter for your path?

Check out Experience Reflections

Level Hours Notes
Minimum Recommended 40–50 hours Bare minimum most schools expect
Good Standing 50–100 hours Where most accepted applicants land
Strong 100+ hours Demonstrates sustained commitment
Tip: Variety matters as much as total hours. Aim for at least 2–3 different specialties so you can speak to the breadth of medicine. Include at least one primary care and one surgical specialty if possible.

Ready to track it all?

Your shadowing hours, specialties, and reflections — managed in one workspace.

Open App Workspace