Job Shadow

Job shadowing is an opportunity to observe a healthcare practitioner in a particular job of interest. During a job shadowing experience, you will spend time following the individual around to see what a day of work looks like in that career. It's recommended that you dress professionally, bring a list of prepared questions, and carry a notepad and pen or pencil to take notes. 

FINDING A JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITY 

To locate a shadowing opportunity, consider speaking with practitioners you have connected with in the past or search for various practices in the local area and contact their offices directly. We recommend reviewing this blog post on finding job shadowing opportunities and the information below: 

Location ideas by profession:

• Physician – Hospital, urgent care, out-patient, private/family practice
  • College of Human Medicine Lansing Campus
  • MSU Department of Surgery
  • Sparrow Hospital
• Physician Assistant – Hospital, medical practice (surgical center, dermatology, general practice), urgent care
  • MSU Department Of Surgery
  • Sparrow Hospital
• Dental/Chiropractic/Podiatrist – Private practice
• Optometry - Private practice or retailer (LensCrafters, SVS Vision, LO Eyecare, Walmart, Meijer, Costco)
• Pharmacist – Hospital or retailer (Meijer, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Central Pharmacy)
  • Sparrow Hospital
• Physical/Occupational Therapy – Private practice, hospital, rehabilitation facility, nursing homes

Other items to consider:

• Private and small practices, such as those involved in dental, physical or occupation therapy, should be considered when trying to obtain shadowing experience. Hospitals and larger institutions often offer volunteering over shadowing
• Call directly to see what opportunities are available.
• Confirm what forms provided by the shadowing site, if any, need to be completed by you in order to shadow.

PREPARING FOR JOB SHADOWING

To assist you in preparing for a job shadowing experience, please download this job shadowing guide.

VIRTUAL JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES

These virtual experiences are meant to act as a supplement to other in-person shadowing and clinical experiences, rather than as a replacement. It's important to note that different professional schools will evaluate virtual shadowing experiences differently. Regardless of how these experiences will be evaluated in the application process, they can still serve as a great way for you to continue exploring and learning more about the career field(s) you are interested in! 

• https://www.prehealthshadowing.com/
• https://virtualshadowing.com/
• https://medicalschoolhq.net/eshadowing/
• https://www.webshadowers.org/
• https://www.coloradowm.org/courses/pre-med/virtual-shadowing-nano-course-emergency-medicine/
• https://hearts4health.wixsite.com/hearts4health/about-1