Unc Hospital Shadowing

UNC School of Medicine (“SOM”) Medical Doctorate students may shadow faculty throughout the UNC Medical Center (with the exception of the operating room setting) in accordance with the terms of this policy and applicable SOM policies.

Shadowing and Volunteering

Listed below are various settings to volunteer and/or shadow for both physical therapy and occupational therapy. This is not an exclusive list of relevant PT and OT shadowing or volunteering opportunities. However, we hope this aids your search in gaining experience on your path to becoming an Occupational or Physical Therapist! You can also always look at clinics/ hospitals near you and call them to see if they allow shadowing!

Contact us if you would like to contribute to this list or if you have any questions.

Virtual Shadowing:

Check out this student-led, student-based organization that offers virtual pre-health shadowing: https://www.prehealthshadowing.com/

This organization has sessions for both physical therapy and occupational therapy, among other health professions.

Physical Therapy:

1. ATI Physical Therapy: Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinics
   • ATI offers a variety of therapeutic services including sports medicine, hand therapy, women’s health, specialty therapies, and home health.
   • Check out their student observation program here!
2. The Arc of the Triangle
   • http://www.arctriangle.org/
   • This organization works with children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD)
3. Duke Sports Medicine
   • Durham, NC
   • https://www.dukehealth.org/treatments/orthopaedics/sports-medicine
   • Read about their volunteer services here

Occupational Therapy:

1. Emerge- A Child’s Place
   • Emerge Pediatric Therapy welcomes prospective therapy students to observe both group and individual therapy sessions.
   • https://www.emergepediatrictherapy.com/about-us/shadow
2. A Helping Hand
   • This organization offers internships and volunteer hours to help seniors and adults with disabilities in our community live as independently as possible for as long as possible while maintaining their dignity and quality of life.
   • https://ahelpinghandnc.org/get-involved/volunteer
3. Club Nova
   • Club Nova is a local community center and serves people who have a serious mental illness. Right now, all of their programs are meeting virtually over Zoom.
   • https://clubnova.org/volunteer/

Shadowing Opportunities

UNC School of Medicine (“SOM”) Medical Doctorate students may shadow faculty throughout the UNC Medical Center (with the exception of the operating room setting) in accordance with the terms of this policy and applicable SOM policies.

Eligibility for Shadowing:

To be eligible for shadowing, a SOM Medical Doctorate student must meet the following requirements:

1. Be in good academic standing.
2. Be enrolled or on an academic leave (such as graduate study or research leave; students on a non-academic leave (personal, medical, administrative) are not eligible)
3. Be enrolled or on an academic leave (such as graduate study or research leave; students on a non-academic leave (personal, medical, administrative) are not eligible).

Procedure:

1. Email Residency Coordinator, Chanelle Arsenault [email protected] your interest in Shadowing at UNC Orthopaedics.

• • Please include –
    • Name (First and Last)
    • Current Year of Study
    • What subspecialty(s) you would like to shadow:
      • Spine
      • Pediatrics
      • Foot and Ankle
      • Tumor
      • Sports
      • Trauma

      2. Residency Coordinator will find a time that works for you and the faculty member.

      3. Once dates are agreed upon. The student then fills out the request for shadowing on Qualtrics.

      Contact Information

      Chanelle Arsenault, MHA, OT-C
      Coordinator, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training Program
      T: 919-966-9071
      F: 919-966-6730
      [email protected]

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