Shadow A Surgeon

As a UWSMPH Medical Student, you are eligible to shadow in the Operating Room or the clinic.

Shadowing

Shadowing in the UW Department of Surgery can be a very valuable experience. The Department of Surgery has different requirements for undergraduate students, graduate students, medical students, and all who are looking for the opportunity to shadow our surgeons.

Due to limited capacity, the Shadowing program can only offer 30 observer slots during the three yearly shadowing timeframes. If you apply after this quota is reached, you are encouraged to apply for another session timeframe or look for shadowing opportunities in other departments.

Review this webpage for critical information on Department of Surgery Shadowing. Note: this program does NOT set up shadowing for other departments at UW Health beyond the Department of Surgery.

Application Dates and Deadlines for OR or Clinic Shadowing
Applies to: Undergraduate students and graduate students. Does not apply to UWSMPH medical students.
Fall Semester Application Due Date: July 1
Spring Semester Application Due Date: December 1
Summer Semester Application Due Date: April 1

Observer Categories

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

University of Wisconsin Undergraduate Students

• Eligible for Clinic Shadowing – All UW Undergraduate students
• Eligible for OR Shadowing under certain circumstances

Junior-standing or higher undergraduate students who are a member in good standing from the following organizations’ Alpha Epsilon Delta Premed Honor Society (AED), Professional Associate of Latinx for Medical School Access (PALMA), the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the Wisconsin Pre-medical Society (WPS), Doctors Without Borders (MSF), or the Doris Duke Undergraduate Surgery Research Experience have the opportunity to apply to shadow surgeons in the Operating Room. Membership will be verified with the leadership of the respective organization. Leadership will submit membership lists to this form.

University of Wisconsin Graduate Students

• Eligible for Clinic Shadowing – All UW Graduate Students
• Eligible for OR Shadowing under certain circumstances

UW Graduate students interested in shadowing in the Operating Room must submit a short (1 page) justification for how shadowing in the OR will strengthen their understanding of their research. This written justification will be reviewed by UW Health Surgical Services, who will decide if shadowing is justified. Submit the justification with the shadowing application.

University of Wisconsin Students in DOS Research Labs

• Eligible for Clinic Shadowing – All UW Students
• Eligible for OR Shadowing under certain circumstances

If a student works in a Department of Surgery research lab with one of the surgery faculty, but are not a member of one of the undergraduate organizations mentioned above, they must submit a short (1 page) justification for how shadowing in the OR will strengthen their understanding of their research in the laboratory. This written justification will be reviewed by UW Health Surgical Services, who will decide if shadowing is justified. Submit the justification with the shadowing application.

University of Wisconsin Medical Students

• Eligible for Clinic Shadowing
• Eligible for OR Shadowing upon training completion

As a UWSMPH Medical Student, you are eligible to shadow in the Operating Room or the clinic.

Steps to Observe:

1. If shadowing in the OR, complete the mandatory OR training.
   • Enroll in the Canvas site
   • Review the training PowerPoint and video
   • Complete the certification fields and save a copy
   • Upload in this Form
2. Reach out to faculty to schedule observations

UW Health Employees

The Department of Surgery does not set up UW Health employee observations of surgeons. Please refer to U-Connect’s Prospective UW Health Observer Overview for more information about shadowing a surgeon as a UW Health employee.

Center for Pre-Health Advising Diversity Program Partnerships

Students who are participants and alumni of the Health Professions Shadowing Program (HPSP) or the Rural and Urban Scholars Community Health (RUSCH) program through the Center for Pre-Health Advising are eligible to shadow in the Operating Room. Students who fall under this category should indicate their interests with their respective program coordinators for consideration.

Observer Application for OR and/or Clinic Shadowing

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Required Materials

Applies to: UW Undergraduate and graduate students. Does not apply to medical students.

To receive full consideration for shadowing, submit all materials by the application deadline.

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter Indicating your Interest in the Surgical Field and Shadowing
• GPA
• Relevant Coursework Taken
• Grade Level
• Optional Demographic Information
• If applying to shadow in the OR, complete the mandatory OR training:
  • Enroll in the Canvas site
  • Review the training PowerPoint and video
  • Complete the certification fields and save a copy to upload with application

  Required Observer Availability

  Shadowing in the operating room or clinic is available weekdays Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm and interested students must have a full half day available within this time frame to be able to observe. Half-day availability should be either 8am-12pm or 12pm-4pm.

  Shadowing Application Decision Process

  The Department of Surgery Shadowing Program will notify students of their shadowing application decisions and/or assignments within two months of the application deadline. Students must respond to their offer within 48 hours of notification or it will be rescinded and offered to another student.

  A shadowing offer does not guarantee shadowing approval. All observers have to be subsequently approved through UW Health surgical services and vendor liaison offices.

  • Within two months of application completion, observer candidate will be contacted by the DOS Shadowing Program with a decision
  • If offered a shadowing assignment, the DOS Shadowing Program will assign them a faculty surgeon based on interests and availability—there is a possibility they may not be given their top priority due to capacity of faculty
  • Candidates must accept shadowing offer within 48 hours of notification, or it will be rescinded and offered to another student
  • Once candidate observer has been successfully matched with a faculty surgeon, the DOS Shadowing Program will put them in contact with the Vendor Liaison Office who will verify immunizations and HIPPA training, then issue a temporary ID badge. This process must be completed before any shadowing can occur
  • If the observer candidate does not follow-up with the Vendor Liaison Office (VLO) within four weeks of approved start date, approval will be rescinded
  • Once the observer candidate has completed the steps provided by the VLO, it is their responsibility to reach out to the administrative assistant of their faculty sponsor to schedule shadowing experiences

  Program Objectives

  • To offer better match opportunities to students in their highest ranked areas of interest alongside their availability with class schedule and other obligations
  • To offer better match opportunities with time to graduation considered
  • To offer more opportunities to more students
  • To ensure that students are committed to an opportunity offered to shadow Department of Surgery faculty
  • To support UWSMPH and the Department of Surgery’s commitment to supporting education opportunities for ethnically and racially diverse group of clinicians and scholars while maintaining an open, inclusive and respectful learning and working environment.

  Observer Application

  Only applies to UW undergraduate or graduate students. Does not apply to medical students.

  Interested in observing a Department of Surgery faculty: Apply Here

  Questions after thoroughly reviewing this webpage? Contact [email protected]

  Questions about shadowing can be directed to the Surgery Shadowing Program at [email protected].

  • Phase 2 SPC More
  • Phase 3 Electives More
  • Visiting Students More
  • Underrepresented in Medicine Scholarship More
  • Surgery Research Experience More
  • Shadowing More
  • Surgery Interest Group More

  Shadowing a Doctor as a Pre-Med Student

  

  Shadowing entails following a doctor during the course of day-to-day work in a clinic, hospital, or operating room.

  Shadowing experience is often critical for getting into medical school—and for deciding whether that’s the right path for you in the first place. Read on to find out what you need to know to shadow a doctor.

  Why Shadow a Doctor

  Shadowing can be useful at various stages of your pre-medical academic career. It can help you during high school as you try to figure out which college programs you’d like to apply to. During college, it can further help you as you choose a major . Shadowing also affords you the hands-on experience and exposure that will (a) give you a sense of what working with patients and their families is like, and (b) demonstrate your dedication to becoming a physician.

  How Many Shadowing Hours do you Need for Medical School?

  Shadowing allows you to get a clear sense of what it’s like to be a practicing doctor. For this reason, many medical schools across North America have a minimum requirement for shadowing hours. This may vary widely; some schools require 12–24 hours, while others require more than 75 hours. There are schools (particularly in Canada) that do not require any shadowing hours. Regardless of shadowing requirements, some schools maintain that shadowing experiences can make applicants more competitive in the admissions process.

  How to Shadow a Doctor

  Typically you’ll have to arrange shadowing opportunities yourself. Shadowing can be arranged in half- or full-day stints (typically from four to eight hours). It can be done on single occasions or arranged over multiple days. The length of the shadowing experience depends on the doctor’s clinic hours and availability as well as the student’s preferences and needs. Here’s what you’ll need to know to get started:

  Identifying Specialties of Interest

  To begin your search for shadowing opportunities, you’ll need to identify specialties of interest. Start by reflecting on whether you are interested in a medical or surgical specialty. Common medical specialties include family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Surgical specialties are typically more procedural; they also tend to be operating room (OR)–based. Some common surgical specialties include general surgery, ophthalmology, thoracic surgery, and otolaryngology.

  At this stage, it is common for many students not to have a clear direction about what they want to pursue. As pre-medical students or junior trainees, you’re likely to benefit from shadowing physicians in both medical and surgical specialties to gain exposure and learn about the scope of practice. For this reason, many students during their first and second years of medical school (the pre-clerkship years) will often seek shadowing opportunities in various specialties. As your focus becomes more defined, you should also try to shadow doctors in your particular area(s) of interest.

  Finding Shadowing Opportunities

  Once you have narrowed your options to a few specialties, start by contacting your college’s pre-med advisor. That person can help you connect with a network of physicians, among whom are likely to be alumni. If you have friends in medical school, you can also ask them to refer you to the physicians they shadowed as pre-meds. Your family doctor may even be able to connect you with colleagues.

  Some hospitals, particularly in Canada, have affiliations with medical schools and offer summer programs for students. By pairing high school or college students with mentors, these programs provide terrific opportunities for shadowing experiences. If your school has such a program, avail yourself of it!

  Contacting Physicians

  Unless you’re arranging shadowing opportunities through a school program, then you’ll need to reach out to physicians directly. Start by sending an email. Use a formal letter-writing style (do not address the doctor by first name or use a greeting such as “Hey”). Introduce yourself, note your stage of training, ask directly to shadow that doctor, and describe what you hope to get out of the experience. You can also outline why you are interested in medicine. Attach your résumé to provide more information about your background and accomplishments. Many doctors enjoy teaching and would be excited to share their journey and experiences with you.

  Once the doctor has agreed to allow you to shadow her or him, be sure to confirm some important details about your shadowing experience—including where the clinic or hospital is located as well as the duration of your shadowing experience. You’ll also want to confirm whether there is any paperwork (e.g., patient confidentiality forms and/or student agreement forms) that must be completed prior to shadowing. Parents/guardians may be asked to sign additional forms for minors seeking shadowing opportunities.

  How to Make the Most of Your Shadowing Experience

  Ensure that you are punctual. If you are shadowing in a clinic, be sure to wear professional attire. If you are going to be shadowing in an OR, confirm with the surgeon where you can obtain scrubs. (These are typically available in the hospital.) You should plan to wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes. Bring a small notebook and writing implements so that you can take notes—but do not write down any confidential patient data or information.

  It is important to be respectful to everyone you encounter during your shadowing experience—including patients, their families, administrative staff, and other allied health professionals. It is also important to demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest while working with a doctor. Make note of any questions you may have and ask them politely at an appropriate time. (You may have such an opportunity during a break or at the end of the day.)

  Before you leave, thank the doctor and the team for having you in. If possible, set up another shadowing experience with the doctor before you leave. If you’re still looking for additional shadowing opportunities, ask your host physician to recommend colleagues you could contact.

  What To Do After Shadowing a Doctor

  First things first: Send a thank-you email or card to the physician you shadowed. Additionally, keep a journal in which you write any reflections and experiences that stood out to you. Referring back to these experiences can be beneficial when you write your personal statements for medical school . (Again, you’ll want to maintain patient confidentiality, so stay focused on the overall experience.) Make the most of the opportunity to think more about where you’d like to direct your specialized study.

  After you’re done shadowing—and after you’ve completed your medical training—remember to pay it forward and say “Yes!” when an aspiring physician asks to shadow you!

  Read More

  The Staff of The Princeton Review

  For more than 40 years, students and families have trusted The Princeton Review to help them get into their dream schools. We help students succeed in high school and beyond by giving them resources for better grades, better test scores, and stronger college applications. Follow us on Twitter: @ThePrincetonRev.