Internships
Health Professions Shadowing
Shadowing healthcare providers is an essential experience for prospective pre-medical and other pre-health students.
Healthcare shadowing involves observing healthcare providers in their interactions with patients and other aspects of their jobs. Shadowing experiences can be short-term - even a day or half day - or more sustained.
Applicants to medical and other health professions school must accrue numerous hands-on experiences related to healthcare, including clinical experience with patients (volunteer or paid) and shadowing. Health professions schools want you to road test the career before you apply to make sure it’s a good fit for you.
The Office of Internships, in collaboration with the Center for Career & Professional Development, facilitates the:
ST. DAVID’S GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL SHADOWING PROGRAM
This opportunity consists of once a week shadowing for a 10-week rotational shadowing program each fall and spring semester. Shadowing students visit eight departments, including emergency (twice), endoscopy, laboratory/pathology, outpatient surgery, radiology, rehabilitation, surgery, women’s services and one additional week of the students’ choice. Students must have at least one semester of college courses with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 to apply.
Four students are selected through a competitive application process each semester. Selected students must also register for a one-credit internship course, which includes supplemental activities such as creating a reflection poster, writing a reflection paper and submitting an updated resume which includes the student’s shadowing experience.
To apply
Information sessions and email publicity precede the opening of each term’s application process for the following term.
The application window for Spring 2024 has now closed. Applications for Fall 2024 will open in March 2024.
Application form (live form will be added in March 2024): Includes a well-developed essay
Recommendation forms (live form will be added in March 2024) from two recommenders: One recommender must be a science faculty member; one can be from anyone else who knows you well. You must send them the link to complete the form.
Resume: Submit to Mary Claire Angle at angle2@southwestern.edu. Visit our page on resume writing resources, samples and templates.
Unofficial transcript: Submit to Mary Claire Angle at angle2@southwestern.edu
future application cycle
Fall 2024 (shadow September - November)
- Info session in early March 2024
- Application opens in early March 2024 after info session
- Application due in late March
OTHER SHADOWING EXPERIENCES
In addition to this structured opportunity, the most likely source of a shadowing experience is a personal contact with a healthcare provider. Try to identify all of the health professionals you and your family see as patients, as well as any family members, family friends, etc. In addition, SU alumni working as healthcare providers are excellent resources. Use tools like PirateConnect and LinkedIn to research alumni contacts.
Volunteer (or paid) clinical experience in a healthcare setting is also required. Visit HireSU and join the Health | Wellness | Life Science Career Community on PirateConnect to keep informed of opportunities.
More information
CCPD health professions advisor Alexandra Anderson, afca@southwestern.edu
Faculty pre-health advisor Dr. Maria Cuevas, cuevasm@southwestern.edu
International student advisors - Monya Lemery, lemerym@southwestern.edu, and Sandra Hancock, hancocks@southwestern.edu (note: International Students must have approved CPT to participate in shadowing or internships)