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:

Fall/Spring
  • St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, Georgetown 

This competitive opportunity consists of once a week shadowing for 10-15 weeks per semester during the fall/spring. Information sessions and email publicity precede the opening of each term’s application process for the following term.

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.

Hire SU login

PirateConnect login

LinkedIn login

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)

NEXT INFO SESSION

Monday, October 3 | 12:30 - 1:30 PM