Career Exploration/Shadowing
Career Exploration/Shadowing
Students should contact the appropriate specialty interest group, or the designated career exploration/shadowing contact listed in the AY 25-26 Shadowing-Career Exploration Contacts document to arrange your shadowing experience. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact your OSA advisor for assistance.
Once a physician has been identified or assigned, please complete the following steps to ensure a smooth and compliant shadowing experience:
- Get permission/confirmation from the physician who you will shadow via email.
- Complete the Career Exploration/Shadowing registration form so the shadowing experience is recognized as part of the UICOM curriculum.
- Ensure you are shadowing only with UICOM faculty members, affiliated faculty members, or residents at UI Health or an approved affiliated site. Students are covered by UIC liability insurance only when shadowing with approved UICOM or affiliated faculty or residents.
- Confirm that all compliance requirements are up to date prior to shadowing, including but not limited to BLS certification, health insurance, vaccinations, fit testing, etc.
- Shadowing students must tell the faculty they are shadowing with to inform the clinic director of their shadowing plans to ensure space, PPE, and other clinic considerations (e.g. credentialing, background checks etc.) are met prior to the shadowing experience.
Scope of participation:
- Phase 1 students may speak with or interview patients and perform physical examinations only under the direct supervision of an attending physician or resident assigned by the supervising attending.
- Shadowing students, regardless of year, are not permitted to perform invasive procedures or participate in surgery.
Please note that students must adhere to all details above, and that registration of the shadowing experience is required for students to be covered by UIC liability insurance while shadowing a UICOM or affiliated faculty member.
You may contact Dean Inboriboon or Matthew Orlando with any questions.