The purpose of shadowing is to provide guided career exploration. Students are encouraged to shadow to gain exposure to a variety of specialties.
Shadowing is strictly observational; with the students observing as the health care providers care for patients. This may occur in varied clinical settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities and/or office practices. Observation always occurs under the appropriate supervision of a licensed physician or other licensed health care professional (Guidelines for Students Shadowing Physicians, AMA, 2016). Read more here.
It is important to understand that shadowing is not mandatory. Participants are there to observe the health care provider, not to actively participate in clinical care. Shadowing is for the purpose of gaining exposure to a medical field. This can be supplemented further through participation in career interest groups, the annual Career Expo in December, or research.
Students should use the link to the Shadowing Database for Shadowing opportunities: https://wwwapp.bumc.bu.edu/shadowingmed
We understand some opportunities posted have extended hours and that you have curricular obligations. This should not prevent you from taking advantage of the opportunity. Please notify faculty if you have to leave before the posted time at the beginning. You should plan to stay for at least 3 hours.
Understanding Student Shadowing Responsibilities
- Observation must be supervised by a Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine Faculty
- Shadowing students are observers primarily for the purpose of career exploration
- Shadowing students may not access the medical record
- Providers must respect patients’ right to refuse to have an observer in the room
- Shadowing students must respect patient privacy and confidentiality and may never share patient information. This includes on social media.
- Students must be in compliance with all BMC/BU Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine compliance requirements
- Wear appropriate PPE, as defined by hospital policy
- Shadowing access may be revoked at any time
- Dress: business attire, student ID, and white coat
- Shadowing must not take place during required curricular sessions
- Contact Student Health Services in the event of exposure
- Shadowing opportunities are limited to no more than 2 per month per student
Finding Shadowing Opportunities
Malpractice & Liability Coverage
Malpractice coverage is automatically provided to students only for curricular coursework. Shadowing is not covered by liability insurance unless students have signed up for shadowing through the Database.
Students who are shadowing during vacation or outside of Boston Medical Center are not covered by malpractice insurance unless approved by Student Affairs and Boston University’s Risk Management prior to the event. Contact Dean Vivian Sanchez with questions related to this kind of coverage.
Malpractice and Liability insurance is not available for shadowing for those on a formal Leave Of Absence (LOA).
Shadowing Outside of Boston Medical Center
If you are planning to shadow beyond Boston Medical Center or its affiliates you will need to have prior approval by Student Affairs. Please fill out this form: Shadowing Request form
Physician/Provider Responsibilities for Student Shadowing
- Introduce medical students to patients as observers
- Students must complete SAO shadowing form at least one week prior
- Students must meet BMC and Boston compliance requirements
- Students must have appropriate PPE as deemed by environment of practice
- Students must not access medical record
- Shadowing Students must not compete with students on their core clerkships
- Limit 2 students per area at one time
FAQs about shadowing
FAQs about shadowing
- What is shadowing?
The purpose of shadowing is to gain exposure to the breadth of medical specialties, subject matter, practitioners, and patients. It should give you a taste of whether you want to explore this field further.
- How do I gain access to the database?
Please follow the link. All M1 and M2 students are encouraged to participate. https://wwwapp.bumc.bu.edu/shadowingmed/Authentication/Login/?ReturnUrl=%2Fshadowingmed
- What do you mean by clinical exposure?
Shadowing is not meant to provide clinical care prior to clerkships. It is not meant to gain clinical exposure to the same practitioner or specialty repeatedly. You should be shadowing a field once or twice and then consider shadowing another specialty to gain exposure. In fact, the system will not allow you to sign up to the same specialty more than once per month.
- May I see patients independently and go through their medical records and write notes?
No. Shadowing is for purposes of guided career exploration. Clinical exposure will naturally occur during your third and fourth years of medical school.
- What if I can’t shadow during the hours posted on the opportunity?
That’s OK. Don’t worry, this happens all the time. The hours posted reflect physician availability, not how long physicians expect you to be there. We ask that you shadow for a minimum of 3 hours. Please let the administrator who posted the opportunity know that you will only be present for the time you can be there.
- What if I must cancel my session unexpectedly?
Please notify the administrator who offered the opportunity. Their email is in the database.
- What if I am not compliant or up to date with my vaccines? May I shadow?
No. Each time you shadow, you are asked to attest your compliance with BMC and BU’s policies You may not shadow until compliance is achieved.
- What if I don’t see the specialty I am interested in on the database?
Please check back frequently. New opportunities are usually posted on the database around the first of the month. If a field is still not posted, please send an email to Dean Sanchez.
- Can I shadow during the holidays, summer, or weekends outside of BMC?
Yes, as long as it is for the purpose of career exploration. Please fill out this form prior to the event(s) so that your request can be reviewed and documented for BU’s Risk Management office. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O_Oimm6XDP59FN6if56BtJLpV3lGtoXJsGIgtwNYGbk/edit
- If I am on a leave of absence or splitting my year, may I shadow to obtain clinical exposure?
If you are on a leave of absence (LOA), you may not shadow at BMC. If you choose to shadow outside of BMC, you do not carry malpractice insurance.
If you are splitting your year or on an alternative curriculum, you may shadow, as long as you remain compliant. Please fill out this form prior to the event. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O_Oimm6XDP59FN6if56BtJLpV3lGtoXJsGIgtwNYGbk/edit
- If I am observing a surgery, can I scrub? That depends on various factors. Scrubs are difficult to obtain. There are machines in the OR changing areas, instructions enclosed. Scrubs must be returned that same day in bins. Otherwise, you must wear the paper scrubs in the change area. If you do not know how to scrub, you must be oriented first.
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What shadowing is not:
- It is not meant to gain clinical knowledge during M1 and M2 year so you are prepared for clerkships
- It is not meant to result in multiple visits to the same physician
- It cannot occur during mandatory curricular sessions
How do I supplement my exposure to medical specialties or Faculty beyond shadowing?