Extracurricular Clinical Experiences (Shadowing)

The UW School of Medicine recognizes that some Foundation students may have an interest in seeking additional clinical experiences outside of their Foundations of Clinical Medicine (FCM) core experiences. These extracurricular clinical experiences allow students the opportunity to explore different areas of practice that are not a part of their Foundations Phase blocks and courses. Students, faculty, and staff should review the policy below. For more information or questions, please reach out to somece@uw.edu.

Note: Third and fourth year students may not shadow in patient care and explore and focus phases. There is complexity across the region around the availability for clinical training sites and level of training which a third or fourth year student would bring to the experience, which could result in more direct clinical care.

Any elective clinical experience that occurs during the Foundations or Consolidation & Transition Phase of the curriculum.

ECE examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Clinical opportunities in specialties identified by individual students or through student interest groups.
  • Clinical opportunities with clinical guides, college faculty or Foundations of Clinical Medicine as long as it doesn’t interfere with required coursework.

View the Extracurricular Clinical Experience Policy webpage for the official policy language.

This policy is necessary to ensure ongoing access to valuable clinical education resources for all learners in the region and for credentialing and liability purposes. Students who participate in approved School of Medicine non-credit medical educational programs receive liability coverage. This policy will guide students, faculty, interest groups, and community preceptors when considering a request and assist the Foundations campus in the approval of an extracurricular clinical experience (ECP).

 

Setting up Extracurricular Clinical Experiences (Shadowing)

  • Start by contacting the various departmental medical student program offices to inquire about the availability of faculty – at this time, expectations, goals, and frequency of shadowing can be determined.
  • Shadowing experiences can take place at:
    1. UW Medicine Montlake
      1. If you are an enrolled UW medical student, you do not need to notify the Medical Director’s office.
    2. Seattle Children’s Hospital – Please visit this website to see how to enroll.
    3. Harborview Medical Center (HMC)
      1. Please contact the HMC Chief Medical Officer’s Office (hmc-cmo@uw.edu) and cc your physician to apply at least three-weeks prior to your requested observation date.
  • Non-UW Medicine sites can be pursued but may not be available if they require credentialing.
  • Additionally, letters of good standing are not provided by Academic Affairs for shadowing experiences.

If you are a pre-medical student, please refer to Clinical Experiences – Advice for Pre-Med Students for more information and advice with shadowing as an undergraduate student.

Students within the region (i.e., Spokane, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) should refer to the Extracurricular Clinical Experience Policy webpage and contact their sites for more information about shadowing experiences:

ContactSite LocationEmail Address
Nancy HallAlaskanjhall@uaa.alaska.edu
Whitney VincentIdahowvincent@uidaho.edu
Kayla OuertMontanakayla.ouert@montana.edu
Teresa BorrenpohlSpokaneborrtere@uw.edu
Natalia Tugwell-BrownWyomingntugwell@uwyo.edu