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. Please contact the SOM Extracurricular Clinical Experiences team for more information or questions.

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.

See 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 see this link to see how to enroll.
    3. Harborview Medical Center
      1. Students must notify the medical director’s office of any shadowing experiences done at the Harborview Medical Center (HMC).
      2. Students should include their name, year in school, physician supervisor or sponsor, and date(s) of shadowing when emailing the medical director’s office; remember to cc your physician.
  • 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 visit this website for more information and advice with shadowing as an undergraduate.

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
Sean CollinsSpokaneseancoll@uw.edu
Natalia Tugwell-BrownWyomingntugwell@uwyo.edu