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.

Policy for Extracurricular Clinical Experiences (Shadowing)

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).

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.

 

Setting up Extracurricular Clinical Experiences (Shadowing)

Students in Seattle can set up shadowing experiences by:

  1. Contacting the various departmental medical student program offices to inquire about the availability of faculty – at this time, students can determine expectations, goals, and frequency of shadowing;
  2. Students must notify the medical director’s office of any shadowing experiences done at the Harborview Medical Center (HMC)**;
  3. If you are a pre-medical student, please visit this website for more information and advice with shadowing as an undergraduate.

As a reminder, students in Seattle do not need to register for shadowing experiences. Additionally, letters of good standing are not provided by Academic Affairs for shadowing experiences.

Students within the region (i.e., Spokane, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) should 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
Erin Van AntwerpSpokaneetwerp@uw.edu
Natalia Tugwell-BrownWyomingntugwell@uwyo.edu

**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.