This is an opportunity for students to get exposure to the different specialties in medicine by shadowing physicians. Participants may spend time with physicians in clinics, the OR, the ER, ward rounds, home visits or a variety of other settings. Shadowing experiences are strictly observational and do not entail involvement in client care or service provision. Physician Shadowing can help with career decision-making by enabling students to observe what it is like to practice in different specialty areas.

PHYSICIAN SHADOWING FORMS. DOWNLOAD NOW!

• Student Speciality Selection Form
• Attendance Form

TThe program is coordinated by two students who are hired under Memorial's Undergraduate Career Experience Program (MUCEP) and supervised by the MedCAREERS Director, Dr. June Harris. The Coordinators, one MED I and one MED II student, begin their work in September of each year and are responsible for:

• Assisting with the organization of a Shadowing Orientation session
• Determining student interest in and preferences for which specialties to shadow
• Matching students with appropriate physicians
• Communicating effectively with all participants to ensure that the program runs smoothly
• Confirming physician participation for the following year

Volunteer students from the MED I and MED II classes assist the Coordinators in approaching and confirming physicians who will participate in the program the following year.

Coordinators begin matching students in the latter part of September each year.  Students in MED I and MED II are provided with sign-up sheets and are asked to rank their top choices for physician shadowing experiences. Coordinators then match students and physicians, attempting to ensure that each student gets, at a minimum, their first choice.  Shadowing experiences begin in October for MED II students and January for MED I students.  Students are typically matched with physicians for one-month periods and shadowing usually occurs on Tuesday afternoons when students do not have any other scheduled academic responsibilities.  However, students are encouraged to discuss appropriate times for shadowing with the physicians to whom they are assigned since early morning, evening or weekend times (when students are not in class) may also be possibilities.  Shadowing should occur for a minimum of one (1) hour and a maximum of one (1) day per week.  Throughout the academic year, MED I students may have opportunities to shadow up to 4 months and MED II students up to 6 months, depending on the availability of physicians and students.

* MED I students will not be matched for the month of March since they will be completing Rural Visits during that month. 

What does Shadowing involve for the physician?

Physicians volunteer to participate in the Physician Shadowing program. They offer their time and expertise because they recognize the value of the shadowing experience in supporting students to make career decisions. 

For physicians, the shadowing program involves:

• Agreeing to participate and informing coordinators of the months, days and times they are available and willing to have students shadow them 
• Welcoming students into appropriate clinical or other service areas for the purpose of shadowing
• Being mindful of the level of training of the students participating, recognizing that the purpose of this program is to allow students to observe a physician’s daily routine.  Students are not expected to provide client care or service provision.
• Providing appropriate role modeling of care and respect for confidentiality
• No obligation to provide teaching or patient interaction but, if time permits and physicians are willing, explanation of activities and events observed may prove educational for the students

What are the guidelines that a student should follow?

·         Be aware of and follow relevant policies and guidelines

Students participating in the Physician Shadowing program should know that they are bound by all policies and regulations of the organizations and facilities in which they spend their time.  Given that many shadowing experiencing occur within Eastern Health, students should familiarize themselves with policies of that organization including, but not limited to, confidentiality, dress codes, Job Shadowing and Affiliation (Student Placement) Agreement. 

·         Complete Eastern Health Orientation training

http://www.easternhealth.ca/Professionals.aspx?d=3&id=659&p=658

·         Complete Scrub Course

If you are shadowing a physician in the OR, you will need to complete the Scrub Course in advance of any OR Shadowing experience. 

·         Sign appropriate privacy and confidentiality pledges

Students participating in the Physician Shadowing program are required to complete the Public Health Information Act Training. You get a certificate of completion once you have finished and successfully completed the on-line quiz. You must bring your certificate to the Office of Student Affairs and have one of the staff record in our records that they have seen your certificate. This training is available on line at the link provided below. Once you enter the website at the link below, you must scroll down to the link: Visit the Visit the PHIA Online Education Program website. You may need to disable the pop-up blockers setting on your computer. www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/PHIA

      Please note: In the event of a breach of privacy/confidentiality by a medical student, Eastern Health reserves the right to limit/restrict the student experience, up to and including termination of the student’s privileges.

·         Communicate in a timely and effective manner with physicians you are slated to shadow

Once the shadowing matching process has been completed and you have been notified of the physicians you will shadow, make contact with the first physician on your list to introduce yourself and to confirm dates and times for shadowing that would be mutually convenient.  Upon completion of your block with a physician, be sure to thank the physician for offering their time and expertise to you.

·         Follow through on your commitments and communicate effectively in the event of change of plans

If you have been assigned a shadowing experience, show up on time and stay for the pre-arranged time.  If it is not possible for you to participate as planned, let the physician know and contact the Coordinators so that they can offer the opportunity for this shadowing experience to other interested students. 

·         Dress appropriately

Clinical skills coats and identification badges are required dress.

·         Be respectful of your role

The purpose of shadowing is to allow you to observe what the physician does.  You are not expected to do anything that makes you uncomfortable and it would be inappropriate for you to engage in activities beyond your level of training.

·         Document your shadowing experience

Use the Attendance Form for Physician Shadowing to record your participation in the Physician Shadowing program.  Ensure that you ask the physicians you shadow to sign the attendance form at the end of your shadowing experience with them.  Submit copies of the completed forms to the Office of Student Affairs in May.  Maintain copies for your records.  These may be helpful to you when you are developing your CaRMS application. 

Match Lists

Match lists including contact information for physicians with whom students have been matched will be made available to MED I and MED II students on D2L in September.

Questions

If you have any problems or questions contact Dr. June Harris at 777-6747 or Chris Dwyer (MED II) or Saghar Sadeghi (MED I).

MedCAREERS

Electives

Rural Visit

Specialty Nights

Residents Night

Career Shadowing

Clerkship Shadowing

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