Shadowing Opportunities

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The Importance of Shadowing

It is essential to spend time following health care professionals of your anticipated field. This will inform your desire to pursue a particular field, and recognize what is needed to be successful as a health professional. While it is beneficial to spend time with one health professional, this is one of the few instances where breadth can be as valuable as depth. Every health professional has a different approach and relationship with their patients. It’s valuable to see more than one example.

Remember to record your thoughts and key experiences in a journal. Reflect on how you see yourself fitting into this health profession, things you saw that you liked, and things that bothered you. These reflections and examples will be an invaluable tool to support your application essays and rationale for choosing a particular health profession.

Arranging Shadowing Opportunities

More and more health care professionals are part of hospital systems with established procedures to protect patients and students. Be sure to complete applications 1-2 months in advance of your anticipated start date. Use your mid-semester breaks well!

  1. Start by asking your own health care professionals, or those of your family and friends, if you can follow them for one day.
  2. Utilize the SLU alumni network. Use LinkedIn and Handshake and discuss strategies with Career Services to find providers in your area to shadow when you’re home over breaks.
  3. While you are at on campus at SLU, there are three main options to obtain shadowing in the area:
  • Rochester Regional Health with St. Lawrence Health - includes Canton Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam and Massena   Begin by completing this confidentiality agreement (accessible using your SLU log-in) and send it by email to Jane Kring (jkring@stlawu.edu) and Megan Kenny (megan.kenny@rgcohc.edu) with a short description of your interests and availability to shadow for 1 day.  For a more extensive shadowing experience based upon SLU's articulation agreement with Rochester Regional Health, you should communicate with Megan Kenny (megan.kenny@rgcohc.edu) in order to complete onboarding requirements and work out scheduling details.  (This opportunity is restricted to current SLU students.)
  • North Star Health Alliance - includes Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg   For this shadowing opportunity, students must sign up prior to the beginning of the semester.  This can be accomplished by emailing Jane Kring (jkring@stlawu.edu) with this information: what kind of shadowing interests you, number of hours you'd like, and dates/times you are available for shadowing.  Dr. Kring will then communicate with our contact person at NSHA, Jenny Crandall, to confirm that your interests can be met and to place you on the SLU semester shadowing list.  You must also complete this application process.  (This opportunity is restricted to current SLU students.)
  • Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC)  This opportunity is open to current and prospective SLU students and is a great option for students without their own vehicle on campus.  The NAHEC organization connects you to shadowing in a range of health careers at local facilities, including the office of physician Dr. Healey (withing walking distance of campus!) and the Community Health Center of the North Country.  To apply, please complete this application.  Follow up with Dr. Kring or by calling 315-379-7701 or emailing info@nahecnet.org once your application is complete.
  1. If you’re interested in veterinary science there are a several opportunities to gain animal experience:
  • Email Ashlee Downing at adowning@stlawu.edu , who works in Student Activities and Leadership about opportunities to volunteer at Bittersweet Farms.
  • Email Liz MacDougall at emacdougall@stlawu.edu, who manages the Vivarium on campus.  Students can work in the Vivarium caring for the animals, and Liz can connect you with large or small animal veterinarians for shadowing. 
  1. If you’re interested in dentistry, there are several options to secure shadowing.
  • Start by asking your own dental providers to shadow for 1 day.
  • Both Career Services and NAHEC (#4 above) can help you locate dentists to shadow in the Canton area or in your home town.
  • Dr. Hosmer, a general dentist in Ogdensburg, is also open to hosting students.  Please set up a meeting with Jane Kring MD by email jkring@stlawu.edu to discuss this possibility.
  • Lee Akin, DDS works through Canton Potsdam Hospital; please complete the steps for St. Lawrence Health (#3 above) to potentially arrange shadowing opportunities with Dr. Akin.
     

For More Individualized Advice

There are many different types of experiential opportunities that you can engage in while a student on- or off-campus. The options above are certainly not the only ones available to you. For more information and advice about shadowing/experiential activities, please make an appointment with a Health Professions Advisor and/or Career Services.