Guide to Finding Pre-Health Shadowing Opportunities in Kansas

Shadowing practitioners in your health profession of choice is important for two reasons:

1. Professional schools want applicants to demonstrate commitment to the profession. Putting in the effort to gain shadowing experience shows your commitment and shows that you understand the day-to-day life and challenges of the profession.
2. Shadowing helps you determine whether that particular healthcare profession is the right fit for you. Shadowing might confirm your choice of profession, or it might help you realize aspects of the job that don’t align with your interests or values, and that is okay! Continue shadowing and asking questions. The more information you gain about a profession, the more informed your decision will be when you decide whether to pursue it.

Shadowing is viewed and weighed differently across disciplines regarding admissions, but the experience itself is an invaluable tool for career exploration. Make sure to be aware of the particulars for your intended profession.

So, you know that shadowing is important. But how do you gain shadowing experiences? Here are your next steps:

1. Research local opportunities. Some local healthcare providers, such as Via Christi Hospital and Lafene Health Center, have shadowing applications you can fill out. We also recommend researching other healthcare providers in the area who do work you are interested in, and find their email on their website.
2. Make a list of practitioners you know. Do you know any practitioners in your hometown who would be willing to let you shadow them? Making a list of these connections is a great first step.
3. Make a list of people you know who could introduce you to practitioners they know. Think about family, friends, and mentors who might know healthcare practitioners, and ask if they would be willing to connect you.
4. Find a Mentor. They can help you make connections, meet people, and find opportunities. Learn more about mentoring programs at K-State through the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.
5. Draft a professional and informative email to ask if you can shadow a practitioner. Feel free to use the example below to help get started on a draft, but make sure to personalize it! Remember to proofread your email draft for spelling and grammatical errors before sending. After your shadowing experience, make sure to follow-up with a thank you note or email.
6. Persevere! Finding shadowing opportunities can be a challenging process. It is likely that you will hear "no" from some offices and not hear back from others. Keep putting in the time and effort! The experience you will gain and lessons you will learn are worth it.

Subject Line: [Pre-Health Designation] Student Interested in Shadowing

Dear Dr./Ms./Mr. __________:

My name is [your name], and I am currently a [year in school] at Kansas State University. I am majoring in [major] and am also a [pre-health designation] student, and I am seeking out opportunities to learn more about the field of ___________. I got your email from ___________, and am reaching out to ask for the opportunity to shadow you to learn more about the day to day work of a [physician, dentist, nurse, etc.]. I am willing to complete any training necessary for the experience. If you have any questions, you can contact me at [phone number] or [email]. Thank you for your time; I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

Click below for sites in various locations around Kansas that have direct access to shadowing applications. We highly encourage you to research clinics and hospitals beyond this list and use the email template above as a guide to reach out and inquire about shadowing opportunities.