Shadowing and Observational Opportunities

Students are encouraged to watch the shadowing videos  assembled by the Health Professions office and engage in available opportunities.


Planning for a Pre-Health Observation Experience
(for Wheaton College Students)

Instructions & Application for Clinical Observation at Northwestern Medicine (PDF)


Observing or what is frequently called “shadowing” can be a great way to gain experience regarding the nature of various careers in healthcare. The following list provides information on how one might gain shadowing experience in various locations. In some cases, students are required to find their own provider but complete the requirements listed on the site. In other cases, students can be assigned to a provider or area of the hospital to observe.

These experiences are only beneficial to the degree you personally invest. Once you’ve identified an individual to observe have a conversation about what you would hope to experience and ask any questions you may have. Understand that you may not be able to observe every interaction and the patient’s comfort is priority. You will need to sign a HIPAA form, agreeing not to share any patient information you learn or receive while shadowing.

Remember, there are many ways to gain experience in a healthcare setting, shadowing is only one. Think creatively about how you can learn more about various health professions, the healthcare environment and the experience of patients and their families.

Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF) has a listing of summer experiences HERE which help shape the direction of a student's calling and future career. All of these opportunities will help you gain experience and knowledge as you seek Christ for your vocation. CCHF also has a listing of volunteer and shadowing opportunities HERE.

California Stanford Health Care (Palo Alto, CA)
Colorado Denver Health
UC Health
Connecticut Connecticut Children's Medical Center (Hartford, CT)
Delaware Christiana Care Health System (Wilmington, DE)
Florida Baptist Health South Florida
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital
Georgia Northside Hospital and Gwinett Medical Center  
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Illinois  Northwestern Medicine Hospital & Marianjoy Rehabilitation
Iowa  University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City, IA)
Unity Point Health - Hospice
Mary Greely Medical Center (Ames, IA)
Indiana Schneck Medical Center (Seymour, IN)
Indiana Health (Bloomington, IN)
Good Samaritan Hospital (Vincennes, IN)
Kansas Lawrence Memorial Hospital
Kentucky University of Kentucky Healthcare (Lexington, KY)
Maryland Carroll Hospital
Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
Massachusetts Brigham & Women's Hospital (Boston, MA)
Baystate Health (Springfield, MA)
Michigan Mid Michigan Health (Midland, MI)
Covenant Healthcare
Bronson Health
Trinity Health
Minnesota Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Northfield Hospital and Clinics
Missouri Western Missouri Medical Center (Warrensburg, MO)
CoxHealth (Springfield, MO)
Montana Logan Health (Kalispell, MT)
Nebraska Columbus Community Hospital
Nebraska Medicine (Omaha, NE)
New Jersey Hunterdon Healthcare
New York Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization
Arnot Health
NYU School of Medicine Rusk Rehabilitation (OT & PT only)
Lourdes Hospital / Ascension (Binghamton, NY)
Guthrie Cortland Regional Medical Center
North Carolina  Duke University (Durham, NC)
Cone Health (Greensboro, NC)
UNC Medical Center (Chapel Hill, NC)
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, NC)
Ohio Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus, OH)
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Adena Health System (Chillicothe, OH)
Cleveland Medical Center
Canton Mercy
Akron Children's Hospital
Oregon  Mid-Columbia Medical Center (The Dalles, OR)
Pennsylvania  Allegheny Health Network (Pittsburgh, PA)
WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation 
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Central PA)
Sacred Heart / St. Luke's Hospital (Allentown, PA)
PMSI Comprehensive Healthcare (Pottstown, PA)
South Carolina Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC)
South Dakota  Avera (Sioux Falls, SD)
Tennessee    West Tennessee Healthcare
Texas Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics
Parkland Health (Dallas, TX)
Washington  Multi Care Foundations
Seattle Children's Hospital
Providence Health and Services
West Virginia  WVU Medicine
Wisconsin  Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI)
UW Health Hospitals and Clinics
Wyoming  Ivinson Memorial Hospital (Laramie, WY)