2025-2026 HPA Sponsored SHADOWING Program

FOR Duke Undergraduates in 

TRINITY AND PRATT  (Sophomores-seniors)

 

OVERVIEW

Shadowing or clinical observation is a critical component in preparing for a health career. We encourage all Prehealth students to shadow clinicians in their prospective fields of interests. Shadowing several times and in several different specialties can provide a realistic view of medicine, an understanding of the many ways one can participate in health care, and the skills and capabilities that are needed in a profession. For more information on shadowing, volunteering with patients and gaining clinical experience, see the webpage on Finding Experience. The Office of Health Professions Advising at Duke provides training and shadowing clearance for current Duke undergraduates (sophomores through seniors who are in good academic standing) who wish to shadow within the Duke University Healthcare System (DUHS).  We will offer a special application period for first-year students in the spring semester.  The 2025-2026 Application period for shadowing will open in October and closes on July 31, 2026.  Once you are cleared, you will be allowed to shadow until September 30, 2026, or graduation, whichever comes first. You are required to complete the entire training and clearance process for each application period in which shadowing takes place. This shadowing clearance is only valid at Duke and is not transferable.  See steps below for instructions in obtaining Final Clearance.

If you are a Duke affiliated physician, nurse, dentist, physician assistant, physical therapist, pharmacist or other health care professional willing to host a Duke undergraduate student observer, please complete the Qualtrics Survey to join our listserv of clinicians interested in having a Duke Undergraduate Student Observer. After you are registered with our office, you may log in and update your preferences and availability at any time using our Clinician/Healthcare Professional Portal.

Duke Office of Health Professions Advising (HPA) provides training and compliance clearance for current Duke undergraduates who are in good academic standing and wish to shadow within the Duke University Health System. Through the process, HPA ensures that undergraduates meet Duke's HIPAA and immunization requirements, and that students are familiar with codes of conduct and professionalism. As a part of HPA’s sponsorship, we ensure that all DUHS required forms are maintained and only students who have been cleared through the HPA office are allowed to shadow at Duke facilities. 

We encourage students to reach out to clinicians and healthcare professionals to coordinate a schedule that works best for both the clinician and student.  Therefore, Duke undergraduates may contact you to arrange a shadowing experience; however, they may not actively shadow until a final clearance notification has been received from our office.  Once approved, you will receive an email reflecting HPA’s approval and details (site/location, name of clinician/healthcare professional, start and end dates) of the shadowing experience. 

We hope you will join our listserv and we greatly appreciate your time and mentorship of our students.  Questions regarding Duke Office of Health Professions Advising Sponsored Shadowing Program can be directed to:

RJ Jones, Assistant Director and Shadowing Coordinator:  prehealth@duke.edu

HPA Office:  919 684 6221 or prehealth@duke.edu

 

  • Watch the Shadowing Workshop and Panel: Getting Started with Shadowing at Duke Health
  • Complete the Application and Shadowing Training Modules using the Qualtrics Survey.  Training modules must be completed during one setting and may take up to 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
  • Deadline to complete the application and obtain medical clearance is July 31, 2026.

Our campus partners at Duke Student Health complete this portion of clearance and processing times may vary, so you should allow at minimum three-weeks for processing. 

  • Log-in to Student Health Gateway, review your record and compare to Health Science Students requirements.
  • Email Student Health and request medical clearance.  Include one PDF file with any missing immunizations that are not present in your student record to bluehealthclearance@duke.edu after October 1, 2025. Please include your name, date of birth, Duke Unique ID# and reference 2025-2026 Shadowing Request in the subject line.  
  • When scheduling appointments with SH for missing immunizations, mention your request is for shadowing.
  • Incomplete requests will not receive consideration. (One dose of TDAP received after your 18th Birthday, Two doses of MMR/positive antibody titer, Two doses of Varicella, Proof of TB testing in the US in the past 6 months and 2025/2026 Flu vaccine).
  • After receiving confirmation of the Student Health Medical Clearance dated after October 1, HPA will send a link to the Qualtrics Survey requesting the completion of a Shadowing Experience Report (SER) which includes the details of your experience.  It is important to maintain a copy of this link for use throughout the 2025-2026 Shadowing Period.
  • Contacting a physician or other healthcare professional.  Access the list of healthcare professionals provided by HPA using the Shadowing Student Access Portal (SAP) and use sample templates to initiate contact and request an opportunity to shadow.  Select DukeoAuth and enter your NETID to access SAP portal.
  • Submit a Shadowing Experience Report (SER).  After the physician agrees upon the schedule, complete the Qualtrics Survey to provide HPA with the details of the experience for each physician and clinic location.  Please allow a minimum of three (3) business days for review.   The SER can be submitted as often as needed for final clearance; however, you are prohibited from shadowing without final clearance for each new experience and or site location.
  • HPA will email a Final Clearance notice to the clinician, healthcare professional and student via email that acknowledges the student has received clearance to shadow.
  • Students are prohibited from shadowing without the final clearance notification.
  • This step is repeated for each physician, location and new experience.  For example, shadowing a physician at two separate locations requires a FC for each location.
  • We also encourage you to track your experiences using HPA Prehealth Experience Log.