Shadowing is critical in helping you decide on a career in healthcare. But finding programs near to you can sometimes prove difficult.
If you’re based in Austin, these physician shadowing programs could be a great fit for you.
Before we dive into the list of physician shadowing programs, check out our list of opportunities for hospital volunteers in Austin here. Many of these programs could eventually help in gaining vital clinical experience.
List Of Physician Shadowing Programs In Austin
Adult Care of Austin
Although their program is temporarily on hold due to the pandemic, Adult Care of Austin is a keen promoter of shadowing/observership opportunities for people interested in health careers such as medicine and nursing.
They welcome gap year, pre-professional students (during undergrad), or high school students to sign-up and schedule internships, shadowing, and rotations via their request form (available here).
All the providers at Adult Care of Austin take on the role of clinical preceptors for students, working across various areas of care to help support patients and their families.
The program asks you to specify shadowing hours with any one of the following physicians (or you can state “no preference”):
- Steven Dobberfuhl MD
- Jenna Bartholemew PA-C
- Michael Peterson PA-C
- Lisa Bouillion NP-A
Visit the website below for more info.
DETAILS
- Name: Adult Care of Austin, PA
- Location: 7201 Menchaca Rd Ste B, Austin, Texas 78745-5284
- Contact: adultcareaustin@gmail.com
- Website: adultcareaustin.com/students
TX HOSA – University of Texas at Austin Shadowing
TX HOSA, the future health professionals group in Austin, can help arrange physician shadowing for interested UT students (active members with more than one semester’s involvement get preference).
There’s scope to shadow across anesthesiology and internal medicine, in morning sessions between 8 am-12 pm.
To be eligible you must score 100% on a shadowing quiz (you can find that here – this just checks that you’ve read the instructions), and be able to provide your own transportation.
For more information see the website and fill out the accompanying form.
DETAILS
- Name: TX HOSA
- Contact: txhosa.shadowing@gmail.com
- Website: txhosa.org/shadowing
UT Austin’s Health Careers Mentorship Program (HCMP)
UT Austin’s HCMP program is an observation-only program that gives UT students the opportunity to shadow in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare settings as an intern.
The student-founded, student-led group helps organize rotations in departments like family practice, pediatrics, surgery, and more.
To be eligible you’ll need to prove you have at least 60 hours of clinical/non-clinical volunteering before the program’s spring start. You’ll also need letters of recommendation (LOR’s), showing you’re a person of good standing (these can be from a professor/graduate TA, work/volunteer supervisor, etc. from the University of Texas).
In addition, you also need to have completed 6 hours of biology classes at UT and have a schedule that’s clear of commitments before 12 pm on at least two weekdays per week.
The group also hosts an annual Health Summit that’s free to attend for high school students and anyone else interested.
To find out more about the program, visit the website below.
DETAILS
- Name: UT Austin Health Careers Mentorship Program (HCMP)
- Website: utexas.edu/uthcmp
UT College of Natural Sciences Summer High School Research Academy
UT College of Natural Sciences Summer High School Research Academy (HSRA) is a program designed to integrate high school students into CNS research groups in order for them to gain exposure and experience in scientific research.
Participants can expect to learn advanced techniques and gain important insight into UT’s academic life, completing research in the following areas:
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Genomics
- Molecular biology
- Physics
Each student will be placed into a group based on interest, space, and availability.
HSRA is not a residential program so to be eligible you’ll need to be in the Austin area, over 15 years of age or older, and have availability for 5 consecutive weeks across the summer.
The program costs $2000 per student and offers course credit and a limited number of scholarships.
DETAILS
- Name: UT Austin Summer High School Research Academy
- Contact: utaustinhsra@gmail.com.
- Website: cns.utexas.edu/high-school-summer-research-academy
Other Opportunities For Clinical Shadowing In Austin
As well as applying to the organized shadowing programs listed above, it can be worth researching and enquiring about possible hospital volunteering programs in Austin and the surrounding Texas area.
Signing up to volunteer can help you build a network among physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other healthcare workers that could lead to important shadowing opportunities.
Check out the article linked in the introduction for more info on hospital volunteering programs in the city.
What About Private Shadowing?
It’s possible to set up private shadowing programs with physicians (and other healthcare workers) in Austin.
Here are some important tips on how to secure further shadowing opportunities in the city and surrounding areas:
- Contact your own personal care provider (PCP) and enquire about shadowing
- Look up major hospitals in the area and check to see if doctors practicing there are alumni of your college (email them and explain the situation)
- Try cold calling/emailing physicians listed on the faculty list of Austin’s major medical schools (Dell Medical School’s Director of PreHealth Professions, Dr Reginald Baptiste is said to be well connected!)
- Check out volunteer opportunities in the city, get orientated and introduce yourselves to members of the medical team personally (Brackenridge ER is known to be receptive)
- Consider applying for hospital scribing jobs in the city
- Look into virtual shadowing opportunities
I Want To Shadow A Certain Specialty Doctor, What Can I Do?
If you’re looking to learn more about the various areas of medicine (and the differing roles) then shadowing can help.
Finding opportunities is generally the same across all areas of medicine and health. You’ll want to contact departments (and physicians) directly and see if they can put you in contact with specialist healthcare workers in areas you may be interested in.
I also have individual tips on finding opportunities within each specialty (psychiatry, anesthesiology, surgery, etc).
Final Thoughts
A physician or clinical-based shadowing program is important for any student interested in allied health careers. Not just future doctors but nurses, physician assistants, and anyone in between!
Hopefully, the programs above can help give you an introduction as to what life in healthcare is all about.
Looking for shadowing programs in other parts of California? Check out or other physician shadowing guides. We cover all major U.S. cities!
Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.