Shadowing

Shadowing Placements

Thank you for your interest in shadowing with Texas AHEC East - Waco Region! We are excited that you are considering our organization to contribute to your education. We place students across 15 different clinics within Waco Family Medicine with physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.

What is a shadowing placement?

Texas AHEC East - Waco Region offers shadowing placements for healthcare students who are looking to gain experience observing physicians and learning about the medical process. This is a strictly non-medical capacity (i.e., this is a one-way experience with absolutely no physical contact with the patients). Although Texas AHEC East - Waco Region does NOT offer any academic credit for students who complete shadowing placements, individuals who complete this type of placement will receive valuable experience and first-hand training.

Who is eligible to shadow?

Shadowing students can be high school, undergraduate, or graduate students. Students should be 18 years or older and able to pass a background check. Shadowing occurs Monday-Friday between 8am and 5pm. Waco Family Medicine does not offer shadowing on weekends. Students currently enrolled in medical school should not apply for a shadowing placement for academic credit. Those rotations are handled through the Waco Family Medicine Residency programs.

*Students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they plan to begin their placement. No exceptions will be made for shadow placements.

 

How do I apply to shadow?

Students who are interested in shadowing must complete the application below. This application has all the necessary information we need to begin the placement process. All students interested in a placement must complete this application. If you do not complete it by the deadline, you will not be placed. Completing the application does not guarantee placement. Placement is based on the date of your application, availability of physicians, and your hours requested.

Deadlines to apply for placement :

  • Spring Semester: January 15

  • Summer Semester: April 29

  • Fall Semester: August 12

We highly encourage students to apply as early as possible. Students who apply early are prioritized in the placement process.

Once we receive your completed application, we will reach out to physicians for match. Completing the application does not guarantee we will be able to locate a physician match, but we will do our best to find you a placement. The match process may take several weeks, so we appreciate your patience during this time!

What happens if I am placed?

We will communicate via email whether a physician is available for match. If you are matched, you will need to complete our shadowing packet and the Authorized Use Policy - which is a fillable PDF document. You are required to complete this packet in its entirety. In addition to the packet, you will be required to submit a valid copy of your driver's license, a background check, and your complete immunization record. Details on these items are included in the Shadowing Packet. You will upload these to a link provided for you.
*For students who have completed hours with us in the past (volunteering or shadowing), please reach out to determine if you need to re-submit any paperwork.

The week before your placement, you will be required to complete training on HIPPAA, Child Abuse, and Human Trafficking. You must complete the required exam after the PowerPoint presentation. Students must secure 100% on the training to pass. If you do not make 100%, you will need to re-take it until you do. Please email screenshots of the 100% results sheet to the Program Coordinator (ahec@wacofamilymedicine.org).

Questions?

 

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact the program by clicking the button below or by phone: (254) 313-5109