Shadowing
Shadowing Placements
Thank you for your interest in shadowing with Waco AHEC at Waco Family Medicine! We are excited that you are considering our organization to contribute to your education.
Please note: Waco Family Medicine is a primary care clinic setting, not a hospital. All shadowing placements are with Family Medicine providers within Waco Family Medicine clinics. Students may be placed with physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners who provide Family Medicine care. We do not currently place students with other medical specialties or in hospital-based settings.
We place students across 13 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 students who are interested in learning more about healthcare by observing Family Medicine providers in a primary care clinic setting.
Shadowing is a strictly observational, non-medical experience. Students will have no physical contact with patients and will not participate in patient care.
Because these placements take place within Waco Family Medicine clinics, students should expect to observe the day-to-day operations of a primary care practice, including patient visits and interactions between providers and patients. This is not a hospital-based shadowing program, and we do not offer placements with surgical, emergency, or other specialty providers.
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 in the clinical environment.
Who is eligible to shadow?
Shadowing students can be high school, undergraduate, or graduate students who are at least 18 years old and able to successfully complete a background check.
CHAMPS high school participants are the exception to the 18+ age requirement and may participate in shadowing opportunities through the CHAMPS program.
As part of the onboarding process, students who are selected for a shadowing placement will be required to complete a background check at a cost of $20, which is the responsibility of the student. The background check is only required if you are able to be placed for a shadowing opportunity.
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.
Volunteer Experience & Shadowing Placement Preference
As we continue to develop our student engagement opportunities, preference for shadowing placements will be given to students who have volunteered with Waco Family Medicine for two semesters.
At this time, there is no minimum number of volunteer hours required to meet the two-semester preference. Students must be at least 18 years old to volunteer.
Texas AHEC East – Waco Region is currently taking over coordination of the Waco Family Medicine volunteer program. We are developing a new landing page with information about available volunteer opportunities and how to get involved. More information will be available later this fall (2026), so stay tuned!
Placement Details
Shadowing shifts are typically four hours and are offered during the following time blocks:
8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Students can expect their shadowing placement to last for one semester. The total number of shadowing hours available will vary based on clinic and provider availability.
Please note that most students will receive four 4-hour shadowing rotations, and no more than 50 hours of shadowing will be provided per student.
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 considered for placement during that semester.
Completing the application does not guarantee placement. Placement is based on the date your application is received, physician availability, and the hours you are requesting.
Deadlines to apply for placement :
Spring Semester: January 15
Summer Semester: April 16
Fall Semester: August 14
Shadowing placements are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are dependent on clinic and provider availability. We encourage students to apply early and carefully review the eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
Please use the appropriate Waco AHEC application and communication channels when requesting a shadowing placement. Do not contact individual clinics or providers directly to arrange shadowing. Coordinating through the proper channels helps us avoid confusion with clinic schedules and protects the flow of patient care.
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, background check at a cost of $20 - which is the cost responsibility of the student, and your complete immunization record. Details on these items are included in the Shadowing Packet. You will upload these to a link provided to 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 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) 313-5100