The high school student's guide to shadowing a doctor
Everything a student needs to land a shadowing day and learn from it: where to look, how to ask, what to wear, which questions to bring, and what to write down afterward.
Ten sections that take a student from the first email to the thank-you note
Each section fits on one page. Several are worksheets made to be printed and filled in.
01
Why doctors say no
The barriers 43 physicians named, and how to write a request that removes them.
02
Find a doctor to shadow
Six places to look, starting with people who already know you, plus an outreach tracker.
03
How to ask a doctor to shadow
A fill-in email, a phone script, and when to follow up.
04
Before your first day
The paperwork to ask about and what to learn in advance.
05
What to wear to shadow a doctor
What to wear, what to bring, and what to leave at home.
06
Patient privacy and professionalism
HIPAA in plain words and how to introduce yourself to a patient.
07
What to do when shadowing a doctor
Six things to watch for in every patient visit.
08
Questions to ask a doctor you shadow
Twelve questions, when to ask them, and which to skip.
09
After each day of shadowing
A journal page and a thank-you note you can fill in.
10
Ready to shadow
A final checklist and a log for your hours.
Templates and worksheets for shadowing a doctor
I wanted this guide to do some of the work for you, so it comes with pages you can write on.
Email to a physician
A request under 150 words with blanks for your name, school, and dates.
Phone script
What to say when you call an office to ask who approves student observers.
Outreach tracker
A table for every doctor you contact, when you asked, and what they said.
Patient introduction
One sentence that tells a patient who you are and lets them decide if you stay.
Shadowing journal
Six prompts to answer the same evening, while the day is still fresh.
Thank-you note
A short note to send within two days, with blanks for what you learned.
Shadowing advice built on what 43 physicians said
I surveyed practicing physicians about hosting high school students. Their answers decided what went into the guide.See reference 1
Resources physicians asked for most
Share of 43 physicians requesting each
What makes shadowing meaningful
Share of 43 physicians selecting each factor
Download the free medical shadowing guide
Twelve pages, free, and yours to print and share.
Source
- Waheed, Z. S. (2026). Physician perspectives on high school shadowing: Barriers, educational value, and opportunities for standardization. Cross-sectional survey of 43 practicing physicians. Abstract submitted to the 2027 Medical Education Innovation Conference.