by: Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company

Healthcare practitioners often receive inquiries from students seeking opportunities to shadow or observe, volunteer, or learn through a formal clinical rotation. High schools may offer programs and courses that focus on careers related to medicine, dentistry, or nursing. The requests for shadowing experiences can also come from college and vocational students.

Understanding what being a healthcare professional entails is critical for any individual considering a career in the industry. Observing, volunteering, and mentoring opportunities may be rewarding for the professional and benefit the learner by fulfilling requisite application criteria. Although it is a great opportunity to promote your profession, it is also important to recognize the risks to your patients, employees, and your practice if you decide to accommodate such requests.

Before deciding to allow students into your office, explore their personal expectations as well as the impact it could have on your practice. Identify and validate the program associated with the inquiry and understand the objectives that are expected to be achieved. It is important for practitioners to differentiate between shadowing or observing, volunteering, and a formal clinical rotation in which direct patient care is provided.

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