Shadowing

Our goal is to provide students interested in internal medicine or its subspecialities with the opportunity to learn more about various disciplines and better understand the roles of the health care team.

The Department of Internal Medicine at VCU consists of eleven divisions that each honor a commitment to medical education and a dedication to research. Shadowing offers a unique opportunity to observe the daily responsibilities of attending physicians and experience the medical environment firsthand.

Community Members, Undergraduate Students, and External Medical Students

If you are a community member, undergraduate student, or external medical student interested in shadowing, please contact Tierra Fowler, our Student Observer and Program Coordinator, at observer.program@vcuhealth.org to request an application. You will be asked to provide the following information as part of the application process:

• Specific specialties you’re interested in shadowing (Divisions - Department of Internal Medicine - VCU School of Medicine)
• Names of any specific physicians or specialties you would like to shadow
• Preferred clinical setting for shadowing (i.e. clinic, procedure area)
• Contact information: name, email address, and phone number 

All external applicants MUST be processed through the School of Medicine prior to shadowing. Due to volume and division criteria, processing times may vary. 

VCU Medical Students

Current VCU medical students interested in shadowing within the Department of Internal Medicine are encouraged to contact an attending physician of their choice to express interest.  To coordinate scheduling, please reach out to division administration (below) who oversees attending schedules. No formal application or documentation process is required.  Once a shadowing opportunity has been arranged with both the attending and division administration, students should follow all departmental guidelines and adhere to professionalism and confidentiality standards throughout their experience.

Division Administration Contacts for Scheduling (VCU Medical Students only)

• Cardiology: Melissa.Sears@vcuhealth.org 
• Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism: Shannon.Sekerak@vcuhealth.org
• Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition: Taylor.Hanssen@vcuhealth.org  (CC: Aletha.Grant@vcuhealth.org
• General Internal Medicine: Not offering shadowing opportunities at this time
• Geriatric Medicine:  Wendy.Walker@vcuhealth.org 
• Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care: Jonathon.Pettis1@vcuhealth.org 
• Hospital Medicine: Malika.Hill@vcuhealth.org 
• Infectious Diseases:  Peggy.Andrews@vcuhealth.org 
• Nephrology:  Kierra.Whittaker@vcuhealth.org 
• Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine: Dhanvi.Patel@vcuhealth.org 
• Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology: Tarsenna.Davis@vcuhealth.org

Pre-Medical Students

If you are interested in shadowing, please email Tierra Fowler who is the observer/shadowing coordinator at observer.program@vcuhealth.org for an application.

PLEASE NOTE:  all students must be processed prior to shadowing. This will include completion of the following forms:

• Observation Confidentiality Agreement
• VCUHS Observer Agreement
• Observer Guidelines and Expectations
• Infection Control Training
• Observe – Sponsor Responsibilities
• Code of Conduct
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Immunization Attestation Form