Shadowing 101
Feeling behind on the wards? Eager for clerkship to come early? Want to really apply your knowledge? Well look no further. Welcome to the guide to shadowing in medical school at the University of Alberta! Here you will find a list of specialities and how you can shadow in them. Some of these specialties are exclusively conducted through shadow base during the academic year while some require you to email the speciality.
If the area of specialty has a certain duration for shadowbase, for example, radiology club is winter only, you may email outside the shadowbase duration at your own convenience. Using the radiology club example, you may personally contact preceptors or residents during fall, spring and summer. Note that you must be registered in the spring/summer med courses (e.g. MED518A/B) to shadow with insurance through the University of Alberta MD Program. You will not be allowed to shadow without this.
If you have questions, please contact the club leaders for that specific specialty. If there is no club for that specific specialty, please contact the department administrators for more details. Email the club leaders for email sign up shadowbases or for contact information. If any of the following information is listed incorrectly, please email the VP Student Affairs. If you are a student requesting more information about shadowing, please email the VP Administration.
Please use the following key explaining the details for "How to Shadow":
- Shadowbase via sign-up - Excel sheet released where you will input your name into a shift for a certain date and duration on a first come first serve basis
- Shadowbase via emailing - Excel sheet or document released where students will email the preceptors themselves.
- Email club leads for contact information - Please email the club leaders with their emails located on the MSA website and they will provide you with an email contact for scheduling shadowing. The email is not made public for confidentiality purposes.
| Medical Specialty | How to Shadow | When |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesia | Shadowbase via sign-up Email club leads for contact information |
Winter |
| Cardiology | Shadowbase via sign-up Includes: stress test, catheterization lab, echocardiogram, nuclear stress test, nuclear radiology. For inpatient shadowing, email preceptors yourself |
Winter |
| Critical Care and Trauma (ICU Peds and Adults) |
Shadowbase via sign-up | Fall and Winter |
| Dermatology | No Shadowbase Students email preceptors |
|
| Emergency Medicine | Email club leads for contact information | Fall and Winter |
| Family Medicine | Shadowbase via emailing | Fall and Winter |
| Gastroenterology | No shadowbase Students email preceptors |
|
| Geriatrics | Shadowbase via emailing | Fall and Winter |
| Infectious Disease | Email club leads for contact information | Fall and Winter |
| General Internal Medicine | Shadowbase via sign-up sheet | Fall and Winter |
| Laboratory Medicine | Email club leads for contact information | Fall and Winter |
| Medical Genetics | Email club leads for contact information | Fall and Winter |
| Neurology | Shadowbase via emailing | Winter |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | Email club leads for contact information Note: Labour and Delivery shadowing shifts are provided during Repro Block |
Fall and Winter |
| Oncology | Email club leads for contact information | Fall and Winter |
| Ophthalmology | Email club leads for contact information | Fall and Winter |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | Email surgeons on the excel sheet provided | Fall and Winter |
| Pathology | Email club leads for contact information Note: This includes anatomical, general, hematological and neuropathology |
|
| Pediatrics | Shadowbase via email | Fall and Winter |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | Shadowbase via emailing | Fall and Winter |
| Plastic Surgery | Email surgeons on the excel sheet provided | Fall and Winter |
| Psychiatry | Shadowbase via emailing | Fall and Winter |
| Radiology and Nuclear Medicine | Shadowbase via sign-up | Winter |
| Rheumatology | Shadowbase via email Note: During MSK Block for 2nd years, demand will be high |
Winter |
| Rural Medicine | Email club leads for contact information | Fall and Winter |
| Surgery | Email surgeons on the excel sheet provided Note: This includes cardiac, general, neuro, orthopedic, thoracic and vascular |
Fall and Winter |
| Urology | No Shadowbase Students email preceptors |
The following do not currently have an MSA affiliated club but may have one in the future.
Endocrinology
Hematology
Medical Microbiology
Nephrology