Opening Doors to Medicine: Providers’ Perspectives on Shadowing and Mentorship in Missoula

Author

Katelyn M. SchaferFollow

Graduation Year

2025

Graduation Month

December

Document Type

Thesis - Campus Access Only

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science – Health and Human Performance

School or Department

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Major

Biology – Human Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentor Department

Pre-Med Advising

Faculty Mentor

Jannette McDonald

Keywords

shadowing, job shadowing, pre-med, physician mentor, doctor shadowing

Subject Categories

Health and Medical Administration

Abstract

Job shadowing is a critical part of pre-medical education and requirements to offer early exposure to the realities of medicine. Shadowing itself entails following a provider, such as a doctor or PA, to gain a sense of what a day or week in their field looks like. Most medical schools expect applicants to complete at least 40 hours of shadowing, though the AAMC reports that many applicants complete far more (Association of American Medical Colleges). This expectation has become an unintended barrier for many students, especially from rural areas or first-generation aspiring physicians (Tello and Zenger). Some medical schools, such as UCSF, NYU Grossman, and the University of Chicago Pritzker have acknowledged this barrier andremoved explicit shadowing requirements to address inequities. Despite this, applicants who report extensive shadowing still tend to receive preference, sustaining the opportunistic disparities (Irby et al.).

This project explores providers’, including NP, MD, PA, and DO, attitudes toward job shadowing in Missoula, Montana. A thirteen-question Qualtrics Survey was administered to local providers at Western Montana Clinic via email to assess personal shadowing experiences, willingness to host students, and perceived barriers. The results showed that 77% of respondents shadowed before medical or graduate school, 69% have hosted students, and 85% agreed that shadowing is important for pre-medical students. The common barriers mentioned were time constraints, HIPAA concerns, and lack of expectations from student and/or institution. The findings highlight disconnect between the value placed on shadowing and the limits of community healthcare systems.

Honors College Research Project

1

GLI Capstone Project

no

Recommended Citation

Schafer, Katelyn M., "Opening Doors to Medicine: Providers’ Perspectives on Shadowing and Mentorship in Missoula" (2025). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 571.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/571