Pre-Med Shadowing Opportunities on Long Island
Shadowing is not optional — it is a requirement. Here is where to find it on Long Island, how to ask for it, and how to make the most of every hour you spend in a clinical setting.
Important: Programs, eligibility requirements, and availability can change. Confirm current details directly with each organization before applying. This page does not confirm that any specific institution currently operates a formal shadowing program.
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Book my free auditHow to Find Physician Shadowing Opportunities
Pre-med students on Long Island find shadowing through a combination of personal connections, institutional programs, and direct outreach. The most reliable starting points are:
MedTrack Mentors does not place students into shadowing positions. What we do is help you build a strategy — identifying the right specialties, preparing your outreach, and ensuring your shadowing experience is documented and framed effectively for your application. Learn more about our physician-led pre-med advising on Long Island.
Can High School Students Shadow Physicians on Long Island?
High school students can explore medicine through physician shadowing, but access may be more limited than it is for college students. Each hospital, medical practice, or healthcare provider sets its own rules for observers, including minimum age, parental consent, health documentation, and orientation. Contact the facility before making plans, and ask specifically whether it permits high school students to observe a physician.
If job shadowing is unavailable, consider hospital volunteer opportunities, school career programs, or informational conversations with healthcare professionals. These can offer insight into the medical field, but volunteering and shadowing are different experiences. Shadowing means observing a physician's work; it does not involve hands-on patient care.
How Many Shadowing Hours Do You Need?
There is no universal minimum. Most competitive applicants have between 40 and 200 hours, but the number matters less than the variety and depth of your experience. Shadow in at least two different specialties, and ideally in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Admissions committees want to see that you understand what a physician's day actually looks like — not just that you logged hours.
For a broader look at how clinical experience fits into your overall application, see our guide on how to get clinical hours as a pre-med student.
Long Island Shadowing Resources
Long Island has a dense network of hospitals, academic medical centers, and private practices. The institutions below are among the most accessible for pre-med students — but availability changes, so always confirm directly before applying.
Northwell Health Network
The largest health system in New York with hospitals across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Contact Northwell volunteer services directly to confirm current shadowing and volunteer availability at specific sites.
Stony Brook Medicine
Stony Brook University Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and academic medical center. Stony Brook undergrads may have access through the university's pre-health office — confirm current availability with the pre-health advising office before pursuing other channels.
NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Located in Mineola, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island is a major academic medical center with strong programs in cardiology, oncology, and surgery.
Good Samaritan University Hospital
Located in West Islip, Good Samaritan is a major community hospital with a wide range of specialties and a history of working with pre-med volunteers.
Private Practice Physicians
Do not overlook private practice. A solo or small-group practice in your target specialty can offer more one-on-one time with a physician than a busy hospital floor.
How to Find a Doctor to Shadow
The most effective approach is to work outward from existing relationships before resorting to cold outreach.
- 1
Start with your own physicians
Your primary care doctor, a specialist you have seen, or any physician in your family's network. A warm introduction converts at a far higher rate than a cold email.
- 2
Contact your pre-health advising office
Most colleges maintain lists of physicians who have agreed to work with students. This is an underused resource.
- 3
Reach out through alumni networks
Pre-med alumni who are now physicians or medical students often know physicians willing to take shadowers. LinkedIn is useful here.
- 4
Contact hospital volunteer services
Major Long Island hospitals have formal volunteer programs. Ask specifically whether shadowing — not just volunteering — is available in your target specialty.
- 5
Direct outreach to private practices
A well-written, concise email to a private practice physician in your target specialty can work. See the sample email below.
How to Write a Shadowing Request
A shadowing request email should be short, specific, and easy to act on. Follow these principles:
Keep the email short — three paragraphs maximum.
State your name, your school, your year, and your target specialty in the first sentence.
Be specific about what you are asking: "I am hoping to shadow you for 4–8 hours over one or two sessions."
Attach a one-page resume. Physicians are busy — make it easy to say yes.
Follow up once after one week if you do not hear back. Do not follow up more than twice.
If you get a no, ask if they can refer you to a colleague.
Subject: Shadowing Request — Pre-Med Student, [Your School]
Dear Dr. [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name]. I am a [year, e.g., sophomore] at [Your School] pursuing a career in medicine with a particular interest in [specialty]. I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to allow me to shadow you for approximately 4–8 hours over one or two sessions at your convenience.
I have attached a brief resume for your reference. I am flexible on timing and happy to work around your schedule. I understand that your time is limited and I will follow your lead on when questions are appropriate.
Thank you for considering my request. I would be grateful for any opportunity to observe your work, and I am happy to provide any additional information you may need.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Phone] | [Email]
[School] | Class of [Year]
What to Expect While Shadowing
Shadowing is an observation experience. Your role is to watch, listen, and learn — not to participate in patient care. Here is how to conduct yourself:
Arrive early. Never be late.
Dress professionally — business casual at minimum.
Do not use your phone unless the physician invites you to look something up.
Ask questions at appropriate moments — not during patient interactions.
Write a thank-you note or email within 24 hours.
Keep a shadowing log: date, physician, specialty, hours, one thing you observed.
Virtual Versus In-Person Shadowing
Virtual shadowing programs — where students observe telemedicine visits or watch recorded clinical encounters — became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some medical schools still accept them; others do not.
In-Person Shadowing
- Universally accepted by medical schools
- Demonstrates direct clinical exposure
- Allows you to observe the full patient encounter
- Stronger material for personal statement reflection
Virtual Shadowing
- Accepted by some schools — verify before relying on it
- Useful when in-person access is limited
- Best used to supplement, not replace, in-person hours
- Less compelling for personal statement narratives
How to Record Shadowing on AMCAS
Shadowing is listed in the Work and Activities section of your AMCAS application. Use the activity type "Physician Shadowing / Clinical Observation."
Physician name and credentials
Include the full name and MD/DO designation.
Specialty
List the specialty you observed — cardiology, family medicine, surgery, etc.
Institution
The hospital, clinic, or practice where you shadowed.
Dates and total hours
Start date, end date, and total hours. Be accurate — schools may verify.
Description
Use the 700-character description to explain what you observed and what you learned. Reflection matters more than a list of procedures.
For a complete walkthrough of the AMCAS application, see our guide on how to get into medical school.
"When I reviewed applications as an admissions committee member, shadowing hours were never the deciding factor. What we looked for was evidence that the student had genuinely engaged with what they observed — that they understood the physician's role, had thought about the ethical dimensions of patient care, and could articulate why medicine was the right path for them specifically. A student with 50 hours who reflected deeply was more compelling than one with 300 hours who could only describe procedures."
This is why how you document and discuss your shadowing experience — in your personal statement and in interviews — matters as much as the hours themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many shadowing hours do pre-med students need?
There is no universal minimum. Most applicants have between 40 and 200 hours. Admissions committees care more about variety, reflection, and what you learned than a specific number. Shadow in at least two specialties and in both inpatient and outpatient settings if possible.
How do I find a doctor to shadow on Long Island?
Start with physicians you already know — your own doctors or family contacts. Then contact your college pre-health office, reach out to alumni networks, and consider respectful direct outreach to private practice physicians. Local hospitals such as Northwell Health, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, and Stony Brook Medicine also have volunteer and shadowing programs.
What should I say in a shadowing request email?
Keep it to three short paragraphs. State your name, school, year, and target specialty. Be specific about what you are asking — for example, four to eight hours over one or two sessions. Attach a one-page resume. Follow up once after one week if you do not hear back.
Is virtual shadowing accepted by medical schools?
Many schools accepted virtual shadowing during the pandemic and some still count it. However, in-person shadowing is strongly preferred because it demonstrates direct exposure to patient care and the clinical environment. Use virtual shadowing to supplement, not replace, in-person hours.
How do I record shadowing hours on AMCAS?
List shadowing under the "Physician Shadowing / Clinical Observation" activity type in the AMCAS Work and Activities section. Include the physician's name, specialty, institution, dates, and total hours. Write a brief description of what you observed and what you learned.
Can I shadow at Northwell Health as a pre-med student?
Northwell Health has volunteer and shadowing programs at multiple Long Island sites including North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Availability and eligibility requirements change — contact Northwell volunteer services directly to confirm current program status before applying.
Need Help Building Your Clinical Profile?
Shadowing is one piece of a larger clinical picture. Dr. Tomei can help you build a complete clinical narrative that medical schools find compelling — and ensure your application reflects the full depth of your experience.
Shadowing is one part of your clinical profile. For a full breakdown of how shadowing hours compare to direct patient care — and how many of each you need — see our guide on shadowing vs. clinical hours.