Missouri physician shadowing
Physician Shadowing in Missouri
How to find physician shadowing opportunities in Missouri — academic medical centers, community practices, and outreach strategies for pre-med students.
Missouri has a strong network of academic medical centers and community health systems where pre-med students can arrange physician shadowing. Most opportunities are not publicly posted — they require direct, professional outreach to individual physicians or department coordinators. The guidance below covers where to look, how to reach out, and what to expect.
Where to start in Missouri
Washington University School of Medicine / Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis) — one of the largest academic medical centers in the Midwest. Contact individual department offices or visit barnesjewish.org/patients-visitors/volunteer-services to inquire about volunteer and shadowing opportunities; some departments accept shadowing requests separately from the volunteer program.
Saint Louis University School of Medicine / SSM Health SLU Hospital — SLU's clinical departments accept shadowing inquiries through the SLU pre-health advising office and directly through department coordinators. Pre-health students at SLU should check the advising office's shadowing resource list first.
University of Missouri Health Care (Columbia) — MU Health Care is the academic medical center of the University of Missouri. Pre-med students at Mizzou should contact the MU Pre-Health Advising Center, which maintains a list of faculty physicians who accept shadowing requests from enrolled students.
UMKC School of Medicine / University Health (Kansas City) — UMKC's six-year combined program means many clinical faculty are accustomed to working with pre-med students. Contact the UMKC Pre-Health Advising office or reach out directly to clinical faculty listed on the UMKC School of Medicine faculty directory.
Mercy Hospital St. Louis and Mercy Springfield — Mercy's clinical departments accept shadowing inquiries on a physician-by-physician basis. Contact the department coordinator for the specialty you are interested in; the Mercy website lists department contact information by campus.
Community and private practices — family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics practices in suburban St. Louis, Kansas City, and mid-Missouri cities (Columbia, Springfield, Jefferson City) are often more accessible than large academic centers. Your pre-health advisor, personal physician, or a family connection is the most reliable path to a community practice shadowing arrangement.
Good specialties to observe
- Internal medicine — broad exposure to diagnostic reasoning and chronic disease management; strong foundation for any MD or DO application
- Family medicine — high patient volume, continuity of care, and strong representation in Missouri's rural and suburban communities
- Emergency medicine — fast-paced environment with diverse presentations; particularly relevant for students interested in UMKC or programs with urban health missions
- Surgery — limited direct patient interaction during shadowing but strong for students targeting surgical or procedural specialties
- Pediatrics — valuable for students with a stated interest in child health or underserved populations
- Psychiatry — increasingly valued by admissions committees; relevant for students interested in behavioral health or biopsychosocial medicine
A professional cold email
Shadowing Request — Pre-Medical Student
Dear Dr. [Last Name], My name is [Your Name], and I am a [year, e.g., sophomore] pre-medical student at [University]. I am writing to ask whether you would be open to allowing me to shadow you for a few sessions at your convenience. I am interested in [specialty] because [one specific, genuine reason — e.g., a clinical experience or course that sparked your interest]. I am flexible with scheduling and would work entirely around your availability. I would be grateful for any time you are able to offer. I have attached a brief resume for your reference. Thank you for considering my request. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Phone number] [University email]
Practical outreach tips
Email is the standard first contact — do not call a physician's office to request shadowing unless the office explicitly invites phone inquiries.
Keep your initial email to four short paragraphs: who you are, why this specialty, your availability, and a polite close. Attach a one-page resume.
If you do not receive a reply within two weeks, one brief follow-up is appropriate. After that, move on to the next physician on your list.
Your pre-health advising office is your best resource before cold-emailing. Many Missouri universities maintain lists of physicians who have agreed to accept shadowing requests from their students — use that list first.
Shadowing is observational. You will not perform any clinical tasks, handle patient records, or speak directly with patients unless the physician explicitly invites it. Dress professionally, arrive early, and follow the physician's lead on patient interaction.
Log every session: date, physician name and specialty, setting, and a brief note on what you observed. You will need this detail for your AMCAS or AACOMAS activity descriptions.
Missouri does not require a formal shadowing agreement for most outpatient settings, but hospital-based shadowing at academic medical centers (Wash U, MU Health, UMKC) typically requires a brief onboarding process — ask the department coordinator what is required before your first day.
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.