Physician Shadowing Opportunities in NYC: Where to Start
NYC has more world-class physicians than anywhere else in the country. Here is how to get in front of them — and how to make your shadowing experience count on your AMCAS application.
Physician shadowing gives pre-med students a close look at how doctors talk with patients, make decisions, and work with a care team. New York City offers many clinical settings, from neighborhood primary care practices to teaching hospitals. Access depends on the physician, the site, and its rules for observers. This guide explains where to look, how to ask, and what to do if a hospital cannot accommodate shadowing.
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Book my free auditWhere can you find physician shadowing opportunities in NYC?
Start with boroughs you can reach regularly. Ask each physician's office or hospital about its observer rules.
Where to start in each NYC borough
Manhattan
Search physician directories at NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, and NYU Langone, along with neighborhood practices.
Brooklyn
Consider community practices and physicians affiliated with NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist, and Mount Sinai Brooklyn.
Queens
Contact local practices and physicians affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Queens or NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. Arrange observation separately from volunteering.
The Bronx
Search community practices and physicians affiliated with NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. Ask your pre-health advisor about alumni contacts.
Staten Island
Start with local primary care and specialty offices, then ask hospitals about observer policies.
1. Ask physicians and people who know them
Start with a physician you already know, your own doctor's office, a family or community contact, a professor, or a pre-health advisor. Ask whether the physician accepts student observers and whether the practice has an approval process. A personal introduction can help open a conversation, but the site must still approve your visit.
If you have no physician contacts, make a list of practices near your school, home, or workplace. Independent primary care, pediatrics, and specialty offices are worth considering alongside larger hospitals. Ask about a short observation, such as one morning, rather than assuming a physician can host you for weeks.
2. Contact academic physicians and teaching hospitals
Faculty profiles at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and Weill Cornell, Mount Sinai, and NYU Langone can help you identify doctors whose clinical work interests you. Send a specific request to a public professional contact or ask an office manager whether student observation is permitted. A physician's willingness to help does not override hospital rules on privacy, age, immunizations, training, or clearance.
Try sites across the five boroughs. Smaller offices and outpatient clinics may have different processes from large inpatient services. Ask each site about its current policy; no named hospital guarantees a placement.
3. Use your college's pre-health office
Ask your advisor three questions: Does the school keep a list of physicians who accept observers? Does it have an alumni physician network? Is there a formal application or affiliation agreement for shadowing? Faculty mentors and alumni offices may provide introductions. Confirm the observer rules directly with the clinical site.
4. Explore volunteer opportunities for college students in NYC
Hospital volunteers may guide visitors, assist administrative staff, or support patients and families through approved tasks. Some roles are in nonclinical areas; others are near a patient care unit or emergency department. Ask what the position permits before describing it as clinical experience.
Search current opportunities at NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai Morningside, NYU Langone, and NYC Health + Hospitals. Summer programs may have separate applications, age limits, and time commitments.
Volunteering and physician shadowing require separate approval. Mount Sinai Morningside says it does not place volunteers in shadowing positions. If a physician agrees to host you, follow that site's observer approval process.
Summer opportunities for clinical exposure in NYC
Summer can give you time for a consistent volunteer or observational role. Compare programs by what participants actually do, their eligibility rules, and the hours they require.
- NYU Langone Project Healthcare: Summer emergency medicine volunteer programs at Bellevue in Manhattan and NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn. Participants complete assigned shifts, support patients and staff, and attend educational sessions.
- Mount Sinai West JuMP: A six-week summer volunteer program requiring 100 hours of service.
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst: Offers summer volunteering for eligible high school students. Its volunteer roles do not include direct patient care or physician shadowing.
- NYU Langone Health Career Opportunity Program: Offers emergency department observation and exposure to several healthcare professions.
Check each program's current dates and application rules before applying. Record the duties and hours you actually complete. Volunteering, clinical observation, and physician shadowing are different experiences; describe each accurately on your application.
5. Look beyond formal hospital programs
Community clinics, private practices, hospice programs, and health centers can offer meaningful exposure to patient care. Ask whether they allow observation of a licensed physician. A volunteer or research position may involve patient interaction, but it is not physician shadowing unless you are approved to observe a physician. Describe research, volunteering, and observation as separate experiences.
Focus on what you learn, not an hour target
There is no universal number of physician shadowing hours that guarantees a stronger medical school application. The goal is to understand how physicians listen to patients, weigh information, explain decisions, and work with nurses and other members of the care team.
After each approved observation, write down what surprised you and how the experience shaped your view of medicine. Keep patient details confidential. Report your completed hours accurately on AMCAS, but do not treat the number as the whole story. A thoughtful account of what you learned gives an admissions committee more insight than hours with no meaningful reflection.
Which specialties should you shadow?
Choose specialties that help you answer a real question about medicine. Primary care or internal medicine can show how physicians manage ongoing relationships and clinical decisions. Pediatrics offers a view of communication with children and families. Psychiatry can show the importance of listening and longitudinal care. Emergency medicine or surgery may expose you to a different pace and team structure, though observer access can be more restricted. Choose a setting you can discuss thoughtfully rather than one you think will impress an admissions committee.
You do not need a famous institution on your résumé. Observing a physician in a community practice in Queens or the Bronx can be just as meaningful as observing at a Manhattan academic center. Follow the site's rules and the physician's lead; some visits may not include patient encounters.
A practical outreach plan for NYC pre-meds
Choose two or three settings you want to learn about, such as primary care, emergency medicine, or psychiatry.
Build a relevant contact list from physician directories, practice websites, alumni contacts, and advisor referrals.
Send individual emails explaining why you chose each physician. Offer a short observation window and your actual availability.
If you hear nothing, send one polite follow-up after about two weeks. Then move on.
Once someone responds, ask who handles observer approval and what paperwork or training is required. Do not arrive without confirmation.
There is no dependable response rate or magic number of emails. Keep a simple record of contacts and replies so you can follow up respectfully without sending duplicate requests.
Physician shadowing cold email template
Personalize this short request with a specific reason for contacting the physician.
Subject: NYC pre-med student request to observe your practice
Dear Dr. [Last Name],
I'm a [year or graduate] at [school] preparing for medical school. I read about your work in [specific clinical area], and I'd like to learn more about how physicians care for patients in that setting.
Would you consider allowing me to observe your practice for a morning or another brief period that fits your schedule? I'm available [days/times] and am happy to complete any observer approval, privacy training, or health clearance your practice requires.
Thank you for considering my request. I can send a short résumé if helpful.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[School or current role]
[Email] | [Phone]
If a practice says no, thank the person and keep looking. Never include patient information in outreach or later application writing.
What if you cannot secure a shadowing placement?
Keep seeking approved observation opportunities, but continue building clinical and service experience. Patient-facing volunteering, hospice volunteering, and authorized clinical jobs can help you understand care when shadowing is unavailable. AAMC guidance on other kinds of clinical exposure. Describe each role accurately; volunteering is not automatically physician shadowing.
High school students may face additional age and clearance rules. Ask about eligibility. Working adults can request a half-day observation rather than a long placement.
How to write about physician shadowing on AMCAS
Record the dates, physician, specialty, setting, and hours you actually observed. Afterward, make private notes on what you learned about clinical reasoning, communication, teamwork, and a physician's responsibilities. Never include identifying patient details.
In AMCAS Work and Activities, choose the experience type that best represents what you did and report completed hours accurately. Focus on a specific insight and why it mattered to your decision to pursue medicine. Do not claim credit for care you did not provide. AAMC application instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I shadow a doctor at Mount Sinai, NYU Langone, or NewYork-Presbyterian?
Policies vary by location. Contact the physician's office and ask about its observer process. A hospital volunteer assignment does not automatically include physician shadowing.
How many hours of shadowing do I need for medical school?
There is no single AMCAS minimum for every school. Record your actual hours, learn enough to discuss the experience honestly, and check each school's current expectations.
Can high school students find shadowing opportunities in NYC?
Possibly, but sites may restrict observers by age or require clearance. Ask about eligibility. Youth volunteer programs can offer exposure even when they do not permit physician observation.
Does hospital volunteering count as physician shadowing?
No. Describe the service role you actually performed. Call it shadowing only when you were approved to observe a physician.
Should I shadow only at a prestigious NYC hospital?
No. Choose an approved setting where you can observe a physician's work and reflect on what you learned.
Want physician-led guidance on your shadowing strategy? Physician-led premed advising for New York City applicants.
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.