Pennsylvania

How to Find Physician Shadowing in Pennsylvania

Shadowing is not optional — it is a requirement. Here is where to find it in Pennsylvania, how to ask for it, and how to make every hour count on your application.

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How many shadowing hours do you need?

Most Pennsylvania medical schools want to see 40–100+ hours of physician shadowing. More important than the number is variety — shadow in at least two different specialties, and ideally in both inpatient and outpatient settings. For Penn and Pitt applicants, research-oriented shadowing (observing physician-scientists in clinical research settings) can be particularly compelling.

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

Pennsylvania pre-meds have access to some of the most impressive physicians in the world — at Penn, Pitt, Jefferson, and CHOP. The challenge is not finding a physician to shadow. The challenge is making the most of it. I have reviewed thousands of applications. The shadowing section is where most students write the most generic, forgettable content. What I want to see is a specific moment — a patient interaction, a clinical decision, a conversation — that changed how you think about medicine.

Where to Find Shadowing in Pennsylvania

Your University's Pre-Health Office

Most Pennsylvania universities — Penn, Drexel, Temple, Pitt, Penn State, Villanova, La Salle, Saint Joseph's — have pre-health advising offices that maintain relationships with local physicians willing to take student observers. This is the easiest pipeline and should be your first stop.

Tip: Ask specifically: "Do you have a list of physicians who have agreed to take pre-med observers?" Many offices have this list but do not advertise it. Penn's pre-health office is particularly well-connected to Penn Medicine faculty.

Penn Medicine Faculty Physicians

If you attend Penn or any Philadelphia university, Penn Medicine faculty physicians are often the most accessible shadowing contacts. They understand the pre-med process and are often willing to help students who approach them professionally and specifically.

Tip: Email faculty physicians whose research or clinical work interests you. Mention a specific paper they published or a clinical program they run. Generic emails get ignored. Penn's faculty directory is publicly searchable.

UPMC Faculty and Attending Physicians

UPMC's network of 40+ hospitals and hundreds of clinical locations means there are physicians in virtually every specialty accessible to Pittsburgh-area pre-med students. UPMC faculty at Pitt are particularly accessible to students enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh.

Tip: Pitt pre-med students should leverage their university affiliation directly. Email UPMC attending physicians through the UPMC physician directory. Mention your Pitt affiliation and your interest in their specific specialty.

Jefferson Health Shadowing Opportunities

Jefferson Health has a structured program for pre-med students interested in shadowing. The system's size — 18 hospitals across the region — means there are opportunities in virtually every specialty. Jefferson is particularly accessible for students at Thomas Jefferson University and nearby Philadelphia schools.

Tip: Jefferson Health's volunteer-to-shadow pipeline is well-established. Start as a volunteer, perform consistently, and ask your supervisor about transitioning to a shadowing arrangement with a specific physician.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Shadowing

CHOP offers shadowing opportunities for pre-med students interested in pediatrics. Given CHOP's status as the #1 children's hospital in the country, shadowing here is one of the most impressive credentials a Philadelphia pre-med can have.

Tip: CHOP shadowing is competitive. Apply through their formal program and be prepared to commit to a consistent schedule. Pediatric subspecialties — oncology, cardiology, neurology — are particularly compelling for your application narrative.

Cold Email to Private Practice Physicians

Private practice physicians in Pennsylvania — especially in specialties like internal medicine, family medicine, cardiology, and orthopedics — are often more accessible than hospital-based physicians. A well-written cold email to a local practice can open doors.

Tip: Use the Pennsylvania Medical Society physician directory or your state's medical board lookup to find physicians in your target specialty near your campus. Personalize every email — mention something specific about their practice or specialty.

Virtual Shadowing Options

Several programs offer virtual shadowing experiences that can supplement in-person shadowing. The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, and various specialty societies offer virtual observation programs. These do not replace in-person shadowing but can add breadth to your experience.

Tip: Virtual shadowing counts in AMCAS but should be clearly labeled as virtual. Most admissions committees view it as supplementary to in-person experience, not a replacement. Use it to add specialty breadth, not as your primary shadowing.

Best Specialties to Shadow in Pennsylvania

Internal Medicine

Broad exposure to the full spectrum of adult medicine. Excellent for understanding how physicians think through complex cases. Pennsylvania's academic medical centers — Penn, Pitt, Jefferson — have exceptional internal medicine programs.

Surgery

Operating room exposure is distinct from any other clinical environment. Pennsylvania has world-class surgical programs at Penn, Pitt, and Jefferson. Even a few hours in the OR gives you something specific and compelling to write about.

Emergency Medicine

High-acuity, fast-paced environment. Temple University Hospital and UPMC Presbyterian are Level 1 Trauma Centers with exceptional emergency medicine programs. Demonstrates comfort with uncertainty and high-stakes decision-making.

Pediatrics

CHOP is the #1 children's hospital in the country. Pediatric shadowing at CHOP is one of the most distinctive experiences a Pennsylvania pre-med can have. Strong fit for students interested in working with children or underserved populations.

Oncology

Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center and Fox Chase Cancer Center (Temple Health) are world-class oncology programs. Oncology shadowing demonstrates exposure to complex, emotionally demanding medicine.

Family Medicine

Particularly valued by Penn State COM and programs with primary care missions. Family medicine shadowing in underserved Pennsylvania communities — rural or urban — is highly compelling for mission-driven programs.

Cold Email Template

Use this as a starting point. Personalize the subject line and the body — generic emails get deleted. Keep it short. Pennsylvania physicians at Penn Medicine and UPMC are extremely busy.

Email Template

Subject: Pre-Med Student Requesting Shadowing Opportunity

Dear Dr. [Last Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [year] pre-med student at [University]. I am applying to medical school in [year] and am hoping to shadow a physician in [specialty] to deepen my understanding of clinical medicine.

I came across your practice through [how you found them — Penn Medicine directory, UPMC faculty page, etc.] and was particularly interested in your work in [specific area if applicable]. I am hoping to shadow you for 4–8 hours over one or two sessions at your convenience.

I have attached a brief resume. I am flexible with scheduling and happy to work around your availability.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
[University and Graduation Year]

What to Do When You Are Actually There

Arrive 10 minutes early. Never be late.

Dress professionally — business casual minimum, scrubs if the physician requests them.

Silence your phone completely. Do not check it.

Observe quietly during patient encounters. Ask questions between patients, not during.

Keep a small notebook. Write down one thing you observed or learned each session.

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of each session.

Ask if you can return for additional sessions — do not assume.

After your final session, ask if the physician would be willing to serve as a reference.

At Penn Medicine and UPMC, be aware of HIPAA — never photograph patients or clinical records.

How to Write About Shadowing in AMCAS

In AMCAS, each shadowing experience gets its own entry under "Physician Shadowing."

Use the 700-character description to describe a specific patient encounter or clinical moment — not a generic summary.

If shadowing is your most meaningful experience, use the 1,325-character "Most Meaningful" field to reflect deeply on what it confirmed about your decision to pursue medicine.

Avoid clichés: "I watched the doctor save a life" or "I knew I wanted to be a doctor." Write about a specific moment and what it taught you.

Mention the specialty, the setting (inpatient vs. outpatient), and the approximate number of hours.

For Penn and Pitt applicants: research-oriented physicians appreciate when you reference specific clinical questions or cases you observed.

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

The best shadowing entries I have read describe a single, specific moment — a patient who changed how the student understood a disease, a physician who modeled something the student wanted to emulate, a clinical decision that revealed the complexity of medicine. Write about one moment. Do it well. That is worth more than a summary of 200 hours. Pennsylvania schools — especially Penn and Pitt — are reading thousands of applications from highly qualified students. Specificity is what makes you memorable.

Need Help Writing About Your Shadowing?

Shadowing is only as valuable as how you write about it. Dr. Tomei can help you turn your clinical experiences into compelling AMCAS entries and personal statement material.

Book My Free Audit

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.