Credits: 3
Prerequisites:
- I. Minimum 3.3 GPA after 30 UF credits
- II. MDU 4003 with an average of at least 90%
Professor: Brent Carr, M.D.
Coordinator: Rebecca Greenberg
Registration: By application & acceptance only
Application: Spring Application
Contact: mel4012@psychiatry.ufl.edu
Description
Building on coursework from MDU 4003: Introduction to the Medical Professions, MDU 4004: Physician Shadowing allows students to shadow a doctor in various fields of medicine. In addition to online didactics related to patient privacy, professionalism, and compassion, students will gain hands-on experience by shadowing a practicing physician at UF Health.
This class is a great CV builder and provides undergraduate students a unique opportunity to observe patient care. Student’s grades are based on a few essays and quizzes, as well as a “professionalism” grade rated by the doctor being shadowed.
Students who have completed/are in the process of completing MDU 4003 must submit an application to be accepted into MDU 4004.
MDU 4004 Frequently Asked Questions
MDU 4004 Frequently Asked Questions
If I don’t qualify for the course this semester, can I take the course later?
Yes, you can take the course at any time as long as you meet the course criteria, and you are a registered UF student. You can apply as many times as you like, but you can only take the course once.
Are there still options to mail in my application or turn in my application in person?
No, all applicants should submit their application through REDCap (see the link in the application packet). The decision to change from paper applications to a REDCAP submission was made in order to reduce costs for applicants and make this process more efficient for course coordinators.
How does the credit hour requirement work?
You need to accrue 30 credit hours at UF before applying to take the course. This excludes transfer credits or Advanced Placement course credits. You can apply for the course if you will have accrued the necessary credit hours by the time the next semester starts. For example, if you are applying to take the course in the spring semester, and you will have accrued at least 30 UF credit hours by the end of the fall semester, before the spring semester begins, you are eligible to apply. You are NOT eligible to apply if you will not accrue the necessary hours until the end of the semester to which you are applying. For example, you cannot apply to the course for the spring semester if you will not reach the 30 UF credit hour limit until the end of the spring semester.
If accepted into the course, how many hours will I be expected to shadow my physician each week?
Although shadowing requirements may depend on the specialty you are assigned to, students are generally expected to shadow a minimum of 3 hours each week to meet the minimum requirements for the course. Students are more than welcome to shadow for more than 3 hours each week, should their schedule permit it and their assigned physician has additional shadowing opportunities. However, this is not required. When completing the application and filling out your availability, please keep in mind that the minimum expectation is that you have 3 hours a week to shadow. Additionally, some physicians have smaller availability windows (e.g., Tuesdays ONLY from 12-5pm) so students who have more availability across multiple days and availability on specific days for at least a 3-hour chunk are more likely to be able to be paired.
What if I don’t know what my schedule will be like next semester?
Try to only provide times in your application that you know you will have available in the next semester. If more time becomes available for you to shadow, email the course coordinator. It is much easier to accommodate students that initially report lower availability and then have more time come available than the other way around.
What do I do if my schedule changes?
Let the course coordinator (mel4012@psychiatry.ufl.edu) know as soon as possible. The sooner the coordinator knows, the easier it is to make changes in the physician-student pairings. If the coordinator does not hear from you, they will assume your schedule is exactly as stated on your application. It is the student’s responsibility to make the coordinator aware of any changes. Late changes to schedules may prevent the student from being able to participate in the course.
When do I find out which physician I am shadowing?
Usually the week after the add/drop period. Pairing students with physicians is very time intensive, and the coordinator needs to be sure that the class roster is set before they assign students.