Pre-Clerkship Career Exploration (PCE) Program
General Description
The PCE program at the HMSOM is a short-term, optional component of the SOM clinical skills curriculum, structured to allow students additional exposure to clinical medicine. Allowed activities consist of observation of doctor-patient interactions and medical procedures, and are used to inform and support career planning activities.
PCE/shadowing is considered an advanced level activity in the Career Development pathway. Students should first engage in at least two of the following activities, to ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of the specialty through which to understand and inform their shadowing experience:
- Informational Interviews
- Undifferentiated Medical Student podcast
- AAMC Careers in Medicine website exploration
- Specialty Interest Group meetings and activities
- Review of materials on national specialty group website
Once these initial explorations have occurred, students may then request to shadow for a few hours to observe a particular procedure or return to shadow the same physician over a brief period of time. Shadowing experiences may turn into mentoring relationships, which are broader and consist of meetings and conversations outside of clinical practice. Please notify your advisor if this becomes desirable so that they can initiate the mentoring procedure.
Please note: shadowing does not include any hands-on interaction or activities with patients (beyond a verbal introduction).
When can I start shadowing activities?
Shadowing can begin after the following.
- Grades for MCP have been posted (to have time to establish a solid academic foundation).
- All compliance requirements (i.e., immunizations, Basic Life Support (BLS), MySuccess modules) are current.
Inpatient shadowing at hospital locations may have additional requirements, such as location specific IDs or training that must be completed before shadowing can occur onsite.
NOTE: No shadowing is permitted during curricular time. VP visits, CS sessions, and any other curricular experience may not be rescheduled or missed because of shadowing.
What do you do if/when you want to shadow a physician?
If you wish to shadow a School of Medicine faculty physician and meet the requirements above, please send your request directly to the physician. Please verify with the physician that they hold a faculty position with the HMSOM. Not all HMH physicians have HMSOM faculty appointments.
Arrangements are between the faculty and the student. Please discuss your shadowing intentions with your Advisor for additional guidance on how to have a successful experience and integrate the experience into your career development plan.