Shadowing Opportunities

Prior to seeking placement for a shadowing or observational opportunity, please read the guidelines below:

Eligibility

• Individuals must be 16 years of age. However, shadowing opportunities in areas such as the Operating Room, Emergency Department, Labor and Delivery and some physician offices require a minimum age of 18.
• Students must reside within Centra’s primary service regions, which include the greater Lynchburg, Bedford, Farmville, and Gretna areas and surrounding counties. Due to high demand, we prioritize students who live or attend school in these regions.
• Eligible participants may include high school students (some restrictions), college students, medical students, pre-employment hires, individuals considering a career change, or physicians.
• Completion of all Centra onboarding requirements is mandatory.
• While not mandatory for school credit, observational hours may be necessary for applications to healthcare or medical programs such as Medical School, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, etc.

Placement

• Placement in the requested department/profession is not guaranteed and is subject to limited availability.
• Some departments and clinical locations may have restrictions on shadowing. In certain cases, additional approvals or Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) fit testing may be required. Please be aware that any associated costs for fit testing are the responsibility of the student.
• Prior to the shadowing experience, individuals seeking placement, or a representative from the Centra Office of Medical Education and Student Affairs (OMESA) team must obtain approval from the department and/or the healthcare provider.
• Completion of onboarding requirements for shadowing and official clearance from an OMESA staff member are mandatory before individuals can commence their shadowing experience.
• Observation or shadowing experience placement may be terminated or changed at any time due to inappropriate behavior, failure to comply with rules and policies or at the request of the department or individual.

Requirements

• All individuals interested in shadowing will be required to complete and return onboarding paperwork supplied by a member of the OMESA team.
• Medical documents including:
  • Results of a current TB Test (must be administered within the last 12 months) and will need to be current during the time the individual is shadowing at Centra. A chest x-ray will be accepted within the last two years if previously tested positive for TB.
  • Proof of current flu vaccination (or approved exemption) if shadowing between October 1 and April 30.
• To determine the availability of opportunities, please email OMESA@centrahealth.com