The Health Professions Shadowing Program (HPSP) is a free, two-week professional development program held every summer (usually in late July/early August) designed to help increase access, equity, and diversity in healthcare. The program is jointly administered by the UW-Madison Center for Pre-Health Advising (CPHA) and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Office of MD Admissions, and includes a wide variety of opportunities to network with health care providers, explore potential career paths, think critically about health equity, experience clinical settings, and grow as future leaders in healthcare. Meals and optional on-campus housing are provided.
After the summer program, HPSP alumni have access to additional advising and resources from CPHA and UW SMPH while continuing their pre-health journeys.
Health Professions Shadowing Program 2023
HPSP 2023 will be held from Sunday evening, July 30 – Friday, August 11, 2023.
The 2023 application period closed on Sunday, February 12.
Program Structure
The two-week program offers students a variety of experiences:
- Network with a wide range of health care professionals, including physicians, faculty, current students, and a wide range of health professionals from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health
- Professional development workshops put on by CPHA and University of Wisconsin-Madison campus partners
- Panels with current professional program students (M.D., PA, MPH, PT, O.T., PharmD, etc.) and professional program admissions representatives
- Learn about current trends in health care and increase understanding of health disparities of both rural and urban communities in Wisconsin
- Continued advising and resources provided by the Center for Pre-Health Advising and the SMPH Office of MD Admissions
Other activities may include:
- Improv workshop to strengthen communication skills among peers and patients
- Visiting a charitable pharmacy
- Volunteering with local community organizations
- Social events (Skyzone, group lunches, ice cream social, volleyball game, movie screenings)
2023 Program Dates
The 2023 program runs from Sunday, July 30 – Friday, August 11, 2023.
Participants
Typically 15-20 students participate in each HPSP cohort. Almost 100 students have participated in the program since its inception in 2016.
Program Costs
Program costs are fully sponsored by the Center for Pre-Health Advising and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Office of MD Admissions. In addition, we will work with participants to coordinate transportation, tech, or meal needs during the duration of the program.
The only potential cost participants will need to budget for is purchasing business attire if they do not own any already. Please feel free to utilize the SuccessWorks Career Closet if needed!
Shadowing
In typical years, students shadow a variety of health care professionals at UW Hospital and other area affiliated hospitals and clinics:
Eligibility
HPSP supports students interested in pursuing professional health care programs post-graduation. BIPOC students, LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, first-generation students, and students from rural or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Participants must be current UW-Madison undergraduates at the time of the program and U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients.
How to Apply
Applications open every December and are typically due in early to mid-February. The application process includes a Qualtrics application and submission of a recorded interview. Finalists will be invited to complete live interviews with the program selections committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students apply to HPSP?
Unfortunately, HPSP is unable to consider international students at this time. Due to partnership and funding restrictions, participants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients. However, we welcome and encourage international students to use all other resources from the Center for Pre-Health Advising.
If I am an incoming freshman, may I apply?
We’re excited for you to start your time at UW-Madison! However, only currently enrolled students who have completed two semesters of coursework at UW-Madison (or transfer students) can apply for HPSP.
Can I continue working at my job during the program?
Students must participate in all scheduled programming, which begins around 8:00 AM and concludes between 4:00 – 7:00 PM Monday – Friday. Students may spend some evenings working on their final projects. Since we do not have scheduled programming on weekends, students can use that time however they would like.
Will I be shadowing the same provider the whole time?
In typical years, each student is paired with a different provider each day and will gain over 30 hours of shadowing experience over eight days. We ask for student preferences but cannot guarantee placement. However, we believe that exploring a variety of professions will help you understand career options in health care and develop a better understanding of how the system operates overall.
How will the COVID-19 pandemic affect HPSP 2023?
We anticipate a fully in-person program in 2023. Shadowing and other experiences will continue to be shaped by public health policies, including but not limited to COVID. In the event that we are unable to shadow or visit a clinic in-person, an alternative virtual experience will be offered. Regardless of the format, we can promise that throughout the program you’ll network with a wide range of health professionals with whom you can connect for informational interviews and future in-person shadowing.
Contact Us
Questions? Please reach out to any of the following individuals:
Dua Ci Khang
Director, Health Professions Shadowing Program
Lead for Professional Development Programming, Center for Pre-Health Advising
dkhang@wisc.edu
Molly Reinhard
Director, Pre-Professional Advising
Centers for Pre-Health & Pre-Law Advising
(608) 262-1392
molly.reinhard@wisc.edu
Melissa Harrell Robinson
Pathway Programs Director
Office of M.D. Admissions
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
(608) 265-1890
mlrobinson@wisc.edu
Yer Lee
Pathways Programs Coordinator
Office of M.D. Admissions
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
(608) 265-6344
ylee586@wisc.edu