Student Resources & Professional Development
Careers in Medicine Assessments
Careers in Medicine (CiM) assessments help medical students explore their strengths, values, and interests to guide their specialty and career decisions. These tools provide personalized insights to support informed career planning.
AAMC | Careers in MedicineSummer Research Opportunities
Engage in hands-on learning and expand your medical knowledge through summer research opportunities. Explore our curated list of programs designed to enhance your skills and prepare you for future academic and clinical pursuits.
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Professional Organizations
Professional organizations offer valuable resources, networking, and mentorship for medical students. Connect with national and specialty-specific organizations to enhance your career development.
Explore OrganizationsSpecialty Interest Groups
Join a specialty interest group to connect with peers, gain exposure to different medical fields, and learn from experienced professionals. These groups provide opportunities for mentorship, skill-building, and career exploration.
Find a GroupObservership/Shadowing Experiences Process
Observership/shadowing experiences are open to MS1 and MS2 students who wish to gain insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of physicians and explore various medical specialties.
Shadowing Experience Policy
Students may complete only one shadowing experience per academic year, with a maximum duration of four (4) weeks. This limit ensures equitable access to shadowing opportunities and supports meaningful, focused learning experiences for all students.
To participate, students must follow the steps below:
Step 1: Complete and Send the Observership/Shadowing Experience Interest Form
Begin by downloading and completing the Observership/Shadowing Experience Interest Form (PDF). This form collects initial information such as your specialty interest, preferred timeframe, and general availability.
After completing the form:
- Email the completed PDF and your CV to the faculty member or physician you would like to shadow.
- CC: cim@utrgv.edu on the email.
- Use the Introduction/Request Shadowing Email Template provided on this page as a guide. You may personalize it, but all communication must be professional, respectful, and well-written.
Professionalism Reminder:
Your outreach to faculty and physicians represents you as a future medical professional. Please be thoughtful, courteous, and polished in all communications.
Step 2: Identify Your Shadowing Opportunity
Once a physician has agreed to allow you to shadow, you must confirm the following details:
- The physician you will be shadowing
- The shadowing site (hospital or clinic)
- The start and end dates of the shadowing experience
These details should be finalized 6–8 weeks in advance to ensure enough time for approval, onboarding, and credentialing.
If you need assistance finding a physician to shadow, please contact the Careers in Medicine office for support.
Step 3: Submit the Observership Experience Form
After you have confirmed all shadowing details with the physician:
- Submit the Observership Experience Form available on the Careers in Medicine website.
- The form will be reviewed and approved by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
Step 4: Onboarding and Credentialing
If your activity is approved, onboarding requirements will depend on the shadowing site:
- Driscoll Children’s Hospital (Corpus Christi or RGV):
Careers in Medicine staff will contact you with next steps. - Designated School of Medicine partner sites:
The Office of Student Affairs Specialist will coordinate directly with the site regarding required onboarding documents. - All other shadowing sites:
Students may need to confirm requirements directly with the site and obtain documents from the appropriate offices (e.g., Enrollment Status Form from the Office of the Registrar).
Step 5: Begin Your Shadowing Experience
You may begin your observership/shadowing experience only after the site confirms your start date and all required onboarding steps have been completed.
Step 6: Exit Reflection Assignment, Evaluation, and Professional Courtesy Requirements
After your shadowing experience ends, you will receive instructions for:
- A reflection assignment, and
- An evaluation of your observership/shadowing experience (to be completed by you).
- Students are required to send a thank-you letter or note to the physician/faculty member at the conclusion of the experience. This gesture reflects professionalism and appreciation for their time and mentorship.
Additionally:
- The physician/faculty member you shadowed will also receive an evaluation to complete regarding the experience.
All required items—including the student reflection and evaluation—must be submitted within one week after your shadowing experience ends.
RealMD Program
RealMD is a community where students, faculty, and staff support and challenge one another to maintain a focus on one’s highest purpose in medicine.
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