The Case for High School Shadowing
The health care industry is facing a well-documented and growing workforce crisis.
The U.S. could see a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, and similar concerns are looming over nursing, allied health, and other clinical roles as well. While workforce planning often focuses on retention and pipeline development at the college or graduate level, there’s a powerful but underutilized solution that starts much earlier: exposing high school students to clinical careers through structured shadowing opportunities.
Planting the Seed Early
Health care careers are often misunderstood or seem inaccessible to teens without connections in the field. For many, becoming a doctor or nurse can feel like an abstract or even daunting idea—especially when they’re not aware of the pathways available to them. There are more than 60 types of clinical professions with less intimidating barriers to entry.
And when students experience the clinical environment firsthand, the spark can be transformative. The International Journal of Medical Education states that “We cannot underestimate the importance of early exposure for adolescents interested in medicine. High school and undergraduate students, through volunteering programs…have the opportunity to expand their horizons and explore the different components of an integrated health system.”
Clinical shadowing doesn’t require students to perform any care tasks. Instead, they observe procedures, interactions, and workflows under the supervision of a licensed and employed clinician. This passive exposure can:
- Ignite early interest in medicine, nursing, or allied health careers
- Reduce dropout rates from health care-focused college programs by aligning expectations
- Improve diversity in the clinical workforce by reaching students from underrepresented or underserved communities
- Strengthen local talent pipelines by fostering relationships between health care systems and future professionals
Nationwide Children’s Hospital describes early shadowing and mentoring as “the beginning of a pipeline to employment in health care – especially for youth who don’t have much exposure to the industry.” Their Youth and Young Adult Employment Program is a prime example of how these pathways can convert to actual careers. In 2022, this program exposed 73 teenagers and young adults to different careers within the organization – 12 of which were offered permanent employment. This reinforces the benefits of reaching students sooner rather than later.
Cleveland Clinic also is also prioritizing early exposure to health care careers within its Center for Youth & College Education – including paid internships, career exploration opportunities, and shadowing experiences. The Center’s website describes the aim of these programs: “By offering meaningful real-world experiences to learners, we hope to prepare the next generation of caregivers to join the healthcare workforce. Through program engagement, students learn that the field of healthcare provides meaningful career opportunities that offer financial stability, strong job outlook and the opportunity to impact the lives of others—regardless of one’s education level.”
Creating Accessible, Scalable Opportunities
High school clinical shadowing programs allow students to observe the day-to-day realities of medical work, exploring beyond what’s seen on TV or social media. These experiences demystify the work, humanize the professionals, and help students envision a future they may not have otherwise considered.
One of the main barriers to high school shadowing is logistical: how do health care systems create meaningful, compliant, and safe experiences for minors in clinical settings?
The first steps include identifying which professionals are willing to accept a student, when they’re working, and how the student can be properly introduced to the opportunity and meet the requirements to start. Programs that offer group shadow days, structured observation checklists, and mentorship elements can increase quality and consistency.
While these efforts are often straightforward in local communities, larger care delivery organizations looking to introduce these types of programs may require more scalable software solutions to assist them. By utilizing software platforms that facilitate onboarding, scheduling, compliance training, and safety protocols, organizations can reduce the burden on staff and standardize experiences across departments. Software platforms also enable leaders to track the impact of their efforts, use their findings for Community Benefit Reports, and share insights with other internal teams for possible hires.
Additionally, expanding access and opportunity must be a design priority.
Some high school students and their parents might not have any connections to health care professionals or know how to gain exposure to a real-life practice environment. Partnering with school districts, nonprofits, and community organizations can help tackle these challenges by expanding reach and addressing barriers like transportation, scheduling, and digital access.
Long-Term Vision: Exposure as a Strategy
Ensuring we have a clinical workforce for generations to come requires long-term thinking, and investing in high school students today is one powerful strategy to help build this workforce resilience for tomorrow. Not every student who shadows will pursue a health care career, but many will. Even those who don’t will walk away with an increased appreciation for the people and systems that keep communities healthy.
While providing this opportunity is a longstanding community benefit, leaders who also choose to see it as a strategic workforce development tool with significant business benefits will thrive for years to come. It not only increases brand recognition in the present but also builds community trust and creates a talent pipeline rooted in real connection and understanding.
Health systems looking to take the first step can start small but intentionally:
- Partner with local high schools to host a “Health Career Day” that introduces multiple departments and positions at once.
- Create a rotating shadow calendar where students can observe different specialties over the course of a semester.
- Work with community organizations to remove barriers by providing transportation or small stipends. These approaches make shadowing accessible, equitable, and sustainable for both students and health care organizations alike.
- Be sure you have the systems, software, and capabilities in place to support these first steps as you build out your programs.
Not every student who shadows will pursue a health care career, but many will. Even those who don’t will walk away with an increased appreciation for the people and systems that keep communities healthy.
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