Dornsife/Keck Shadowing Program

The USC Dornsife/Keck Shadowing Program provides an opportunity to explore and affirm your interest in medicine and healthcare through physician shadowing, mentorship, and guided reflection.

Close-up observation of clinical practice
Meaningful engagement with peers, mentors, & advisors
Deeper understanding of the physician’s role
Build professional insight and diverse perspective in healthcare
Self-reflection on your readiness to pursue this career

2026-2027 Shadowing Program Application

If you have previously shadowed with Dornsife/Keck Shadowing Program, you are not eligible to shadow again.

REQUIRED: Please ensure you watch the live session recording before completing the application. You may also download the slides to follow along. SSO login required.

Before submitting this application, please complete your Self-Assessment Form (USC Login Required) and compile all artifacts into a single PDF. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.

Link to Self-Assessment Form (USC Login Required)
Example of Completed Form

Application Window: June 15th – 30th (deadline 11:59pm PST)

The application link will be posted here when it opens. You may begin working on your self-assessment and compiling your artifacts.
Decisions and program placement will be determined in mid-late July. Those admitted into the Shadowing Program will receive the secondary form at that time.

Our Shadowing Program is open to all USC pre-health students who meet the eligibility requirements. Inclusive across majors, the program welcomes anyone on the pre-health track, including non-science majors and students from other schools (such as Marshall, Viterbi, etc.).

Our programs are designed to meet students where they are, and we use a hybrid admissions process with eligibility requirements and a self-assessment form.
GPA above 3.0

Letter of Recommendation

100 hours of total hospital or clinical volunteering or research

Junior standing or above

Units completed: 64 units and above

Please provide the proper documentation so we may verify the GPA, units, and hours.
Our program provides an opportunity to explore and affirm your interest in medicine and healthcare through physician shadowing, mentorship, and guided reflection.

Close-up observation of clinical practice

Meaningful engagement with peers, mentors, & advisors

Deeper understanding of the physician’s role

Build professional insight and diverse perspective in healthcare

Self-reflection on your readiness to pursue this career
General Application

Tell us about your academic and background, your starting point for the pathway.

Short Essay

Share your motivation and goals, why shadowing matters in your journey.

Self-Assessment Form

Reflect on your experiences and map them to key pre-health competencies.
The application is open on June 15th, 2026. Submission will be accepted through June 30th, 2026.

We look forward to receiving your application.
We currently partner with Keck Hospital to facilitate shadowing with faculty MDs and DOs across a wide variety of clinical specialties. We are happy to announce that this partnership now also includes PA shadowing in a wide range of specialties. Additionally, we are adding Perfusionist shadowing as well. We are continuously striving to expand our partnerships with additional clinical sites and health professional schools.
Helps us understand your readiness, reflect on your experiences, and guide placement. Your experiences are unique and may fit into one or more categories, choose the best fit category…If you have an experience that fits in more than one, choose the best fitting category.

Academic & Research Readiness

Clinical & Healthcare Exposure

Service, Leadership, & Cultural Engagement

*Other Impactful Experience (optional)

**Watch the info session recording for more details.**