Clinical Shadowing Program gives medical students a close-up glimpse at real doctoring

During her first months of medical school, Cheryl True read tons of books and spent countless hours in the library … time well-spent but far removed from the real world of patient care.

Then, all in a memorable afternoon, things changed.

Like all first-year students at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, True came face-to-face with the real world of medicine through the Clinical Shadowing Program.

Now in its seventh year, the Clinical Shadowing Program gives students an opportunity to observe a practicing physician at UI Hospitals and Clinics or in a nearby community. These match-ups occur on three different afternoons during the second semester.True spent one of her three afternoons shadowing Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, M.D., a family practice physician with Unity Health System in Muscatine, Iowa.

"When I think of the mentors I’ve had in the pursuit of a medical education, Viviana comes to mind," said True, now a first-year resident in the Quad Cities Genesis Family Practice Residency Program. "I think we just clicked on a lot of different levels."

Martinez-Bianchi recalls that True was the very first student she mentored under the Clinical Shadowing Program. Since then, with assistance from the Muscatine program’s coordinators, Melinda Smith, M.D., and Becky Nolte, R.N., Martinez-Bianchi has hosted several other medical students.

"I’ve always been interested in teaching," she said. "In fact, I was a teaching assistant in physical diagnosis in Argentina, where I attended medical school. I try to involve all the students as much as possible by explaining exactly what I’m doing with the patient and why."

These are invaluable learning experiences for the students, even if all they do is watch, she said. Under the program’s rules, medical students cannot see patients on their own or practice their history or physical examination skills in these settings.

Martinez-Bianchi came to Iowa a decade ago with her husband, Greg, a physician who at the time was pursuing his residency in Urology at UI Hospitals and Clinics. "We both really like it here," she said. "We think it’s the best-kept secret in the world."

Based on her mentoring experiences in the Hawkeye State, Martinez-Bianchi is very encouraged and impressed . "The medical students I have seen are smart, caring, intelligent people," she said. "You think, ‘Wow, medicine is going to be OK!"

Because she is Argentine by birth, Martinez-Bianchi takes a special interest in mentoring Spanish-speaking students. "I’ve had a few Latino students but I wish there were more," she said. "I think it would help if more of us did a better job of mentoring Latino high school students, to get them interested in a profession or career. You don’t have to be Latino to mentor a Latino student …. you just need to show an interest."

Jennifer Johnson, manager of the Clinical Shadowing Program, said, "These encounters are absolutely phenomenal for most students. It reinforces the communication skills, history-taking, and physical exam skills learned in the first and second semesters."

It also allows the students to see how physicians interact with nurses and other support staff in a team-like setting, Johnson said.

Clinical shadowing assignments are made between January and May, usually in communities located within 45 minutes of Iowa City.

Johnson said many physicians view the Clinical Shadowing Program as a way to give something back to their chosen profession. Over 100 Iowa physicians participate in the program, with 450 different site visits per academic year.

"We’re always looking for more participants," Johnson said.

Interested physicians can contact Carol Alexander in Office of Statewide Clinical Education Programs at 319-335 8618.

Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, M.D. (right), shares professional insights with former Clinical Shadowing student Cheryl True, M.D. (left), and patient Mandy Morgan of Muscatine.

"These encounters are absolutely phenomenal for most students. It reinforces the communication skills, history-taking, and physical exam skills learned in the first and second semesters." --Jennifer Johnson