Student Shadowing Program
Experiencing Family Medicine
Presented in collaboration with the Alberta Medical Association’s Sections of Family Medicine and Rural Medicine, the ACFP is proud to facilitate your first exposure to medical practice through shadowing placements.
The Shadowing Program places incoming medical students from across Alberta with volunteer physicians from across the spectrum of family practice during the summer before medical school begins.
2026 Shadowing Program – 20th Anniversary
Thank you so much to all of the physician volunteers and incoming medical students who took part in our 2025 Student Shadowing Program!
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Student Shadowing Program! If you previously participated in the Shadowing Program and are now a family doctor, we’d love to hear from you as we mark this anniversary. We’d also love to have you volunteer to host a shadowing student this year! Information about volunteering will be shared with ACFP members once the application is available, but if you’d like to make sure you get the application or would like to share your shadowing experience from the past 20 years, please email shadowing@acfp.ca.
Students accepted to medical school at the University of Calgary or University of Alberta for 2026 will receive information about and a link to apply for shadowing in their welcome packages. If you are an incoming medical student and have questions about shadowing not answered by your welcome package or the Shadowing Guidelines, please email shadowing@acfp.ca.
What to Expect Next
University of Calgary
Students accepted to medical school at the University of Calgary will receive information about the Student Shadowing Program in their welcome packages.
After the application window closes, you will receive a follow up email confirming the status of your shadowing placement and instructions regarding next steps.
University of Calgary
In early June, accepted participants are expected to complete the Shadowing Program orientation process. During this time, participants will be introduced to their matched family physician by an ACFP staff member. After this initial contact, it is the student’s responsibility to reach out to their physician volunteer to complete preparations for their placement.
In mid-late June, University of Calgary students will complete their shadowing placements.
University of Calgary
Once a shadowing placement has been completed, a Student Shadowing Program evaluation will be sent via email. If your placement is eligible to receive travel expenses reimbursement, instructions for submitting expenses will also accompany the program evaluation.
Be sure to take note of the deadline to submit your expenses.
University of Alberta
Students accepted to medical school at the University of Alberta will receive information about the Student Shadowing Program in their welcome packages and submit their application forms.
After the application window closes, you will receive a follow up email confirming the status of your shadowing placement and instructions regarding next steps.
University of Alberta
During the last week of July/ first week of August, accepted participants are expected to complete the Student Shadowing Program orientation process. During this time, participants will be introduced to their matched family physician by an ACFP staff member. After this initial contact, it is the student’s responsibility to reach out to their physician volunteer to complete preparations for their placement.
In mid-late August, University of Alberta students will complete their shadowing placements.
Once a shadowing placement has been completed, a Student Shadowing Program evaluation will be sent via email. If your placement is eligible to receive travel expenses reimbursement, instructions for submitting expenses will also accompany the program evaluation.
Be sure to take note of the deadline to submit your expenses.