Observers / Job Shadows

Children's Wisconsin Observers / Job Shadows lets high school students spend time watching a professional at work at Children's Wisconsin, a pediatric health system in Wisconsin. Most job shadows last about four hours on a single day. There is no group cohort or fixed session; each shadow is arranged one on one.

Open to high school students in grades 9 through 12 who are over age 13, as well as older students enrolled in professional health care programs. Students are responsible for finding their own sponsor, meaning the staff member whose role they want to observe; the hospital suggests reaching out to someone you already know at Children's Wisconsin or contacting a department directly. Once a sponsor agrees, the student fills out the Job Shadow Agreement Form and turns in all required paperwork before the visit. Health documentation is required, including proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella, proof of varicella immunity, a recent negative tuberculosis test and COVID-19 vaccination records. Children's Wisconsin recommends starting the process at least 3 weeks before the date you hope to shadow. Paperwork is routed differently depending on whether the sponsor is in Milwaukee or the Fox Valley.