The University of Iowa Department of Pathology offers a variety of observerships (sometimes referred to as "shadowing") to students and prospective trainees.
Please use the information below to learn more about who is eligible and what types of observerships may be scheduled.
How to schedule an observership
Read the requirements:
- Observers must be at least 18 years of age.
- Observers must meet any designation and eligibility requirements listed under each observership.
Choose an observership:
If you meet the above criteria, please select a type of observership:
Cytotechnology observership
Who it's for: Undergraduates/individuals with an undergraduate degree who are interested in pursuing a career in cytotechnology.
Duration: 3-4 hours
DeGowin Blood Center RN observership
Who it's for: RNs who are interested in learning about therapeutic apheresis nursing opportunities.
Duration: 4 hours
Decedent Care Center (DCC) observership
Who it's for: Undergraduates/individuals with an undergraduate degree who are considering applying to medical school.
If you're a medical student, please choose the forensic pathology specialty from the faculty or specialty-specific observership option below to observe the DCC instead.
Duration: All-day, scheduling varies on a case-by-case basis.
Faculty or specialty-specific observership:
Who it's for: Medical students or undergraduates/individuals with an undergraduate degree who are considering applying to medical school.
The Department of Pathology does not currently provide faculty or service-specific observerships for international medical trainees or international physician graduates.
Please be prepared to provide the faculty member’s name and/or the service you’d like to observe.
View a list of our faculty here.
Specialities:
- Chemistry
- Cytopathology
- Flow cytometry
- Forensic pathology
- Hematopathology
- Microbiology
- Molecular genetic pathology
- Surgical pathology
- Transfusion medicine
Duration: 3-4 hours, full day forensics
Histotechnology observership
Who it's for: Undergraduates/individuals with an undergraduate degree who are interested in pursuing a career in histotechnology.
Duration: 1 day
MLS/MLT observership
Who it's for: Those interested in learning more about a career in Medical Laboratory careers. These tours are conducted by staff members familiar with our MLS program and typically includes visits to chemistry, hematology, microbiology, molecular pathology, and transfusion medicine areas.
Duration: 3 hours
Pathologist Assistant observership
Who it's for: These observerships are designated for Prospective Pathologist Assistant (PA) students. This experience includes observerships in both surgical pathology and forensics.
Duration: 1.5 days
Complete the survey:
Next, please complete the survey to provide more specific information to our administrative staff about when/where/with whom to schedule your proposed observership.
If you have any questions or for more information, please contact pathology-education@uiowa.edu.