Thank you for your interest in the UF Health Observer Program! This program allows individuals to strictly observe or shadow clinicians without participating in patient care. Observing is distinctly separate from the UF volunteer process. Please note we do not offer academic credit or medical certification for individuals participating in the program. The observer or sponsoring provider/department is responsible for arranging visas, travel, and accommodations.
The Observer Program does not assist in pairing individuals with sponsoring clinicians. You are responsible for identifying and securing permission from a sponsoring clinician at UF Health. You can be sponsored by and shadow any type of clinician, including but not limited to physicians (MD or DO), APPs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or Physician Assistants), or genetic counselors.
You may observe for a maximum of 6 consecutive months. Within these 6 months, you may shadow any clinician in your sponsoring department. If you would like to observe a clinician in a different department, a separate Request to Observe Patient Care form will need to be submitted for approval.
To get Started:
- Review the UF Health’s Patient Care Observation information to learn more about observing and general requirements.
- Identify a sponsoring clinician.
- Obtain contact details for sponsoring clinician and their department’s observing program contact
- Complete UF HIPAA training and download the HIPAA Training Certificate.
- Submit an observation request to Observe-UFHealth@ufl.edu with the following documents attached:
- Signed Request to Observe Patient Care Form (requires your and sponsoring clinician’s signature)
- HIPAA Training Certificate (valid for 1 year)
- Driver’s license or another form of government ID that includes name
- Observer Program will email you back to verify approval.
For more information for shadowing/observing
Please contact:
University of Florida
College of Medicine
Physicians Office: 352-265-7987
Email: Observe-UFHealth@ufl.edu