02 · The Clinical Practicum (Shadowing)

Intensive One-Week Physician-Led Apprenticeship

The MIAP Clinical Practicum is a specialized, one-week immersion designed for students (ages 16+) who seek direct, unfettered access to the clinical and surgical environment. Stationed at Wellstar MCG Health, Georgia's premier Level 1 Trauma Center, this program provides a sophisticated understanding of medical practice through high-density observation and professional mentorship.

While our Summer Fellowship focuses on academic research, the Practicum is dedicated to the frontline experience: rounds, procedural suites, and the Operating Room.

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Program Details

The Practicum is designed to maximize your exposure within a compressed timeframe. Over the course of one week, participants are integrated into the hospital workflow under the guidance of a Physician Leader.

Clinical & Surgical Rotation

  • Operating Room Access: Observe the precision of surgical teams during live procedures, ranging from neurosurgery to orthopedic interventions.
  • Clinical Rounds: Follow physicians as they navigate complex patient cases, witnessing the synthesis of diagnostic data and bedside manner.
  • Procedural Suites: Gain insight into specialized interventional care and diagnostic imaging.
  • The Nocturnal Rotation: Exclusive opportunities for overnight shifts, witnessing the high-stakes reality of the ER and surgical trauma teams during peak hours.

Pre-Clinical Requirements

To ensure our participants maintain the professional standards of the hospital and staff, the program includes a mandatory preparatory curriculum completed prior to arrival:

  • Institutional Onboarding: Full coordination of hospital-grade clearance and background verification.
  • HIPAA & Ethics Certification: Comprehensive training on federal privacy laws and medical ethics.
  • Clinical Foundations: Targeted lessons in medical anatomy, terminology, and hospital protocol, so you understand the "why" behind every procedure.

Institutional Legacy

Wellstar MCG Health

Participants are embedded within the primary teaching hospital for the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). As one of the five largest medical school programs in the United States, MCG provides a robust environment for clinical discovery. You will rotate through facilities that include the Children's Hospital of Georgia (CHOG) and the Georgia Cancer Center, learning within a system that has defined medical excellence since 1828.

Learning Outcomes

The Practicum is the ideal choice for motivated students who require clinical hours and professional networking without the two-week residential commitment of the Fellowship.

Scholarships: Low-income scholarships are available for students under the federal poverty limits. Contact us for more information.

Tuition

$3,495

Tuition for the 2027 Clinical Practicum (1-week surgical & clinical track). One number — no itemized add-on fees.

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What's Included

  • A full week embedded with a physician Preceptor
  • Procedural rooms, outpatient clinics, and Operating Room access (18+)
  • Overnight rotation opportunities
  • One-on-one physician mentorship
  • All onboarding, institutional clearances, and HIPAA certification handled for you
  • Pre-clinical preparatory lessons before you arrive

Hospital intake fee: A separate $115 processing fee for the hospital's intake is charged by the hospital and is not included in tuition.

Insurance: Participants are required to carry their own full-coverage health/travel insurance for the full program period. The program does not provide insurance. Standalone travel insurance is available through providers such as World Nomads.

Skull model with completed burr holes from the craniotomy skills lab
MIAP Med fellows learning to drill burr holes into skulls for craniotomy from a Medical Engineer Representative.
Suture practice pad, sutures, and instruments from the hands-on suturing clinic
Neurosurgeon Dr. William Woodall, M.D., MPH, teaching MIAP Med fellows how to suture in a custom hands-on 3-hour clinic. Fellows shadow Dr. Woodall and develop a relationship with MCG for future opportunities — he set up a fellow for a direct shadowing opportunity with the Emergency Department, where the student observed emergency femur surgery after a car accident.

Ready to Apply?

Start with the Summer Fellowship — MIAP Med's flagship 2-week residential intensive at the Medical College of Georgia. Nine scholars per year.

Click Here to Apply