Educational Observers

The Department of Surgery allows college and high school students (age 16+) interested in the medical field an opportunity to participate as an educational observer by shadowing a surgeon in a hospital setting.  Individuals who want to be an observer will need to have a designated sponsor. The sponsor must be a UMMC employee who has accepted responsibility for the supervision of the educational observer for the duration of the observation experience. 

The observer must be onboarded through the Non-Employee Personnel Action Request (NEPAR) online portal.  Sponsors and observers should begin the NEPAR onboarding process 2 to 4 weeks prior to the requested start date.  Observers must be prepared to do the following in the onboarding process:

• Provide documentation of these health/immunization requirements:
  • MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Hep B, flu vaccine
  • TB Skin or blood test if observing for 4 days or more. If observing 3 days or less, only a TB questionnaire is required.

• Complete all required forms within the NEPAR portal. Observers age 16-17 must obtain written parental consent.
• Obtain a UMMC-issued ID badge at the HR Service Center and return the badge at the conclusion of the observation experience.
• If observing for more than 3 days, complete Basic Orientation training and Non-Employee Orientation Attestation as directed in the NEPAR portal.
• If observing for more than 3 days, provide fingerprints for a criminal background check through the HR Service Center.  The processing fee is $50 and can be paid by cash, credit card or money order.