Still have questions?
If you have questions that were not addressed above, please email Brook Yu, BSP Program Administrator at byu@berkeley.edu.
BICEP aims to increase diversity in healthcare professions by providing BSP students interested in medical careers, especially those with minimal exposure to the health field, access to clinical settings to learn more about being a healthcare professional.
Our five-day shadowing program pairs students with doctors in the Pulmonary Clinic at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Students have the opportunity to observe everyday skills, responsibilities, and communication while performing in a patient care environment.
Participation in this program provides students a week-long snapshot of experienced medical professionals responsibilities and can help students:
- Decide if they think they would enjoy and feel passionate about a healthcare career
- Decide if their skills match and how skills from other areas of their life might translate to this profession
- Develop contacts that may be a useful resource as they begin their own medical career journeys
Students interested in clarifying and solidifying their aspirations to pursue a healthcare profession are strongly encouraged to apply.
Eligibility
- Only open to currently enrolled BSP members with a UC Berkeley student ID (includes seniors graduating this Spring or Summer)
- Commit to one week (five days) of shadowing in the summer from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day
- Complete the BICEP application & interview
Details
Shadow Week Details
Students will have the opportunity to meet & talk with:
- Attending physicians
- Pulmonary fellows in training
- Medical residents or students (who may also be conducting the pulmonary rotation)
- Radiologists
- Pathologists
- Surgeons
Students will shadow doctors during:
- Radiology rounds to review chest x-rays & CT scans
- New patient visits
- Rounds of current patients
- Review and interpretation of pulmonary function tests
- Bronchoscopies to examine patient airways & sample lung tissue (lavage/biopsy)
- Conferences (including the clinical, pathology, oncology & TB conferences)
- Chest outpatient clinic
- ICU rounds
- Pulmonary function testing of patients (w/ opportunities to observe & perform)
Program Requirements
- Commit to one week (five days) of shadowing from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day
- Attend the BICEP orientation
- Complete Zuckerburg San Francisco General (ZSFG) onboarding documents (confidentiality statement, waiver of liability, security form)
- Complete ZSFG orientation training
- Provide proof of current purified protein derivative (PPD)/TB test & flu vaccine
- Flu shots are available from University Health Services. Visit the UHS Flu Shots page for more information.
- Berkeley Free Clinic offers free TB testing. View their page for more information.
- Provide proof of immunization of rubella, measles, mumps (MMR vaccine)
- Provide proof of immunization of varicella (Chickenpox vaccine)
- Provide proof of full immunization of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 vaccine) + booster
- Ability to independently travel to ZSFG
- Remain in close contact with BSP staff (phone, email, etc.) during the program
- Complete daily shadowing journal and one-page final reflection following your experience
- Complete program evaluations
Stipend
BICEP participants will receive a $1500 stipend. The stipend covers your time, transportation to ZSFGH, meals, and professional clothing (if necessary). The stipend will be paid to students in two installments in June and August. All program obligations must be met to receive the second payment, and, in the event that a student is unable to complete their shadowing week, repayment of the first installment may be required.
FAQs
Who can I contact if I have questions?
You can contact Brook Yu (byu@berkeley.edu) and Leslie Yin (lyin@berkeley.edu).
Where will the shadowing take place?
What is the schedule like for the program?
Monday—Friday 8 am—5 pm PT
What if I can’t make all the dates or times (can only do some days)? Can I shadow for part of the week or split shadowing in two of the weeks?
No. It is mandatory to attend each day from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm of your given week. In the application form, you will select which weeks you are available. Only select the weeks where you will be able to commit to the required hours.
What if I get accepted and then something happens such that I can’t make that week anymore? Can I switch to another week?
You will not be able to switch weeks. Once you agree to the week you are assigned, we expect you to be present for that week.
What can I expect to experience in this week (what'll I be doing/get to do, essentially)? How much time will I get with my shadower? To what extent can I follow him/her? What can I hope to see? How much of the hospital/facility can I explore? What are the hours/potential itinerary? Do I stay there all day or is it only a few hours per day?
You will be shadowing from Monday through Friday, typically eight hours per day. You will have full exposure to what your shadower does since you are allowed to observe everything in the department. What you see will vary by what is scheduled for the week. (It could vary from seeing a bronchoscopy procedure, attending grand rounds, clinical rounds, etc.)
Will I be shadowing by myself or will I be paired with other BSPers?
By yourself. You will be shadowing an attending physician and their team in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division which may consist of a fellow, resident, and a medical student.
How do you expect me to "share my experiences" from the program?
By “sharing your experiences,” we would like you to continue being a part of the program in order to keep it going for future years. For example, you would be helping by recruiting potential students, participating on panels, completing evaluations about your experience.
What are you looking for in an applicant?
Students who are not sure if they want to go into medicine; students who have never worked/shadowed/interned in a hospital setting; students who are inquisitive, open-minded, and professional
Is there a minimum GPA for this program?
No.
How many people can participate per week?
One person per week.
Who is eligible for this program?
This program is only open to current UC Berkeley students who are in the Biology Scholars Program.
What can I do to strengthen my application?
Participation in BSP activities is considered when selecting BICEP participants. Active participation in BSP includes attending the All Student Meeting, joining study groups, showing up to workshops, socials and room cleanups, taking John Matsui’s two courses, and meeting with advisors.
