Career Connection

Bellin Health and Bellin College are committed to providing educators and students with information and opportunities related to pursuing careers in the growing healthcare field. The Career Connection provides students with the ability to learn about health careers, practice hands-on skills, and receive guidance on college entrance requirements. Through this website, guests can access an array of information and experiences.  

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing is an opportunity whereby students can spend time with an individual as that person goes about the tasks and activities associated with his/her job. Shadowing is meant to give students a first-hand view of the world of work as well as a chance to question and learn as they observe. A student’s motive in pursuing a job shadow activity is usually unique to that student’s needs and goals for the future. Some students want to learn more about an occupation, or specific job, or clarify their perceptions of a given occupation, line of work, or profession because they have the desire to enter that field. Job shadowing gives students an opportunity to ask questions that only someone in that specific field or position can answer.

Click Here for Student Job Shadow Form

What is Job Shadowing?

Job shadowing is a practical way of learning about a particular job and what it involves. Following an experienced professional doing the job you want to move into can be eye-opening as you get a 360° view of everything that it involves. It can really help you to find out if you’re a good fit for the job. You can see the hard and soft skills needed as well as how demanding or stressful the job is

How are job shadowing activities arranged?

Once we receive your Job Shadow Interest Form, we will verify the required information and forms are completed correctly and ensure you are able to participate in a job shadow. We will reach out to you to inquire about dates/times that would work best for you. We will then reach out to a local healthcare institution to secure a job shadow in an area of your interest. Once the location has accepted the job shadow request, we will contact you to let you know the job shadow details. We will provide any specific details regarding parking, specific location, check-in, etc. Please reach out to us to follow up if you have not heard back regarding your Interest Form or Shadow Acceptance within 1 week.

Maximum Hours

High School Students

The maximum number of hours allowed to job shadow is four per occupation per school year (up to two occupations per school year). Separate applications are needed for each occupation. Students may complete additional job shadowing opportunities in subsequent school years, but will need to resubmit the application/requirements each year. 

*Please be aware that it may take up to four weeks from the date that application materials are received to schedule your job shadow. In some cases, it may not be possible to place a student with the profession or date(s) of their choice (due to availability, etc.)  Please plan accordingly.*

College Students

The maximum allowance is 40 hours per calendar year. Additional hours can be completed in subsequent years.

*Please be aware that it may take up to four weeks from the date that you contact the appropriate person (see contacts below) to schedule your hours, so please plan ahead and know your dates of availability.*

Careers Available for Potential Observation
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound)
  • Dietician
  • Lab Technician
  • Licensed Athletic Trainer
  • Nurse
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Occupational 
  • Personal Trainer
  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Physical Therapist / Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Physician (Family Practice or Sports Medicine)
  • Physician Assistant
  • Radiology Technologist (X-ray and CT scan)
  • Speech Language Pathologist

Excluded Area for Observation:

  • Surgery
  • Labor and Delivery/Maternity
Attendance

Students are responsible for their own transportation to/from the designated site for each observation. Students are expected be on-time. Any absence must be excused by the student’s parent/guardian and notification provided to Bellin Health Contact Person (will be provided to student via email with confirmation of placement) at least 24 hours in advance of the absence. Allowable reasons for excused absence include illness, inclement weather, or school-related conflict with assigned date (due to testing, etc.) In the case of illness/weather, notification of absence must be provided no later than 7:30 am on the day of the scheduled experience. Bellin Health student coordinator will attempt to reschedule one excused experience, if staff availability allows. Students will be dismissed from further job shadowing for any non-excused absence or for more than one excused absence.

Duties

Students are allowed to only observe patient care, not actively participate in patient care.

  • Allowed: Asking questions to Bellin supervisor, wiping down tables if directed to by Bellin supervisor, etc.
  • Not Allowed: pushing patient in wheelchair or physically assisting patient in any way, handling sterile equipment, viewing the electronic medical record, etc.

Cell phones must be silenced and put away during observation hours. No recording devices or cameras will be allowed to be used at any time.

 Students are not allowed to use any of the equipment while completing observation hours, unless specifically directed by the supervising health professional. This includes treatment tables.

Dress Code

 Students are to present a neat and professional appearance at all times as their appearance reflects directly upon Bellin Health.

  1. Dress should be business/professional (i.e. khakis/dress pants and nice dress shirt/polo, clean shoes with a closed toe and heel). No leggings, t-shirts or tank tops. Shirts should not have any screen printing or writing on them.
  2. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum.
  3. Hair styles must be neat and well kept.
  4. Make-up and perfume should be used in moderation.
  5. Bras and underpants are required and should not be visible.
  6. Socks or hosiery must be worn at all times.
  7. It is the responsibility of the student to be free of body odor and cigarette smoke odor.
  8. A nametag must be worn at all times when on site. Bellin Health will provide materials for a nametag.
  9. Visible tattoos must be covered and any facial piercings should be removed or covered.
Vaccination History

You will need to submit an official written record of receiving the following immunizations using the WIR website. No other form of vaccine record, including COVID cards, will be accepted:

  1. MMR vaccination or having MMR titer drawn
  2. COVID vaccine series completed for Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson
  3. Influenza Vaccination for the current flu season required IF observing during flu season
    • Flu season is generally November 1 to March 31 but is subject to change on a yearly basis dependent upon influenza activity in the region
    • No exceptions will be granted. If a student does not receive a flu shot, they will not be allowed to complete any job shadow hours during the current flu season
Foundations for a Successful Job Shadow Experience

The following is a list of steps to follow in setting up, carrying out, and following up a job shadowing experience. These steps should help make this experience as positive and worthwhile as possible.

1. Start to explore and research careers you may be interested in, in order to select an appropriate individual(s) to shadow. Remain open-minded. Some career fields can be difficult to shadow due to the nature of the practice.

2. Fill out the Student Job Shadow Interest Form.

3. Start to look over your schedule and decide on some best possible times to set up the experience. You will want to have a few options lined up as your shadow host will also need to find time to fit you into his/her schedule. Remember, they are giving up their time to share with you…be as accommodating and considerate as possible. Discuss this upcoming activity with your parents and be sure to have transportation available.

Questions to consider:

  • Where you should meet and at what time?
  • Any other information you should know about (parking, entrance, check-in)?
  • Anything you should bring along with you to the shadow?
  • Completion of any observation paperwork or forms
  •  Any medical tests or verification of vaccinations

The shadowing experience itself:

4. Report to the assigned location 5-10 minutes prior to your scheduled meeting time. If you are going to be late you must contact the shadow host and let them know. Be sure you are alert, eager, and ready to make the most of this experience. Dress appropriately! Worn-out jeans and t-shirts are not acceptable. Dress as you might be required to dress if you were reporting to the job. If you are unsure, ask about the proper clothing to wear. How you look, your presentation, and your behavior are a reflection of yourself as a person. Those things are very important. Take a notebook, something to write with, and anything else they might have mentioned to bring. NO VISIBLE CELL PHONES or other electronic devices. NO POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA unless consent is given from the shadow host. Remember, HIPPA violations are very serious and can result in legal action.

5. Introduce yourself to the individual you will be shadowing. Shake hands. Thank the person for allowing you to spend some time observing him/her. Be certain you have learned the person’s name before you arrive and that you know his/her job title. Do a little research about the company on its company website. Address the individual by title, such as Ms., Mr., or Dr. Never call anyone by first name.

6. You are there to observe and learn. Take your lead from the person you are shadowing. Remember to be engaged and ask questions. If you need ideas of questions to ask refer to the Career Exploration Questions Document. Take notes on anything that might help you determine if this career is for you. Do not depend on your memory. You may think you will remember something and then find out you have forgotten as soon as the next day. Taking notes shows the person you are really interested in what they are saying. What actually takes place during a shadow experience will be different with each situation.

7. When the shadow is over, be sure to thank the individual again for spending this time with you.

8. Send a thank-you letter or email to the person you shadowed. You might mention several things you learned as a result of your experience, or a particular part you enjoyed. It is very important to be able to express thanks and appreciation. Take care of this thank you note immediately. Refer to the Post Job Shadow Thank-you Letter document below for help getting started.

Connect with a Mentor

If you are interested in a career in healthcare and would like to be assigned a mentor from Bellin Health or Bellin College, please click here. The goal is to provide students with a knowledgeable contact person that will be available to discuss potential career pathways.  Information may be given through a combination of email, phone calls, and/or personal meetings.  Mentors may help with the application process and serve as a valuable reference when applying to colleges and graduate schools.

Current professions eligible for mentoring: Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Dietician, Occupational Therapist, Personal Trainer, Physical Therapist, Radiographer, Registered Nurse, Sonographer, and Surgical Assistant.

If you have any questions about the mentorship, please contact Phil Schaible at phil.schaible@bellin.org.

Internship/Volunteer Opportunities at Bellin

Volunteer Opportunities
  • Volunteer Rehabilitation Aide: Volunteer Rehabilitation Aides may be utilized at the hospital or at any of the outpatient clinics where therapy services are performed. Duties include cleaning equipment and treatment tables after patient use and assisting patients with completion of computer FOTO assessments. Students may also be afforded some opportunity to job shadow with therapists during assigned volunteer hours. Minimum of 150 volunteer hours required. Availability of position and location of experience to be determined by Sports Medicine Department after application is received. Please see the following website for more information as needed. Brown County Volunteer Center/Bellin Health
    Contact Drew Russo at drew.russo@bellin.org to apply. 
  • Other Volunteer Opportunities: Bellin offers several other volunteer opportunities. Please see the following website for more information: https://www.bellin.org/services_programs/volunteer-services
Internship Opportunities

Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Bellin Health is committed to providing superior clinical education of health professionals. Bellin provides clinical experiences and internships placements for hundreds of students each year, across a wide range of professions. Bellin Health has contracts in place with many educational institutions throughout Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the rest of the United States.

If you are interested in completing a clinical experience or internship at Bellin, please discuss this with the appropriate faculty member of your college program first. Faculty at your school should be able to verify whether or not a contract is already in place between Bellin and your educational institution. If there IS a contract in place, your designated faculty member should initiate a request for clinical experience/internship placement on your behalf. If there is NOT a contract in place, your designated faculty member may contact the appropriate contact below to inquire into whether the placement is possible for the desired timeframe.

Physical Therapy Coordinator
Physical Therapist Assistant
Allison Krueger
allison.krueger@bellin.org
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapist Assistant
Speech Language Pathologist
Pam Janus
pam.janus@bellin.org
Licensed Athletic Trainer Chelsie Hogan
chelsie.hogan@bellin.org
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist 

Personal Trainer/Fitness

Jason Infusino 
jason.infusino@bellin.orgElisabeth Standiford
elisabeth.standiford@bellin.org
Radiology Technologist
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Mark Bake
mark.bake@bellincollege.edu
Lab Technician
Nurse
Dietician
Pharmacy Technician
Kelly Verhasselt 
kelly.verhasselt@bellin.org

Specific internship opportunities for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, exercise science, or other related fields:

Paid Summer Rehabilitation Aide

Bellin typically has job opening(s) for paid summer rehabilitation aide(s) each year. Please submit materials by December 15 for consideration. Phone and/or in-person interviews may also be required.

If you are interested in applying, please complete the following:

  1. Review the job description: Patient Admissions Rep Rehab Aide
  2. Submit Resume and Cover Letter to Daniel Krueger at krueger@bellin.org AND Shelly Schroeder at shelly.schroeder@bellin.org.

Healthcare Academy

Bellin College is committed to educating the healthcare professionals of the future. We offer a variety of ways for high school students to learn about healthcare careers and discover their passion through the Healthcare Academy. Exposing high school students to healthcare careers and courses can help them determine whether a healthcare career is right for them and inspire students to make the decision to continue their education.

LEARN MORE

High School Educators

Hands on Healthcare

Bellin College has created a free, one-day experience in our Health Sciences Resource Center (HSRC) called Hands on Healthcare. Students spend the day rotating through stations practicing skills and techniques guided by Bellin College students, faculty and healthcare professionals. 

For more information on our Hands On Healthcare program, click here:

HANDS ON HEALTHCARE

Speaker Request

To request a speaker/presenter to come to your high school, please complete a Presentation Request Form.

Pathways to Success

These documents provide a quick reference on the steps required to be successful in each healthcare profession. Click here to find your Pathway to Success.  

Questions?

Please email careerconnection@bellincollege.edu.

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