The AAFP promotes the workforce expansion needed to ensure that all Americans have access to a primary care patient-centered medical home, and recognizes that student shadowing opportunities in both academic and community family medicine practices can provide early exposure and mentorship that can lead to career choices to enhance this goal. The AAFP supports shadowing opportunities for students in middle and high school, college, and medical school. The AAFP supports the availability of resources to familiarize all family physicians with student-oriented career information and HIPAA-related professional education that emphasizes the critical importance of patient confidentiality. The AAFP also recognizes the right of the patient to decline a student shadow in the patient encounter.
(July 2011 BOD) (January 2022 COD)