“Career Exploration: Shadowing and Interviewing a Health Professional”

VERVIEW
Career exploration can be a learning process. One of the best ways to gain information is
through first-hand experience and observation. This assignment will provide the opportunity to
interview and visit with a working health professional in your career of interest. The reality of
the work day is always different than what you can read about in a book. Discover, through first-
hand knowledge, if a career or type of specialty area in healthcare is a good fit for you.
INSTRUCTIONS
Career Investigation Project: Topic Selection Assignment
 Choose 1 career of interest in the health field to investigate.
 Find a working professional in the chosen field to “shadow” and interview in the early
part of the term.
o Schedule a date and time to meet with your chosen health professional.
o Spend as much time as possible seeing what the professional does on a day-to-
day basis. It is recommended that a few hours be spent with the professional
interviewing and seeing the place of work as well as any routine business.
o Dress professionally when visiting and be thankful to the professional for the
time spent.
o Use the questions below as a guide for interviewing your chosen health
professional.
Career Investigation Project: Final Submission Assignment
 After shadowing/interviewing your professional, design a 10–12 slide PowerPoint
presentation documenting your experience and knowledge gained through this
investigation.
 PowerPoint slide content should follow the interview questions below in order.
o Creativity in design and appropriate/relevant use of images is encouraged.
o All sources used should be referenced on the last slide using current APA format.
o PowerPoint slides should be in outlined / talking points form. Provide your
narrative to explain talking points in the notes section below the slide.
Title slide must include: Your name, Liberty University, HLTH 105, name of career investigated
1. Name of the career/profession and what is required to practice this profession in the USA. (1
slide) Doctor of Physical Therapy 
2. Who was the person with whom you shadowed/interviewed and on what day did you observe
them? (1 slide)
Paul Merz PT, DPT, MTC
Senior Clinic Manager 
3. Where did they go to school or what training did they have? What are their degrees,
certifications, etc.? (1 slide)Paul Merz PT, DPT, MTC
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences DPT and bachelors health science
4. Does this person have to complete continuing education? If so, what types of education must
they receive, how many hours, etc.? (1 slide)
Medical Errors Prevention (2 hours)
HIV/AIDS (1 hour) required only for the first renewal period
HLTH 105
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5. What were some of the daily functions of that person? What time of the day did they begin
and end? Did this person interact with patients/clients—if so, on what level? Describe what
took place while you were observing. (1–3 slides)
6. How does the person you observed describe a normal day? Stress level, time management
issues, daily work load, etc. (1–2 slides)
7. What quality or characteristic does the person you interviewed think is necessary for someone
working in that profession? (1 slide)
8. What characteristics do you think are a MUST for someone wishing to enter this profession?
(1 slide)
9. What are 2 positives and 2 potential negatives about this profession? (1 slide)
10. Provide an Internet resource to the class where they can learn more about this profession:
provide the name of the organization producing the website with the web address. (1 slide)
Your reference list will be the last slide in your presentation.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.