What is medical culture, and how do we become accustomed to it? Shadowing is both an orientation to the "culture of medicine" and a guide for aspiring physicians who hope to make that culture more equitable and just. We prepare to shadow with an interdisciplinary introduction to humanistic critiques of Western medical culture, including insights from the history of medicine, narrative medicine, and the visual arts. Next, we observe clinical settings through a series of creative and directed exercises that help us attend to social determinants of health. We reflect on our observations by writing personal statements that place our clinical experiences in cultural and structural context. Finally, we respond by identifying methods for taking action and affecting structural change in healthcare.

What is medical culture, and how do we become accustomed to it? Shadowing is both an orientation to the "culture of medicine" and a guide for aspiring physicians who hope to make that culture more equitable and just. We prepare to shadow with an interdisciplinary introduction to humanistic critiques of Western medical culture, including insights from the history of medicine, narrative medicine, and the visual arts. Next, we observe clinical settings through a series of creative and directed exercises that help us attend to social determinants of health. We reflect on our observations by writing personal statements that place our clinical experiences in cultural and structural context. Finally, we respond by identifying methods for taking action and affecting structural change in healthcare.