For Northern Illinois University students pursuing health careers, the journey to professional school often begins in the classroom. On Wednesday, Aug. 20, a group of NIU students took their learning beyond textbooks at a new job shadowing partnership with Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital.
The program, organized by NIU’s Pre-health Professions Program with support from NIU Career Services, connected students with physicians, nurses, dietitians, translators and other professionals for a day of immersive observation. Career Services assisted in managing the student application process through Huskies Get Hired, ensuring a smooth experience from start to finish.
For junior Stephanie Alkonga, who shadowed in surgical services, the experience reignited her motivation.
“My time within the operating room made me much more excited about the prospect of being a physician,” Alkonga said. “It reminded me why I want to help people through healthcare.”
Sophomore Maria Odiase said she was struck by the human connections she witnessed in nursing.
“Compassion matters as much as treatment. No two patients’ experiences are alike, and teamwork is essential,” Odiase said.
Other students gained new appreciation for roles outside of medicine. Anabela Arrieta, who shadowed a dietitian, realized the breadth of their impact.
“I saw that dietitians are integral members of the care team, not just in long-term recovery, but also in emergency settings,” Arrieta said.
Senior Jocelyn Kuntz had the opportunity to observe multiple surgeries, including one using the DaVinci surgical robot. Conversations with Northwestern Medicine surgeon Dr. Stephen Goldman left her with insight into the steps ahead.
“Seeing how quickly everything moved and the skill of the surgeons was incredible,” Kuntz said. “The experience gave me valuable perspective as I consider my career path.”
Students also shadowed medical translators, medical surgical nurses and other providers. For Emma Hastings, observing translators emphasized the importance of communication in patient care. Aiden Roschi, a patient care technician, said shadowing nurses helped confirm his goal of becoming a physician.
While some students hoped for more rotation across different departments, all agreed the shadowing was a meaningful step in their professional journey.
“This was such a great start, and our students came away energized, inspired and with a clearer sense of their career goals,” Tracy Ash, Pre-health Professions Program director said. “We look forward to building on this partnership with Northwestern Medicine to create even more opportunities in the future.”
“It was a pleasure to work with Tracy, Sherrill, Andrea and the NIU team to bring this shadowing experience to life,” Marckie Hayes of Northwestern Medicine said. “The students brought energy and curiosity to every interaction, and we’re excited to continue building on this partnership.”
Hayes added, “Together, we aim to highlight a broader range of clinical and ancillary roles in health care, helping students explore meaningful career paths they might not have considered before.”
