In the context of this modern world, what does a Shaman do?

Shamans are healers of souls - this was, and still is, their primary function as healers.

People often confuse the traditional shaman with the medicine man or woman.  They were different in many traditional settings, and in others, one and the same.  The western image of the shaman as some sort of spiritual, or even political leader, in his or her community may be comfortable in light of western culture, but it is far from the actual truth.