As representatives of the medical profession, all medical students are expected to maintain an image that conveys trust, respect, and confidence in one’s colleagues and patients. Medicine, as a caring profession, is expected to foster an attitude of concern for the well-being of individual members of the group and for the reputation of the group as a whole.
Students are to dress in a manner that makes patients, peers, and faculty comfortable and engenders approachability as a professional representative of Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. The use of appearance as a way of attracting undue attention is not acceptable.
Appropriate dress is essential to enhance patient safety in the clinical setting. Attire and behavior should promote a positive impression for the individual student, the specific course, and Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. You will encounter variation in custom and expectations in different clinical settings. You are a guest and must comply with clinical setting and hospital requirements.
White coats and clothes must be clean and in good repair and appearance. Personal hygiene is important and student hygiene should not cause discomfort for patients or colleagues.
Identification is to be worn and visible at all times above the waist. While wearing the white coat in a clinical setting, medical students are expected to verbally identify themselves AS STUDENTS at all times and must assume responsibility to clarify their role to patients.
Scrubs must be worn in compliance with the policies of the hosting institution in which the medical student guest is assigned for patient care experiences. Scrubs, used in your training, are never to be worn in public places outside the clinical care facility.
Unacceptable attire will result in the supervising faculty addressing the matter with the student. The faculty or administration at the clinical setting retains the authority to refuse the student access to the learning experience based on inappropriate attire. Repeated instances of inappropriate dress may be grounds for investigations of professionalism.
You will receive feedback about your grooming and attire from standardized patients, faculty, portfolio coaches, and peers when your appearance does not meet expectations for professional and clinical environments.
If you have questions about specific items of clothing or accessories, please consult the Office of Student Affairs or the supervising faculty for the learning experience.
Guidelines on Manner of Addressing Each Other
The manner in which we address each other is indicative of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine culture of respect and dignity.
Medical students are to use the appropriate formal address of “Dr. [Smith]” when speaking to faculty until or unless the faculty indicates an informal address may be used. Faculty, when with students in the presence of patients, are to address the student using the formal first and last name. If students request a formal manner of address at other times, faculty are to honor the request. Otherwise, the informal may be used.