As outlined in our School of Medicine Professionalism Principles, we have a responsibility to the highest standards of excellence in the practice of medicine, and this extends to all aspects of our interactions with patients, families, and Standardized Patients. Students are expected to dress professionally during all patient and Standardized Patient encounters in the classroom and clinical settings and should adhere to the dress code guidelines described below. Appropriate personal appearance communicates respect for our patients and professionalism in our work and may mean accepting inconvenience to meet the needs of our patients.

• School of Medicine IDs must be worn above the waist visible and visible at all times. For specialties where white coats are common, your coat must be clean, pressed, and always worn.
• All clothing must be neat and clean. Immodest attire or accessories may be offensive to our patients and standardized patients. Examples of unprofessional attire include: sheer garments, halter or tank tops, items designed to be worn as undergarments, oversized or baggy garments, garments such as leggings and spandex pants designed to be worn as athletic wear, soiled, torn or frayed garments, denims, apparel with words or pictures unrelated to the professional environment.
• Button-down shirts (with or without ties), professional tops, or blouses should be worn; avoid low-cut necklines or exposed midriffs.
• Pants, slacks, khakis, skirts, or dresses are appropriate; jeans and shorts should not be worn. Legs should be covered to the knee.
• Clothing should allow for an appropriate range of movement.
• Good personal hygiene is expected.
• Avoid cologne, perfumes, and strong scents as these may cause an allergic reaction to others.
• Tattoos are recommended to be covered. Body piercings (other than work-appropriate jewelry on ear lobes) and gauges are recommended to be covered.
• Jewelry, cosmetics, and other accessories must be safe, unobtrusive, minimal, and inoffensive to patients, family, visitors, and co-workers.
• Shoes must be safe, clean, in good repair, closed-toe, and appropriate for the clinical setting. Dress shoes with a low or flat heel are recommended; avoid open-toed shoes, flip-flops, or porous shoes.
• Hats and/or headgear may be worn when required for safety, compliance, or religious belief.
• Avoid wearing political campaign clothing, buttons, or symbols representing a political candidate or cause, excluding health initiatives or those defined as ‘protected activities’ by the National Labor Relations Board as these may be inconsistent with the policies at our hospitals or affiliated sites.

In addition to the guidelines above, students are expected to abide by all Stanford Hospital and Clinics policies and those of our affiliated sites while on rotation.

In most cases, attire typically worn to class or lecture may not be appropriate for clinical encounters. Hospital scrubs may not be considered appropriate professional attire for all patient encounters, particularly those in the Practice of Medicine and clinical exam assessment setting.   

Patients vary in sensitivity to and in expectations about the appearance of their health care providers. A reasonable rule of thumb is to lean towards dressing conservatively – for example, choose attire that most people will find appropriate. You will encounter variation in custom and expectations in different clinical settings. Observe other professionals’ dress. You are a guest in these settings, so please ask if you are unsure of what is appropriate.

Students should be mindful of wearing their white coat with the Stanford Medicine logo offsite as this may imply organizational representation.

updated August 2024