Dress Code Policy

Professionalism Reporting

Policy Statement:

Students at the Keck School of Medicine are expected to promote and reflect a professional and safe patient care environment. The following guidelines are the minimum standards for all Keck School of Medicine students with regard to dress, grooming, and personal hygiene.

Students must adhere to the dress code policies of any clinical sites to which they are assigned.

Policy Requirement:

Professional Dress (as defined below) is required for clinical activities, patient encounters and ICM unless otherwise specified. Students are also required to wear professional attire when presenting in a course (e.g., EPIC, HJSC, Transition to Clinical Practice, Intersession, and Transition to Residency) and when a standardized or real patient is present in the classroom.

Personal Hygiene/Cleanliness

  1. Hair must be clean, well-groomed, and secured so it does not come in contact with patients, sterile fields, or medical equipment. Personal grooming choices, including facial hair, should be neat and well-maintained.
  2. Body hygiene is required to avoid noticeable body or breath odor.
  3. Personal grooming and cosmetic choices should be appropriate for a professional healthcare environment.
  4. Perfumes, colognes, scented lotions, and/or after-shave lotion should not be worn.
  5. Fingernails must be kept clean, well-manicured, and trimmed at a length that does not interfere with patient care or personal safety.

Clinical Setting Attire (Professional Dress)

  1. Professional attire must be clean, in good condition, and appropriate for a healthcare environment. Acceptable options include, but are not limited to: slacks, skirts, dresses, collared shirts, sweaters, or blouses. Clothing should not be tight, sheer, or revealing, and should allow freedom of movement. Skirts and dresses must allow for professional coverage while standing and sitting.
  2. The official photo identification (ID) badge of the hospital or clinical site must be worn at all times between the shoulder and the waist, with the name and picture easily visible.
  3. White coats must be clean and pressed.
  4. Closed-toe and closed-heel shoes that provide adequate protection for the foot must be worn. It is recommended that students maintain a pair of shoes designated for the clinical environment.
  5. Jewelry or accessories must not interfere with patient care or safety.
  6. Pre-clinical students may wear scrubs for physical examination practice sessions during ICM.
  7. Students are to wear white coats with an official ID badge for all assessments.
  8. Scrubs may be worn on clerkships in areas where they are allowed and if permitted by supervisors. Scrubs must be clean. Facility-provided scrubs must be worn in the peri-operative and operating room settings.

Inappropriate Attire in Clinical Settings

  • Jeans, denim, or denim-like fabric.
  • T-shirts, undershirts, or leggings worn by themselves. Shorts of any type, mini-skirts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, pajamas, and athletic wear.
  • Clothing that exposes the midriff, shoulders, or chest, including strapless or off-the-shoulder garments.
  • Hats, caps, or visors indoors (unless worn for cultural, religious, or medical reasons).
  • Wearing operating room/procedure room attire (masks, booties, hair coverings) outside of procedure areas.
  • Open-toe/heel shoes, slingbacks, sandals, and flip-flops.
  • Torn, wrinkled, unclean white coats, clothing or scrubs.

Reviewed and Approved: November 19, 2025

Medical Education Executive Council