appropriate conference attire?

[lipstikisntfood]

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What does one wear to a medicine conference on a Saturday in May? (I am not presenting - it is not a research conference but a clinical conference aimed at residents (obv) and primary care docs.) Thanks!

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

What does one wear to a medicine conference on a Saturday in May? (I am not presenting - it is not a research conference but a clinical conference aimed at residents (obv) and primary care docs.) Thanks!

Males -- depends on the formality of the occasion. If this is a huge function with a well-known outside speaker, etc then dress slacks and a button down shirt preferrably with a tie. If it's just another lecture, then the above minus the tie.

If your standard of fashion is higher than most, add a sports jacket but certainly not required.

White coat is not required unless you plan on being around patients.

Always dress at the level or slightly above what the occasion calls for. NEVER below!

Females -- ?

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Seriously?

Females-- wear something nice that's the right size, right length, right neckline and right fabric. And closed-toe shoes.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Depends somewhat on the organization and specialty.

For example, we often refer to the Society of Surgical Oncology meetings as the "dark suit club" - everyone wears a black suit for some reason. Other surgical meetings are less formal but I've rarely seen somewhere wear cargo shorts and sandals as I did, as a pre-med, at a neurology conference (this is not to imply that neurologists are fashion challenged...it just seemed to be the norm attire for that meeting). Check with others who are going what the usual attire is.

I would say that something between interview attire (ie, suit) and a casual Saturday wear is appropriate if you are not the speaker.

 

[sam1999]

Is it a research conference or clinical conference? It is well known that in most conferences US based physicians show up in sneakers and casual pants. Most European or doctors from other countries show up more formal. As others have mentioned, check with others who have attended same conference before.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Is it a research conference or clinical conference? It is well known that in most conferences US based physicians show up in sneakers and casual pants. Most European or doctors from other countries show up more formal. As others have mentioned, check with others who have attended same conference before.

Really?

That is not true for US surgical conferences, at least none of the "biggies" - ACS, SSO, ASPS, ASBS, SAGES where suits are not uncommon and women often wear dresses and heels. On the casual days I may wear a nice blouse and trousers, saving the suits/dresses for the actual conference meetings. Or maybe its just me and my friends. 😛

 

[sam1999]

Really?

That is not true for US surgical conferences, at least none of the "biggies" - ACS, SSO, ASPS, ASBS, SAGES where suits are not uncommon and women often wear dresses and heels. On the casual days I may wear a nice blouse and trousers, saving the suits/dresses for the actual conference meetings. Or maybe its just me and my friends. 😛

Short answer is I don't know.

Most surgeons wear their PJs all day or I assume in the evening too. It is hard to imagine surgeons change into suits when they go home. So once in a while they get a chance to shine so my guess is they don't waste their chance by not wearing suits in surgical conferences. Other Physicians on the other hand are complete opposite as they want to get out of their suits and wear something more comfortable.

 

[ResidentMD]

Really?

That is not true for US surgical conferences, at least none of the "biggies" - ACS, SSO, ASPS, ASBS, SAGES where suits are not uncommon and women often wear dresses and heels. On the casual days I may wear a nice blouse and trousers, saving the suits/dresses for the actual conference meetings. Or maybe its just me and my friends. 😛

Most of the conferences that I have been to have been formal events (its almost unspoken) - suits may be hit or a miss, but definitely a good shirt and a tie for men, and dresses (with/without heels) for women.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Short answer is I don't know.

Most surgeons wear their PJs all day or I assume in the evening too.

Actually with the exception of trauma surgeons, most surgeons wear a suit or at least a shirt and tie in the office. Remember, surgeons aren't *only* in the OR.

It is hard to imagine surgeons change into suits when they go home. So once in a while they get a chance to shine so my guess is they don't waste their chance by not wearing suits in surgical conferences. Other Physicians on the other hand are complete opposite as they want to get out of their suits and wear something more comfortable.

Perhaps that is true but I see an awful lot of non-surgeon types who would never wear a suit to the office, and I see many that do. I routinely dress up in the office, as do most female surgeons I know.

I think the answer to the OP is that it depends on the specialty and what is the norm for that particular conference (and probably location - the south is going to be less formal than the NE).

 

[michaelrack]

IM and psychiatry conferences are pretty casual- I go to a lot of them (I love conferences!) and typically wear Levi dockers and a shirt with a collar. A tie isn't necessary.

 

[notinkansas]

Most surgeons wear their PJs all day or I assume in the evening too. It is hard to imagine surgeons change into suits when they go home.

You'd be surprised. Some places are extremely anal about not wearing scrubs anyplace but in the OR suite. You are expected to round in shirt and tie, (or female equivalent) plus white coat. Then you go to OR all day. And you change back to shirt and tie for evening rounds, any late afternoon conferences, etc. At these places, you don't DARE venture out of the OR for a few minutes without putting your white coat on over scrubs, and it is considered acceptable to wear scrubs outside the OR only for certain circumstances, like tending to an urgent issue between cases.

I know of a few surgeons who will even put on a suit and tie to come in from home to see a pt in the ED at 2 am.

I've never been to any sort of medical conference where the vast majority of the attendees were NOT wearing suits.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It also depends on what the "purpose" of attending the meeting is.

If you're going to a clinical conference to refresh your medical knowledge, etc, then casual is fine.

If you're going to a conference to network -- either for research collaboration, or to become involved in a national society -- then a suit / tie / more formal wear is a must.

 

[Rabbit Hole]

Is it a research conference or clinical conference? It is well known that in most conferences US based physicians show up in sneakers and casual pants. Most European or doctors from other countries show up more formal. As others have mentioned, check with others who have attended same conference before.

Europeans love to make fun of the casual fashion sense of Americans. I think they have an image of the "goofy American tourist" in their heads. They wouldn't dare show up to a conference looking anything less than professional.

It's pretty funny.. they laugh at our casual pants and we laugh at their snug tight jeans (men). We're all laughing together, such a good time.

Short answer is I don't know.

Most surgeons wear their PJs all day or I assume in the evening too. It is hard to imagine surgeons change into suits when they go home. So once in a while they get a chance to shine so my guess is they don't waste their chance by not wearing suits in surgical conferences. Other Physicians on the other hand are complete opposite as they want to get out of their suits and wear something more comfortable.

 

[Apollyon]

You'd be surprised. Some places are extremely anal about not wearing scrubs anyplace but in the OR suite. You are expected to round in shirt and tie, (or female equivalent) plus white coat. Then you go to OR all day. And you change back to shirt and tie for evening rounds, any late afternoon conferences, etc. At these places, you don't DARE venture out of the OR for a few minutes without putting your white coat on over scrubs, and it is considered acceptable to wear scrubs outside the OR only for certain circumstances, like tending to an urgent issue between cases.

This was SO Duke - scrubs, but, out of the OR (into clinic or not covering trauma that day), into dress clothes. Period.

I know of a few surgeons who will even put on a suit and tie to come in from home to see a pt in the ED at 2 am.

Saw this myself with a neurosurgeon (senior guy, and politically well-hooked up) - 4am, in a sport coat and tie. I asked him about it (as I was, also, in my white coat and tie in the ED), and he said, "You never know who you're going to run into" (when it's not who HE runs into, but who runs into HIM).

 

[OldPsychDoc]

IM and psychiatry conferences are pretty casual- I go to a lot of them (I love conferences!) and typically wear Levi dockers and a shirt with a collar. A tie isn't necessary.

And on a Saturday in May, a polo* counts as a shirt with a collar! 👍

*No popping allowed!

 

[Rabbit Hole]

IM and psychiatry conferences are pretty casual- I go to a lot of them (I love conferences!) and typically wear Levi dockers and a shirt with a collar. A tie isn't necessary.

And on a Saturday in May, a polo* counts as a shirt with a collar! 👍

*No popping allowed!

lol, you guys.