Too tall for my white coat?

[jbbond007]

Hi,

I have kind of a silly problem, but it bothers me everyday nonetheless. I am almost six and a half feet tall, so the typical student white coat (consultation length coat), which are 30" long, fall above my belt and look ridiculous. I already look awkward enough without the addition of this weird, white, vest-length coat stuffed with reference material and granola bars. I hate walking into a patient's room and feeling like a clown in my ill-fitting coat. So, my question is this: Does anyone wear the mid-length white coats?

I am kind of torn on the subject. On the one hand, I want to look and feel like a professional in front of my patients. Sometimes that is the first step in earning a patient's trust. I also don't like to draw attention to my proportions by wearing a coat that just points out that I am too tall. I really don't enjoy explaining that I am far too clumsy to play basketball (which is invariably everyone's first question). Sure, the mid-length coats are about 8 inches longer than traditional, but I am about 8 inches taller than the average guy. The mid-length coats are still a good six inches shorter than the full length coats that real doctors (as well as a lot of non-professional medical staff for that matter) wear. On the other hand, I don't want my peers and residents to think that I am trying to elevate my status or something. I want to be a part of the team and adhere to my role on that team. I don't want to give the impression that I think I am special when compared to my peers. I especially don't want people to assume I am a douche before they have a chance to meet me. To be honest, I can't decide which is worse: to look silly or to look arrogant. Maybe there's a third option that I haven't considered. Maybe I'm just overthinking the whole issue and no one else cares. Any thoughts on the subject?

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[Microglia]

If the mid length coat looks like a vest on you I'd say go for it. If anyone asks just say it's the tall version of it. My school had a couple different lengths for students that all are clearly not full length but accommodate taller men, which is nice since I'm a couple inches over six feet and need a decently long coat. I highly doubt anyone will flip as long as it's clearly not long coat status.

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

I think you are over thinking it lol. I don't think people are going to judge your medical competency based on your height. And there's not much you can do about it so don't worry. But I think there's a website that sells White coats for tall people. Can't remember the site.

 

[StIGMA]

Get one custom-sized from http://medicalcoats.com/
The student one is called 'jacket'. You can customize the length/size (like a suit).

They do good work.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Are you wearing the largest size coat available? If not, does the largest coat size cover your length needs but is too baggy? If so, get jacked and then wear it. I have the opposite problem: I'm on the short end of average but my back is wide, so I had to go a size up; so, my coat fits fine, but it's a bit too long.

 

[deleted480308]

buy the doctors long coat and just hem it

 

[Brain Bucket]

Get one custom-sized from http://medicalcoats.com/
The student one is called 'jacket'. You can customize the length/size (like a suit).

They do good work.

If you have a decent chinese tailor downtown, have them make a couple for you. The ones in my town do superb work.

 

[2010houston]

As an aside, there is a 6'4" (or taller) trauma surgeon at my hospital who sometimes wears the mid-length white coat... And then looks exactly like a med student! It is hilarious. He rocks it though. So maybe this would work for you.

 

[coffeesnob]

People don't go around measuring the coat lengths. I think the mid length is fine as long it doesn't go over your pubic symphysis. I am at the opposite end of the spectrum. I am 5ft tall and my white coat looks longer on me lol. I don't think I look arrogant (people haven't said anything).

 

[Bacchus]

buy the doctors long coat and just hem it

Might not work because of internal and external pockets. Stuffing your ipad or census into half a pocket is a disaster scenario for spillage.

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

People don't go around measuring the coat lengths. I think the mid length is fine as long it doesnt't over your pubic symphysis. I am at the opposite end of the spectrum. I am 5ft tall and my white coat looks longer on me lol. I don't think I look arrogant (people haven't said anything).

Are you saying it shouldn't cover your symphysis pubis?

 

[Brain Bucket]

Are you saying it shouldn't cover your symphysis pubis?

Your linea alba should always be available for inspection.

 

[jbbond007]

So what I have done in the past is have a medelita long coat hemmed up to the lowest part of my hips. The length works with no scoffing from residents, but the problem is pocket placement. The pockets on a typical long coat are lower than on a consultation coat. For me this means that they catch on every doorknob and rail I walk past. They have ripped a few times, and I am tired of having to sew on my pockets every week. I do typically wear the "tall" sizes and a little larger than for a tailored suit to get more length in the arms and waist, but our school stopped carrying them. They tell me that whatever company supplies them stopped making tall sizes (?). I guess I need to see what options are available to me. Has anyone bought a Classico mid length? I know they are expensive, but they look pretty darn snazzy.

http://www.classicolabcoat.com/mens/tailored-lab-coat.html

 

[atomi]

While your attendings probably won't notice/care, I guarantee there will be some deeply insecure med students or even residents that you will piss off by doing it. The administration would have a problem too. The whole thing is totally stupid, and looking like an idiot while you're a med student is part of the game. Just suck it up.

 

[Priapism4tooLong]

Your linea alba should always be available for inspection.

Very Good point, I like to keep my superficial inguinal ring accessible at all times.

 

[coffeesnob]

Are you saying it shouldn't cover your symphysis pubis?

I meant "as long as it doesn't go over."

 

[Psai]

We all have this problem. They tricked you into thinking that the white coat ceremony was some awesome event for you to celebrate with your family when it really was just the beginning of a hazing ritual.

 

[JoshSt]

Hi,

I have kind of a silly problem, but it bothers me everyday nonetheless. I am almost six and a half feet tall, so the typical student white coat (consultation length coat), which are 30" long, fall above my belt and look ridiculous. I already look awkward enough without the addition of this weird, white, vest-length coat stuffed with reference material and granola bars. I hate walking into a patient's room and feeling like a clown in my ill-fitting coat. So, my question is this: Does anyone wear the mid-length white coats?

I am kind of torn on the subject. On the one hand, I want to look and feel like a professional in front of my patients. Sometimes that is the first step in earning a patient's trust. I also don't like to draw attention to my proportions by wearing a coat that just points out that I am too tall. I really don't enjoy explaining that I am far too clumsy to play basketball (which is invariably everyone's first question). Sure, the mid-length coats are about 8 inches longer than traditional, but I am about 8 inches taller than the average guy. The mid-length coats are still a good six inches shorter than the full length coats that real doctors (as well as a lot of non-professional medical staff for that matter) wear. On the other hand, I don't want my peers and residents to think that I am trying to elevate my status or something. I want to be a part of the team and adhere to my role on that team. I don't want to give the impression that I think I am special when compared to my peers. I especially don't want people to assume I am a douche before they have a chance to meet me. To be honest, I can't decide which is worse: to look silly or to look arrogant. Maybe there's a third option that I haven't considered. Maybe I'm just overthinking the whole issue and no one else cares. Any thoughts on the subject?

You need to wear something below your belt line, you can't have the stress of looking silly and/or worrying about plumber's crack. Our med school's med student's larger sized coats all fall below tall people's waistline (some of who are well over 6'6"). Buy whatever fits you, or order custom white coats online as other posters have suggested and get your school's stuff embroided on them.

Talk it over with people that sell the coats.