14 Thoughtful White Coat Ceremony Gifts [IDEA GUIDE 2023] (2024)

We have compiled a list of 14 thoughtful white coat ceremony gifts that will demonstrate how proud you are of the new healthcare professional! Read on for these white coat ceremony gift ideas and you’ll be sure to find one that fits the recipient perfectly.

What’s a White Coat Ceremony?

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The white coat ceremony is quite possibly the most iconic rite of passage faced by students in the worlds of medicine, nursing, veterinary, pharmacy, and numerous other healthcare professions. Established back in 1993,this ritualsees students wearing their first white coats and being welcomed into the healthcare practice. It aims to provide an important emphasis on compassion and scientific excellence from the very first day of the students’ training.

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14 Best White Coat Ceremony Gifts

Shadow Box for White Coat

Gifting a healthcare worker with a way to cherish theirmemory of the white coat ceremonyis a gift that keeps on giving. With a simple black wooden finish and padded linen fabric interior, this shadow box provides the perfect place to frame the white coat worn in the ceremony. Every time they see it, they will be reminded of the special day and that iconic rite of passage they took into the healthcare industry.

I especially feel that this gift will show that you did your research into the significance of this event and the value placed on this first new white coat.

What we like:

• A great way to display their hard work
• An affordable, yet thoughtful gift

What we don’t like:

• Depth of the shadow box not as deep as expected

Best for:Anyone looking for a memorable white coat ceremony gifts, this could be a great option.

First White Coat Hanger

Another thoughtful white coat ceremony gift idea for that special healthcare worker in your life is thisunique personalized hanger for their white coat. Made from solid wood and with options to customize the text, this hanger is the perfect place to hang that very special first white coat and all the memories that go alongside it.

What we like:

• Suitable for any white coat ceremony
• Customizablefor the recipient
• Beautiful cursive design of the wires

What we don’t like:

• The hangers can be a bit bendy

Best for:Those of you who want to provide a gift to celebrate the occasion, whether that be for a veterinary, pharmacy, nursing or any other healthcare white coat ceremony.

Customized Necklace

This necklace is a slam dunk as a gift as well as card that is extremely of-the-moment for a white coat ceremony. The card that comes with this beautiful disk jewelry is specifically created for white coat ceremony moments.

The necklace can be customized with a letter and a symbol. Additionally, you can personalize the card that comes with the necklace, making it that much more customized.

Best for: A new female doctor who loves dainty gold or silver jewelry.

Rosa Vila Dog Paw Heartbeat Necklace in Rose Gold Tone

Rosa Vila’s dog paw heartbeat necklace helps to showcase that love felt for animals, perfect as veterinary white coat ceremony gifts for all those female vets starting out. The piece features a small heart pendant, a heartbeat and a paw print, and comes attached to a chain with a lobster clasp for easy wear.

Delicate and dainty, this necklace makes a statement for any new vet with its unique, animal-inspired design and wearability.

What we like:

• Versatile – can be used to dress up or down for any occasion
• Especially catered to new veterinarians

What we don’t like:

• Doesn’t come in a jewelry box

Best for:Anyone after a meaningful gift for that special vet in your life. Give it to them before the veterinary white coat ceremony, and they can dress up their first white coat with the perfect accessory!

Related:20 Awesome Medical School Graduation Gifts

Rosa Vila Dog Paw Print Necklace

Another jewelry option that makes a statement for a vet’s white coat ceremony is Rosa Vila’s dog paw print necklace in silver-tone. More simple in design than the previous necklace, this piece features a small cut-out paw print dog pendant on a chain with a lobster clasp for easy closure.

Also dainty and delicate, this necklace could be worn alone or paired with other necklaces as a layering piece.

What we like:

• Unique
• Simple yet dainty
• Could be worn to any occasion, day or night

What we don’t like:

• You have to buy a jewelry box separately

Best for:Anyone struggling to find a precious veterinary white coat ceremony gift to celebrate this momentous occasion. The simplicity of this design means it could be worn every day to veterinary school, as well as to accessorize the white coat on the big day!

EMI Registered Nurse Pin Set

Coming as a two-item pin set, the gift includes a Registered Nurse (RN) Caduceus pin and RN round emblem pin. Gold plated, professional-looking and with plenty of detail, these pins make the perfect accessory to that first nurse’s white coat.

What we like:

• Great quality
• Can be pinned on the new nurse’s white coat immediately
• Looks even better in real life

What we don’t like:

• On the cheaper side

Best for:Those after nursing white coat ceremony gifts, this set of pins could be the perfect keepsake. They can be pinned on to the white coat for the ceremony itself, making it even more special.

Learn more about the Nurse Pinning Ceremony

Vintage Bronze Doctor Who Pocket Watch with Necklace

When you picture someone in a white coat, a pocket watch always seems to spring to mind. This unique bronze Doctor Who themed pocket watch comes with two chains, one 30cm in length and one 80cm, giving the recipient options with how to wear it.

The gift set also comes with a Doctor Who inspired dome pendant necklace, attached to a 50cm long chain.

What we like:

• Both the pocket watch and pendant come inside a gift box
• Mixed sizes of chains for recipient to choose from
• The watch comes with batteries

What we don’t like:

• Pocket watch is smaller than expected
• Maybe not something to be used every day

Best for:Anyone after unique yet fun white coat ceremony gift ideas. This pocket watch could be a novel addition to the white coat.

Rose Gold Heart and Stethoscope Pendant Necklace

Perfect for a nursing white coat ceremony gift, this rose gold necklace comes with a heart and stethoscope pendant fixed on to it. Made from copper and with an adjustable chain length, this necklace is a piece of jewelry that could be worn by nurses to both their white coat ceremony and to school or work.

What we like:

• Pendant is a good shape and size
• The necklace comes with a personalized nursing gift card

What we don’t like:

• The chain is on the short side
• Not as well made as other necklaces on the market

Best for:Those looking for something to glam up a nurse’s white coat!

Related:13 Best Books for Doctors 7 Aspiring MDs!

Prescription Pill Bottle Shaped Shot Glasses

Looking to inject some humor into thewhite coat ceremonyoccasion? This set of three prescription pill bottle-shaped shot glasses could be the perfect gift. Holding 2 ounces of liquid, these novelty shot glasses could be used for all the post white coat ceremony celebrations, as well as potential other occasions along the medical school journey.

What we like:

• Funny gift for those who like to host or party
• Good quality for the price

What we don’t like:

• Quite bulky

Best for:Anyone after an idea for pharmacy white coat ceremony gifts. Funny yet still thoughtful, these shot glasses will no doubt be met with a smile.

Related:What to Wear to Your White Coat Ceremony

Spoontiques Prescription Insulated Travel Mug

Another gift with a sense of humor attached is this prescription insulated travel mug. Insulated for both hot and cold beverages and made with a stainless steel lining, this travel mug is more than just a funny white coat ceremony gift, it is a practical gift for anyone on the go.

What we like:

• It has a handle, making it easy for on-the-go doctors
• The prescription label is humorous
• Effective insulation

What we don’t like:

• Not leakproof
• Not dishwasher safe

Best for:Those of you after pharmacy white coat ceremony gifts or gifts for any healthcare professional. This travel mug ticks both the funny and practical boxes, as well as being thoughtful!

Flower Bouquet

Although not specifically catered to a white coat ceremony, flowers are always a great go-to gift for nearly any occasion! These flowers from Benchmark Bouquets will ship overnight if orders are placed before 10PM Monday-Thursday. If, however, you’re shipping over the weekend, you’re going to be out of luck, as no deliveries take place Friday-Sunday.

What we like:

• Overnight shipping
• Cheaper alternative to popular flower delivery companies
• Comes with vase

What we don’t like:

• No weekend deliveries
• Flowers ship in bud form (bloom days after arrival)

A Pair of White Sneakers

Going along with the “white” theme, you can opt to get the future doctor a pair of Allbirds Tree Dashers. Named as #1 among Best Shoes for Doctors and Med Students, these sneakers are both comfortable for long shifts as well as good for the environment. Made with all natural and recycled ingredients, they will be appreciated by both the doctor and the planet.

What we like:

• Made from breathable eucalyptus tree
• Machine washable
• Merino wool cushioning

What we don’t like:

• No sales/promotions

Allbirds Trino Sprinter Socks

While you’re at it, throw in a pair of these super luxurious Trino wool low-rise socks that were specially designed to fit with the Allbirds Tree Dasher. This attention to detail will really know the socks off (pun intended) of the new doc!

What we like:

• Cut to fit the collar of the Allbirds Tree Dashers
• Made in the USA
• Crafted for breathable performance

Dermatologist Card

Here’s another very specific gift that is aimed specifically at dermatologists. This customizable card on Etsy allows for the addition of a customizable name tag for the new M.D. I have found this to be an extremely thoughtful gift that I have given to my own dermatologist as a thank-you.

What we like:

• Specialized for dermatologists
• The addition of customization with the removable name tag

White Coat Ceremony Buying Tips

Before pressing ‘buy now’ there are a couple of things you should consider when looking into white coat ceremony gifts:

What to Look for in Gifts for the White Coat Ceremony

Buying the perfect white coat ceremony gift for that special medical professional in your life can be a little tricky. The ceremony is a rite of passage for them, and you want to make sure that you gift them something fitting for the occasion.

This could mean buying them a keepsake to help them remember and treasure the special day. Or it could be an accessory or piece of jewelry that helps to dress up their white coat. Or perhaps it’s something that injects some humor into the day.

The trick is to ensure the gift has meaning for that special someone. This could mean something personal to the profession they’re going into, like something animal-related for veterinary white coat ceremony gifts.

Whatever you decide to buy, it’s worth thinking carefully about the individual you’re buying for and what you think they’d appreciate, even if it’s just a nice, heartfelt card.

Check out our full list of the 41 best medical school gifts

Practical or Funny? Which Makes a Better Gift?

When it comes to white coat ceremony gift ideas, you could go either way. Going down the practical road means that the gift will probably get used over and over again. It also might lead to something that becomes a fond memory of the special occasion.

Heading off on a funny path means the gift could provide some humor and bring a smile to the faces of the recipients at the time of receiving it. It might also bring some light relief further down the line, after a long and stressful day at school or work.

Whether you end up going for practical, funny, or both, one is not necessarily better than the other. The key to success when buying a gift for a white coat ceremony is making sure the gift is thoughtful.

White Coat Ceremony Gifts FAQ

Final Thoughts

We’re sure that whatever you end up buying as a gift to celebrate that special someone’s white coat ceremony, they are bound to appreciate the kind gesture. At the end of the day, everyone loves to be given a gift!

If you’re still reading this and feeling a bit overwhelmed by the gift ideas, then we recommend opting for the Shadow Box, which always makes a thoughtful and relevant gift for their white coat ceremony.