Graduation Gift Ideas for Medical School Graduates

Just in time for my own brother's Medical School graduation, I have found it to be a difficult process trying to decide what to purchase! My typical and generic graduation gift for any college graduate is usually a diploma frame, but since I've already given that gift at either his undergrad or his wife's med school graduation, I thought I'd look a little more into various gifts, from handmade to "way expensive!"

My favorite so far is the framed "Hippocratic Oath" - which can be purchased at several different online stores, such as www.personalizationmall.com and www.allposters.com.
However, you can totally make this yourself by Googling the Hippocratic Oath and doing a copy/paste, purchasing a nice frame - and I like to do things like utilize the beautiful embossed graduation announcements from the schools by placing it somewhere on the document or within the frame. You can do a shadow box frame and attach other items like photos, etc. You could even "antique" the paper you print the oath on by steeping a tea bag and rubbing in gently across your paper or by painting on with very strong coffee.

Another gift would be anything containing the medical symbol, the Caduceus. I love the caduceus bookends, which come in several styles, such as the brass heavy book ends at www.tias.com or the green marble bookends with brass caduceus at Advance Health care Shop. These are also found in black marble at several stores, like amazon and others at www.thefind.com

For Women, a charm or pendant of the Caduceus symbol makes a lovely gift. You can find these in various jewelry stores and online.

Leather portfolios, clipboards and pens with Dr. So-and-so or So-and-so, M.D. inscribed or engraved also make beautiful gifts. Desktop or Office items may not the be best choice at this time, as the graduate still has residency - and no office yet!

You may check with the graduate before looking into items such as stethoscope or other medical equipment, but there are some incredible stethoscopes available and they can be engraved! Among the favorites of many health care providers (such as nurses...like me!) prefer Littman Stethoscopes.

Writing a lovely letter and including money or gift cards/certificates are also a simple gift to give anyone, especially those difficult to buy for! Thinking outside the box, there are links to several "of-the-month" gifts that can be given...be it wine, beer and other edible items. The "Necktie of the Month" club was one I thought would be perfect for a man graduating from medical school, as many of the doctors I know do dress up for work - they don't all wear scrubs!

Finally, if you know your graduate will wear a lab coat or scrubs, you can purchase these online or in any medical apparel shop - and have So-and-so, M.D. embroidered on them! They always need more than one lab coat and scrub top! This is great for men and women!

I hope this helps in your quest to find a great gift for the Medical School Graduate!