Gift Ideas for Medical Students – 2021

Gift Ideas for Medical Students – 2021

By: LifeofaMedStudent

Whether for the holidays, a birthday, or just because – here are some of LifeofaMedStudent’s gifts for medical students. The biggest gift of all, however, is probably just your support as a parent, family member, spouse, or significant other. No item below is ever worth what a hug and a “You’ve got this” can mean to a medical student going through one of the most challenging parts of their education. The second biggest gift might be a check sent in to help with student loans or living expenses. But for anything else, check out our gift ideas for medical students below!

(Some products below contain affiliate links.)

$ (Under $50)

• Mix education and fun with this great card game from Empiric. This multiplayer game is designed to learn antibiotic classes, mechanisms, spectrum of activity and delivery options with color coding and icons built into antibiotic cards. Emergency medicine version coming soon!
• Drink your coffee in style with the Yeti Rambler 10oz “Lowball.” My everyday travel cup of choice, I love the size that allows for a generous cup of coffee but is small/portable enough I can throw it in my bag once I’m finished. 
• Stay hydrated! When coffee time is over, a hydro flask to keep your liquid cool is a must-have for long days in the library or hospital. I like this 32oz wide mouth straw lid from HydroFlask.

• Want a stethoscope to stay in place and out of the lost and found? Check out The Batclip – a leather clip-on stethoscope holder, available in a variety of colors. Then personalize your plain stethoscope with a tag – such as this pediatric friendly Mickey Mouse option.
• Don’t just let a medical student read textbooks all day – I recommend a few personal books such as When Breath Becomes Air or In Shock or the ever-classic The House of God.
• Want to give a medical student a million dollars? How about a $20 personal finance book specifically written towards doctors – something that may make them literally millions via better financial decisions, optimal loan repayment strategies, and avoiding questionable salespeople. If there’s a single “must buy” item on this list it’s one (or all) of these books:
  • • The White Coat Investor – A Doctor’s Guide to Personal Finance and Investing
    • The Doctors Guide to Eliminating Debt
    • The White Coat Investor’s Financial Boot Camp: A 12-Step High-Yield Guide to Bring Your Finances Up to Speed

• Can’t leave COVID off the 2021 list! We’ll keep it light with this Dr. Fauci “Baby it’s Covid outside” ugly christmas sweater or a hilarious “vaccine” ornament or COVID virus ornament.

$$ ($50-$250)

• Books may be a fading educational tool for students, but there is ONE book that every medical student needs – the classic Netter’s Atlas of Anatomy is a must-have and its beautiful anatomic pictures are timeless. For more books for medical students, check out this guide!
• Like textbooks, the “White Coat” has found itself out of favor among the younger generation of students/doctors. It’s replacement, this Fleece Jacket from Columbia or higher end 1/4 Zip from NorthFace, are the new attire for the hospital.
• Convenience matters when time is minimal, and for coffee on the go, I use my Keurig Classic daily. Pop a Kcup in, press start, hop in the shower, and it’s done by the time you are out. For a smaller option, check out their colorful lineup of single-cup options!

• Help create the optimal sleep and study zone – grab a pair of these budget-friendly noise-canceling headphones from Sony and some blackout window curtains to maximize sleep and study life. If you want to upgrade to the top of this price range, the Apple AirPods Pro offers both noise-canceling ability with wireless charging in a small package.
• In the OR and on the wards, the Dansko footwear is king for a mix of comfort and easy clean-ability. For a more “tennis shoe” style – people SWEAR by Hoka Shoes for maximum comfort.
• Upgrade their stethoscope a bit with my personal choice – the Littmann Cardiology IV or go more fashionable with a rose gold and white MD One from MDF Instruments.
• Help a medical student keep on track with fitness goals during medical school with a Fitbit. I wore a Fitbit Charge for several years until finally upgrading to the new Apple iWatch as an attending.

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• I’ve long talked about the importance of practice questions when teaching how to study in medical school. Check out disconts on these favorite study options through LifeofaMedStudent, including:
  • BoardVitals: 20% of all Qbanks with PROMO code: LIFEOFAMEDSTUDENT!
  • Wolters Kluwer: Save 30% on Lippincott® medical education resources!
  • Picmonic: 20% off Picmonic plans!
  • Elsevier: 20% off The Gunner Goggles exam prep series!
  • TrueLearn: 25% off all USMLE and NBME study products, PROMO code: LifeofaMedStudent25!
  • Osmosis: 40% off Osmosis Prime membership!

$$$ ($250 and up)

Almost nothing on the below list is a “need” and quite frankly you’d probably be better off putting the money towards student loans. But, for the fun of it, here are a few big “splurge” items that would make anyone in medicine scream over.

• Every medical student needs a laptop, and my choice since medical school has been Apple. For a good mix of portability, performance, and price, the new Macbook Air is highly recommended. At a bit more weight (and cost), I am very happy with my higher-performance  MacBook Pro 13inch.
• A modern stethoscope for the modern world. The EKO Duo – and FDA-cleared electronic stethoscope + handheld ECG that amplifies heart sounds up to 60X and tracks electrical activity. Or turn your old stethoscope into a digital upgrade with the EKO Core.
• Ultrasound is the rage these days, from Point of Care in the ER to “Let me put a needle anywhere” in the OR – this handheld ultrasound from Butterfly is one of the coolest new technologies out there. I’ve used one, and they are the real deal. And REAL expensive, but worth it for EM/ICU/Anesthesia – where immediate echo and vascular access ability is becoming standard of care.
• To assist with day-to-day life, an on-going cleaning service would be a HUGE help. More realistic but equally helpful, either an iRobot Roomba automatic vacuum or Dyson Cyclone cordless vacuum would be great in apartment size living situations.

• Want to REALLY make a medical student or resident’s life easier? Consider a meal subscription service. I didn’t try these until I was an attending, but we swear by them. My two favorites:
  • • Freshly – a microwave-ready option, usually around 500 calories, in 3-5 minutes. I freeze them as they arrive and keep a stock ready to go for nights when there isn’t time to make a real meal. These are lightyears better than the supermarket “freezer dinners.” Get $40 off using this link.
    • HelloFresh – all the ingredients delivered fresh and simple instructions to make an awesome dinner. A bit more work than Freshly, but the quality is well worth it if you can make the time (20-30min/meal). Also $40 off using this link.

My top 3 picks? For a low-cost option go with the White Coat Investor book, it truly could be worth millions. For mid-price, I swear by my Keurig and still use it daily. For the big dollars, an ongoing meal subscription-like Freshly would have been a lifesaver in medical school and residency.

Have some other suggestions? Add them in the comments!