Enclothed Cognition

"I am the original new woman...Why, before Lucy Stone, Mrs. Bloomer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were—before they were, I am. In the early '40's, when they began their work in dress reform, I was already wearing pants...I have made it possible for the bicycle girl to wear the abbreviated skirt, and I have prepared the way for the girl in knickerbockers." - Dr. Mary Edwards Walker We don't often associate clothing with suffrage, but our attire has always been reflective of our status. In the mid-nineteenth century, clothing became a central issue in the struggle for women's rights as women attempted to free themselves of tight corsets and long heavy skirts. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was one such woman. Refusing to be bound by societal standards, Dr. Walker wore a bloomer dress (a controversial combination of trousers and a dress) until the late 1870s, when she began dressing in men's clothes. She was arrested for impersonating a man several times - a fact of which she was extremely proud. Born in Oswego, New York, Mary Walker worked on her family farm as a child, and in her teenage years, Mary taught at the local school in order to pay for her medical school tuition. Dr. Walker was the only woman in her class at the Syracuse Medical College when she graduated in 1855 at the age of 21. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Dr. Walker volunteered with the Union Army as a civilian. She was accepted as a nurse, as the Army had no female surgeons. Undeterred, Dr. Walker worked as an unpaid field surgeon near the Union front lines. Finally in 1863, she was appointed a "Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian)" - becoming the first-ever female surgeon employed by the U.S. Army Surgeon. During this time, it is believed that she also served as a Union spy, as she continually crossed Confederate lines to treat civilians. She was arrested in 1864 by Confederate troops and imprisoned as a spy in Richmond. Dr. Walker was exchanged four months later, with two dozen other Union doctors, for 17 Confederate surgeons. After the war, Mary Edwards Walker, MD was awarded a Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for bravery. She is the only woman to receive the medal and one of only eight civilians to receive it. In 1917 her Congressional Medal was rescinded when Congress revised the Medal of Honor standards to include only “actual combat with an enemy.” Dr. Walker refused to give back her Medal of Honor, wearing it every day until her death two years later in 1919. A relative told the New York Times: "Dr. Mary lost the medal simply because she was a hundred years ahead of her time and no one could stomach it." An Army board reinstated Walker's medal posthumously in 1977, citing her "distinguished gallantry, self-sacrifice, patriotism, dedication and unflinching loyalty to her country, despite the apparent discrimination because of her sex."

Embroidery is the first thing everyone notices when you're wearing a lab coat - the splash of color on a sea of white naturally draws the eye. For your patients, it's an introduction - Who are you? What is your title? Are you qualified to take care of them? While our customers often pick standard colors (like black) for their embroidery, we are especially fond of our ‘out-of-the-box’ colors that allow for a more upscale, professional look. Choosing a unique color, like Cocoa, Willow, or Slate Blue, allows your Name & Title embroidery to draw the eye of patients and colleagues as an especially distinguished display of your personal achievements. But you don't have to take our word for it! We recently asked for our customers' favorite embroidery colors on Facebook, and they agreed. Our customer favorites include Cocoa, Khaki, Storm Navy, Blossom, Charcoal, Bougainvillea, Slate Blue, Teal, and Warm Wine. Next time you order, consider choosing one of these colors for a beautiful, sophisticated, and original representation of your diploma. We are currently featuring complimentary Name & Title embroidery every weekend. Order on a Saturday or Sunday, and you will receive Name & Title embroidery for a scrub set and/or lab coat free of charge. We consider ourselves embroidery experts, so please call us Monday-Friday 8 AM – 5 PM PST at (877) 987-7979 if we can assist you in any way with your perfect finishing touch.

ADVICE TO MOTHERS!—Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes “as bright as a button.” It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup is sold by Medicine dealers everywhere at 1s. 1½d. per bottle. Manufactured in New York and at 498, Oxford-street, London. Source: The Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle, Saturday 9th January 1875 I imagine that every mother has moments when a miracle potion claiming to 'soothe' her child seems like a welcome idea. Luckily, we're far more health conscious and less blindly trusting these days than we were back in the 19th century when a series of "soothing syrups," lozenges and powders were created. A far cry from safe, these formulas contained everything from heroin and marijuana to morphine and opium...a shocking and disturbing combination when marketed to adults, let alone for use with babies and young children. One of the most infamous of these formulas, Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, contained one grain (65 mg) of morphine per fluid ounce! Mrs. Charlotte N. Winslow was a physician and nurse for 30 years, primarily among children. She compounded her soothing syrup with sulfate or morphia, sodium carbonate, spirits foeniculi, and aqua ammonia, purported to sooth any human or animal regardless of age. First marketed in 1849 as "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup", the popularity of this medicine climbed to incredible heights among men and mothers alike. The company used various media to promote their product, including recipe books, calendars, and trading cards. Some Civil War soldiers returning home from the war wounded, and often addicted to morphine, would buy Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup when they could not readily obtain morphine. Although not required to list ingredients until the Pure Food and Drug Act was introduced in 1906, products containing opium and other narcotics were required to pay a special tax on each bottle of "medicine" and to signify that the tax was paid by sealing the unopened bottle with a tax stamp. Finally in 1910, following the overdue introduction of the Pure Food and Drug Act, the New York Times ran an article exposing the ingredients of Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup and others, and identifying the dangers associated with these harmful concoctions. One year later, the American Medical Association put out a publication called Nostrums And Quackery. One section was called “Baby Killers” and incriminated Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, Monell’s Teething Syrup, and others - effectively ending the reign of these dangerous and misrepresented formulas.

Meet the South College School of Pharmacy Inaugural Class of 2014 - looking sharp in their Medelita lab coats at their recent White Coat Ceremony. The School of Pharmacy is the first doctorate degree program at South College, allowing graduates to apply for licensure immediately upon graduation from the school. South College offers an accelerated, three year PharmD curriculum unique to pharmacy education in Tennessee. In January, South College received approval from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to launch its Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program. The approval awards the School of Pharmacy Precandidate Status, allowing the School to proceed with its inaugural class, shown above. It's an exciting time for South College and especially the class of 2014. In a traditional white coat ceremony in May, South College honored its first class of doctoral students in the School of Pharmacy transitioning into the profession of pharmacy. Thirty-seven South College Doctor of Pharmacy candidates received their beautiful Medelita white coats during the ceremony. We're proud of these modern-day pioneers and honored to be a part of this new tradition.

One question we get asked quite a lot is what makes Sanita® clogs different from Dansko® clogs. Are there unique benefits to Sanita? Isn't Dansko the same as Sanita? Are Sanita clogs ultimately better than Dansko clogs? Here are the top five reasons to wear Sanita clogs: 1. If your Dansko clogs were made prior to 2008, they were made by Sanita For many years, Sanita® was relatively unknown, and Dansko® was the clog of choice for medical professionals. Part of the reason for Sanita's anonymity was the fact that since the early 1990s until August 2007, Sanita® private-label manufactured all of the Dansko® stapled clogs collection, including Dansko® Professional Clogs. In August of 2007, Dansko® and Sanita® ended their long-term partnership. If you're curious whether or not your existing clogs were made by Dansko® or Sanita®, there is a way to tell. Check the sole of your shoes. If your clogs were manufactured before 2008 by Sanita® you will see patent 0060240. This indicates that your clogs were made by Sanita® according to their patented construction. If you have a pair of really old Dansko® clogs, you may even see Sanita® stamped on the bottom as well as the patent number mentioned above. If the sole of your shoes has no patent number, you have a redesigned Dansko® shoe, which was manufactured after its split from Sanita®. 2. Sanita clogs are handmade In 1907, a visionary and the founder of Sanita®, Christian Meldgaard Andersen, created the first pair of hand carved wooden clogs. And after 100 years, every clog is still handcrafted in Europe - with the same tradition of craftsmanship and caring. Dansko® began their own manufacturing in China, and Sanita® decided to continue their Professional Clog line under their own name, with continuation of production in Europe. 3. Sanita manufactures at consistent standards For the past century, Sanita has upheld a tradition of craftsmanship, quality, and caring by handcrafting every clog in the same dedicated clog factories in Denmark and Poland. Sanita® clogs have also been awarded the “Seal of Acceptance” by the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) for their supreme quality and comfort. Since Sanita® stopped manufacturing Dansko® Professional Clogs, Dansko® has experienced some inconsistencies with their clogs – most noticeably, many of our customers have commented that the new heel design and higher arch on Dankso clogs is uncomfortable, causing ankle instability in a fast-paced, on-your-feet-all-day work environment. 4. Sanita clogs are anatomically designed One of the main complaints we hear about Dansko clogs is the narrow width of the heel, which can cause anything from a twisted ankle to an all-out tumble. Sanita clogs feature the original, wider heel, and have been awarded the “Seal of Acceptance” by the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) for their supreme quality and comfort. The oiled leather and reinforced stabilizing instep offers additional padding, while the protective heel cap provides support. Anatomically designed, Sanita clogs ensure a perfect and comfortable fit. 5. You can save 15% on Sanita clogs Medelita now offers Sanita professional clogs in a number of men’s and women’s styles that offer a finished look when paired with our scrubs and lab coats. And – for a limited time, we’re offering our entire line of professional clogs at a special 15% discount. No coupon codes, no fuss, just automatic savings. While we're obviously biased, that bias is very much based on fact - Sanita® has built a reputation of keeping medical professionals comfortable during a long, strenuous shift. In addition to their impressive history, premium leathers, innovative designs, style, quality, durability, and comfort – Sanita® professional clogs emulate our philosophies at Medelita. They represent the perfect blend of tradition and innovation that we ourselves strive to embody – offering a modern look infused with color and texture, while remaining professional and traditional.

Happy July 4th! Our American forefathers declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776, and today we declare our unique independence as well. We proudly call it our Uniform Independence. We believe physicians have a right to look and feel amazing. High-powered attorneys and business executives spend thousands of dollars on professional attire to look their best. Why shouldn't you look your best, too? We believe that unisex is an unacceptable word. Wearing anything unisex is the modern-day equivalent to wearing a potato sack - unprofessional, frumpy, and far from flattering. It's why Medelita lab coats and scrubs are gender-specific, designed to fit well and exude professionalism. We believe that your uniform should work FOR you. You have an important job, and the last thing you should be worrying about are stains - coffee, sweat, blood, or otherwise. You shouldn't be thinking about how your scrub top is cut too low or how your lab coat makes you feel like a child in your father's jacket. What do you believe? Share with us - and declare your own Uniform Independence.

Congratulations, doctor! Yesterday, thousands of graduated medical students went to work - for the first time as doctors. We're as excited for you as I imagine you must be. A new residency class means a clean slate, a fresh start - no one has forgotten to order a critical lab or dropped a scalpel in the OR yet. Your hospital or practice is currently alive with potential - for both you, the established physicians, and the patients. Enjoy it! Amid the sleepless nights, the rushed lunches, and the frantic nerve-wracking moments - enjoy being a doctor. The cardiac electrophysiologist, John Mandrola, MD has seen his fair share of residency classes pass through the halls of his Kentucky hospital. He offers these words of wisdom: 1. Ignore your pay-stub. It is true, unless you were a heck of moonlighter, you just got a pay raise. Congratulations. But, I implore you to keep living as if you were still in training. Drive an inexpensive car. No, check that, embrace that clunker like it was a pink phone case— something that sets you apart. Don’t add to your debt by buying a huge house. Say no to the country club. Live close to the hospital. Use the extra monthly income to pay off loans. Think of the word: cushion. 2. Keep an open-mind: Yes, we know that you are up on the latest techniques, having seen, and perhaps even used the latest laser, balloon or robot, tools that our hospital cannot afford. You are also well-versed in spread-sheets and abstract writing, and you probably know many well-published people—maybe your former teachers were “thought-leaders.” That’s great. Nifty even. But the thing is, now you are on your own. That humble technician scrubbed-in with you has seen many young docs flail. She has seen the mistakes you are about to make. Listen to her, respect her, pretend she is a professor. She wants to help you; she will help you, if you let her. Likewise, the older docs around the hospital will help you too. Though many of us trained when procainamide was still available, and taking night call meant carrying a bag-phone around, we have probably done your primary procedure 7,399 more times than you have. We have limped out of the hospital in dismay after causing the complication you have yet to cause. We look at your newness with envy. We want to learn from you. You have capital, don’t blow it by acting too much like a cardiologist. 3. Be nice to people. Not just the obvious people, like the woman who sets out lunch in the doctors’ lounge or the procedure schedulers, but everyone else too. This hospital will be your new home. You will see these folks at the grocery, on the ball fields with your kids and soon enough you will need medical care—sooner if you are a bike racer. You are the new kid in class, people want to make friends with you. Let them. 4. Call your referring docs. To folks of my era, this came naturally. The phone call to the referring doctor after a consult or procedure served two purposes: one was to keep the primary care doc in the loop, and the second was to introduce yourself, and perhaps your new specialty. (For me, electrophysiology barely existed in 1996.) But now, the alliances between hospitals and doctors act to create barriers between medical colleagues. I would urge you to call a primary doctor even if they are owned by another institution. Not only because it is right-minded, but also because the changing marketplace may soon make partners of you two. 5. Have fun. Don’t let the checklists, forms, protocols, cubicle-doctors and metastasis of quality measures get you down. At the end of the day, your special skills which came from years of hard work will ultimately help you better mankind. This is a large treasure indeed. And it is immensely fun. Do you have any advice to impart to our new interns? Or perhaps a story about residency to share? We'd love to hear it!

Sanita® Clogs are a great way to add a splash of self-expressive color to an otherwise monotone uniform, while still maintaining a polished appearance. Sanita has been making supreme quality Danish clogs since 1907, and the premium leathers, professional designs, and durability of Sanita clogs represent a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. This past Sunday on Facebook, we ran a competition for a pair of Sanita clogs and the response from our community was enthusiastic. As always, our actions are fueled by your feedback, and we will now be sponsoring regular Sanita Sunday contests on our Facebook page. Along with our monthly Scrub Top Tuesday contest, Sanita Sunday is a fun and exciting way to try to a new product or win more of a product you love. We hope to see you on Facebook!

Though still a far cry from true equality, Ancient Egypt afforded women a surprisingly modern status. Compared with their counterparts in Ancient Greece, where women were considered eternal legal minors, ancient Egyptian women had a greater range of personal choices and opportunities for achievement. Although men and women had traditionally distinct powers in society, there were no insurmountable barriers for pioneers who wished to deviate from the established path. One such pioneer was Peseshet. Peseshet practiced at the time of the building of the great pyramids in Egypt, about 2500 BC, and is often credited with being the earliest known female physician in ancient Egypt. However, such a claim is inaccurate - that title in fact belongs to the female physician Merit-Ptah, a woman who practiced medicine almost 100 years earlier. Peseshet is the first recorded female physician with a directorial position. Excavation of the tomb of her son and high dignitary of Ancient Egypt, Akhet-Hetep, revealed a monument dedicated to his mother Pesehet, who is identified by many important titles including "Lady Overseer of Female Physicians." Peseshet directed over 100 qualified female physicians in Ancient Egypt, as well as training midwives at the peri-ankh (medical school) of Sais.

As summer officially arrives, we're offering unprecedented savings on our Summer Color Scrubs: Caribbean Blue and Leaf. Now is the perfect time to breathe new life into your summer scrub rotation with these beautiful and nature-inspired colors - while supplies last. All Men's and Women's Caribbean Blue and Leaf physician scrubs are now automatically at least 25% off. No coupon code required! We are planning to retire these popular colors once our inventory runs out, so don't miss this opportunity to buy them at an incredible savings.