{"id":2955,"date":"2012-07-10T07:36:44","date_gmt":"2012-07-10T11:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.nejm.org\/?p=2955"},"modified":"2015-06-04T15:14:20","modified_gmt":"2015-06-04T19:14:20","slug":"are-id-doctors-the-worst-dressed-specialists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.nejm.org\/hiv-id-observations\/index.php\/are-id-doctors-the-worst-dressed-specialists\/2012\/07\/10\/","title":{"rendered":"Are ID Doctors the Worst Dressed Specialists?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Unusual exchange the other day with one of my (non-ID) colleagues. All dialogue reported verbatim:<\/p>\n

Non-ID guy:<\/strong> Hi Paul.<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong>\u00a0 Hi Jon.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

[I’m expecting the next line to be: “Quick question: I’ve got a patient with a positive PPD and a history of BCG, etc.” Instead, it’s this bizarre comment:]<\/em><\/p>\n

Non-ID guy:<\/strong>\u00a0 You know, I would say that ID doctors are the most poorly dressed doctors in the Department of Medicine.<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong>\u00a0 Huh?
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

[You can understand my response — where did this come from?]<\/em><\/p>\n

Non-ID guy:<\/strong> \u00a0No offense [right]<\/em> — it’s just when I look at the ID group, you are not the most well-coiffed clinicians. I can tell you guys from across the room.<\/p>\n

Me: <\/strong>…<\/p>\n

[Prolonged silence — frankly, I’m not sure what to say. Of course I’m\u00a0instantly self-conscious about my own wardrobe, which is pretty standard Boston — clean but slightly shabby doctor attire. Hey, this isn’t NYC — no suits here.]<\/em><\/p>\n

Non-ID guy<\/strong> [sensing my discomfort — I hope]<\/em>: Not referring to you, of course.<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> \u00a0Of course …<\/p>\n

Non-ID guy:<\/strong> \u00a0Anyway, quick question — can I give the zoster vaccine to someone on inhaled steroids?<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> \u00a0Maybe if you paid me for every one of these questions I’d have more money to spend on nicer clothes.<\/p>\n

[I didn’t really say that.]<\/em><\/p>\n

I’ve been trying to get my head around what this doctor was referring to, looking with a critical eye at our faculty.<\/p>\n

Sure, we’re not as sharp looking as the Cardiologists \u00a0— or even close to the Dermatologists, most of whom look amazing — but I don’t think we’re that<\/em> far off the norm.<\/p>\n

Your thoughts?<\/p>\n

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Are ID doctors the worst dressed clinicians in the hospital?<\/strong><\/p>