Feb. 7, 2024 — A new resource on the University of Florida’s academic health center campus aims to help health professions students put their best foot forward in interviews, rotations, the workplace and more.

The UF Health Professional Clothes Closet, located in the Professional Student Lounge on the ground floor of the Communicore in Room CG-14, provides free access to professional attire for students in all six health science colleges. Set to launch on Feb. 20, the clothing closet aspires to alleviate financial stress while ensuring students feel confident and prepared. Health professions students with a valid UF ID and alumni up to one semester from graduation are welcome to use the resource.

Led by Breann Garbas, DHSc, PA-C, a clinical assistant professor in the UF School of Physician Assistant Studies, student officers from various health colleges keep the closet running, from assisting with collecting donations and keeping track of inventory to promoting the closet and networking with contacts across UF to enhance accessibility and sustainability.

“This initiative is near and dear to my heart,” said Garbas, noting that she hopes the closet raises awareness among faculty about the different needs of students and the importance of providing adequate prep time when requesting students adhere to certain dress codes. “I was a struggling student in multiple ways, and this would have been beneficial in my program. Whether students are in a ‘I have no dress clothes at all’ situation or they need to change things up and want to donate a couple of their things and get an outfit or two, we want to lower students’ stress and have them feel good about themselves.”

The idea to create this initiative came to Garbas after she overheard students in the clinic discuss financial aid issues and their worries about wearing the same professional outfits days in a row for clinical site visits. At the same time, second-year College of Pharmacy student Ciera Isaman was exploring opportunities to help her classmates uphold professionalism, a fundamental value for their college and a key component of fourth-year rotations. Garbas and Isaman connected and collaborated to get the idea off the ground, with assistance from myriad contacts throughout the academic health center who championed the initiative, identified space and provided resources and advice.

“As a unilaterally deaf student, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of having enhanced accessibility for students who stem from different backgrounds and may have differing barriers to reaching their top levels of success,” said Isaman, now one of five student officers for the initiative. “It is important to recognize that finances may be a barrier to one’s ability to wear professional clothing. I am certain the UF Health Professional Clothes Closet will positively impact students across all six health colleges.”

Student officer Alex McLeod, a second-year student in the College of Dentistry, understands the stress of the last-minute scramble to search for a suit. As first-year students attending the Spring Synergy research symposium, he and his classmates did not realize they needed business attire and ran out to find something to wear the night before the event.

“That can be an expensive shopping trip, especially when you’re not planning for it,” he said. “I hope the clothing closet lowers the stigma of reaching out and getting the help you need. We don’t want students to worry about anything but school and learning to become better future health care workers; we don’t want them to worry about having the clothes necessary to attend an event.”

The UF Health Professional Clothes Closet will work in tandem with the UF Career Connections Center’s Molm Family Gator Career Closet, which has served UF students since 2016. However, the location and hours of operation will be tailored to better accommodate the unique clinical and academic schedules of health professions students.

Staffed by student volunteers from the School of PA Studies, College of Dentistry and College of Pharmacy as well as members of the Pre-Physician Assistant Association, the UF Health Professional Clothes Closet will be open on select Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. To optimize the comfort of shoppers, information about the volunteers’ affiliation will be shared for each session, and private appointments are available upon request. A full schedule can be found on the UF Health Professional Clothes Closet webpage.

“The phrase ‘when you look good, you feel good’ may be a bit cheesy, but the saying holds true,” said Sarah Lotsey, a first-year PA student and officer. “Students deserve to have access to a place where they can find an outfit that makes them feel confident and comfortable, without the worry of cost. I think this closet will help to decrease the stress of affording the ‘perfect’ outfit for interviews, shadowing and clinical rotations.”

The closet accepts donations of new or gently worn business casual and professional clothes. Belts, blazers, blouses, business skirts, dress pants, dress shoes, dress shirts, hangers, jackets and pant suits are among the items in high demand. Formalwear is also accepted. Donations can be dropped off at the donation bin on the first floor of the Health Sciences Library or at the closet on open nights. Pickup can also be coordinated by contacting Garbas.

“My motto is that the best type of Gator is a giving Gator,” Isaman said. “All donations help to promote equity in the health care field and enhance accessibility to all. This clothes closet is rooted in being the solution to the pollution and promoting generosity in the community.”

For more information on how to get involved or donate clothing to the UF Health Professional Clothes Closet, contact Breann Garbas at Breann.Garbas@pap.ufl.edu.