By Styliana Resvanis with Tyler Francischine
When second-year UF College of Pharmacy student Ciera Isaman was exploring opportunities to help her classmates uphold professionalism — a fundamental value of the college and a key component of fourth-year rotations — she connected with Breann Garbas, DHSc, PA-C, a clinical assistant professor in the UF School of Physician Assistant Studies, to conceive and launch a new resource to help UF health professions students put their best foot forward in interviews, rotations, the workplace, and more.
The UF Health Professional Clothes Closet, located on the second floor of the Communicore in Room C2-42, provides free access to professional attire for students in all six health science colleges. The clothing closet, which launched February 20, 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.
Student officers from various health colleges, including the UF College of Pharmacy, 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. Isaman said the closet has been utilized by students from each health science college and at all educational levels, including pre-health undergraduates and participants in the UF Summer Health Professions Education Program, or SHPEP.
“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, 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.” Staffed by student volunteers from the College of Pharmacy, the College of Medicine, the School of PA Studies, and the College of Dentistry, as well as members of the Pre-Physician Assistant Association, the UF Health Professional Clothes Closet is 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, and clothing donations are currently being accepted in a large bin placed on the first floor of the UF Health Science Library.