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Can a Doctor Have a Pink Mohawk?
Kendra Campbell -- You’re sitting in the examining room, anxiously awaiting your doctor, wondering if she’ll be able to provide some relief to what ails you. Then she walks through the door. She’s not wearing a white coat, but instead is casually dressed and her hair is cut into a bright pink mohawk. Your jaw drops to the floor in disbelief. Certainly she’s not the doctor -- maybe she’s a tech or a nurse. But then she introduces herself. "Hello, I’m Dr. Kendra Campbell, how can I help you today?" How would you react? Would you be astonished? Would you be angry or upset? Would you refuse to be seen by such a doctor? Or would you give her a chance?
According to a study recently published in the British Medical Journal, your reaction probably depends on your age and on whether or not the doctor was smiling. The authors of this study showed patients pictures of doctors in various styles of dress, ranging from the very formal white coat to informal jeans and short skirts. They also showed pictures of doctors with less conservative appearances, such as women with brightly colored hair and men with earrings. What I found interesting was that the patient's age seemed to have an important correlation with what they found acceptable in a doctor. Older patients were much less accepting of less conservative attire, whereas younger patients seemed to prefer the less formal and less conservative dress.
As someone with brightly colored hair, this is obviously fascinating to me. I’ve managed to get away with it thus far in my career, working at various hospitals and at the AAMC (and I can tell you that I was the only one with such at hair at every place I’ve worked). But what happens when I start my clinical rotations or my residency, and when I’m finally in practice? Surely, people will expect me to conform to some standards.
Up to now, I’ve received mixed responses to my hair, but by far, most of them have been positive. The initial reaction seems to be shock, and then maybe a bit of suspicion. Can a girl with a pink mohawk be a good doctor? Is she a delinquent? Maybe a democrat? But after a few minutes of talking with me, most people seem to forget about the color of my hair and instead focus on who I am. I think that I’m a pretty nice person, and most people seem to agree. I certainly hope to be an outstanding doctor someday. More than one person has told me that they were taken back by my hair at first, but then pleasantly surprised after getting to know me. I’ve even been encouraged by more than one very conservative person to "keep the hair." It is definitely a part of who I am.
The other really fascinating finding of the BMJ study is that no matter what the doctor was wearing, if they were smiling, most patients found this very appealing. This opens up a whole new can of worms. Any psychologist, or person for that matter, can tell you that a smile can go a long way. Perhaps this is how I’ve gotten away with my crazy hair for so long. I am a smile-a-holic. I am one of those annoying people who seem to be smiling all day long. Goofy smiles, toothy smiles, sushi hanging out of my mouth smiles, you name it -- I’m probably sporting it. Maybe that’s been my saving grace. But I wonder if the person who interviews me for a residency position will feel the same way if I show up for my interview with a pink mohawk and a huge smile. I’d love to hear what you think.
December 31, 2006 in Kendra Campbell | Permalink
Comments
"Up to now, I’ve received mixed responses to my hair, but by far, most of them have been positive."
Consider also that:
1. People are probably much more comfortable expressing positive reactions than negative reactions, so how people respond directly to you is biased.
2. You have probably tended to surround yourself with people who will be more accepting of your style. This sub-group of people may or may not be representative of the general population you will encounter on the wards.
Posted by: | Jan 2, 2007 9:55:57 AM
I feel that the whole idea of a doctor begins from the dressing. It is like a sales person selling a product. A sales person doesnt dress in the non traditional way, isnt that true? Have you ever wondered why? And this is not because they are thinking of only older people prefering traditionally dressed people. I wouldnt mind a doctor in jeans or shorts or earings...but I do draw a line at pink mohawk. I would like to feel comfortable in their presense and I know that wouldnt make me comfortable at all...Nope smiles wouldnt help either.
Posted by: Katbg | Jan 2, 2007 3:05:58 PM
Makes me wonder why someone would need such an attention-getting hairstyle?
Posted by: Kat | Jan 2, 2007 3:17:40 PM
I would not necessarily have an issue with your hair. However, my fashion sense is conservative and I would initially be suspicious of your abilities until you had proven your competence. I am more concerned about the minor errors in your blog that belie a carelessness undesirable in a physician. (For example, “Maybe a democrat?” Democrat should be capitalized, as it is a proper noun. “More than one person has told me that they were taken back by my hair at first,” should read, “…taken aback…”) I expect a physician to be meticulous. Her or his appearance is a secondary concern.
Posted by: Brian | Jan 2, 2007 3:47:37 PM
A Pink Mohawk - The ultimate sign of disrespect and unprofessional behavior. I am not that old but honestly I would likely ask to see a different doctor or just simply leave. Before I matriculated into medical school I worked in a Allied Health job in Northern California in an east bay city with a well known Emergency Program several of the residents decided to color their hair various shades of the spectrum. These residents were told to stop that behavior and return their hair to a more "normal" color or risk losing their positions. I didn't think it was appropriate then and since, well I am older now i find it even less appropriate. What happened to a clean lab coat and a tie or more conservative dress. If your there for a surgical shift them scrubs are appropriate but I honestly can't even say that I think that looking disheveled is appropriate either.
First opinions begin with your appearance. Pink hair is not professional or respectful. This should be common sense.
Posted by: 4th Year Med Student | Jan 2, 2007 3:48:38 PM
As a prospective medical student, psychology major, and fellow member of Earth, I know that appearance is very important when it comes to first impressions, especially when trying to get a job. I don't think that doctors should wear jeans and casual attire, and they should certainly being wearing something distinctive, like the white coat. Why? Patients will respect you more and will likely believe you have more comptence than a doctor dressed in jeans. Also, if someone needed help in an emergency, they would have no clue that a doc in casual attire was a doc. People attribute a lack of regard for appearance to a lack of regard in other areas of life. Sadly, first impressions and "what's on the outside" furnishes everlasting judgements. As for hair, its hard to say...hair is part of your body and thus part of who you are. Personally, I have always wanted to dye my blonde hair green or blue, but I worry about negative connotiations that may be associated with it, and in a way it wouldn't be "me." Kendra, I think you're awesome and I read your articles every week...your hairstyle IS a part of you- don't change it because of what a few conservatives or elderly people might think. There is ALWAYS going to be someone that doesn't like something or some person, so screw them....and Be yourself!
Posted by: Sarah | Jan 2, 2007 3:53:26 PM
As a residency director I would never allow any of the residents to have such a haircut or color. Time to grow up and act like the doctor.
Posted by: withheld | Jan 2, 2007 3:59:08 PM
I honestly think that the reaction to your mohawk will depend on your clinical rotation. Your ability to keep it or not may, by extension, depend on which field you intend to pursue. For example, I don't think that surgeons will look kindly on your mohawk, but psychiatrists probably won't mind. A member of my graduating med school class was a glorified hippie during years 1 & 2, in both dress & lifestyle. He had a long ponytail, close-cropped beard, & wore hemp clothing. During his clinical rotations, he decided to pursue Surgery. He cut his ponytail entirely, shaved his beard off, & wore a tie every day.
Patient population tends to vary widely between hospitals & specialties, so that will be a consideration as well. If you are working at a VA hospital, the mohawk will less likely be acceptable to the average patient as compared with a community hospital population.
Posted by: | Jan 2, 2007 4:03:11 PM
This second post is in reply to the negative posts below...just because someone's appearance makes another uncomfpratble does not mean they should be forced to change. What if I only had one arm, or a disfigured face? There are many things that make people uncomfortable and that's life. Some people have said that pink hair would look "unprofessional" and that you would have to "prove" your competence to them before they respected you. I disagree wholeheartedly. As someone who has been a patient, sick for almost a year and a half, been to countless doctors, all of which could not diagnose my illness, the ones that proved their competence were those who CARED, paid attention to what I said, GENUINELY had a DESIRE to fix the problem, and SPENT TIME and EFFORT trying to determine what was wrong. They are the doctors I respect, and I don't remember what they were wearing, I remembered that they cared, wanted to help, wanted me to feel well at the ripe old age of 22, and ran more than a basic CBC test, while others refused to admit they didn't know what was wrong. My point is, WORDS and ACTIONS are far more effective than appearance. Patients will see that even if they don't agree with your appearance at first. I work in a pharmacy and there are some interns who I thought looked smart at first, and they turn out to be as dumb as a box of rocks. As a doctor, you should have to prove your competence no matter who you are or what you look like...Actions and words, people, actions and words...
Posted by: Sarah | Jan 2, 2007 4:09:49 PM
I agree with the post that points out that if some people have a negative reaction, few or none of them are going to put that feeling in your face. But if so, you're forcing them to stifle their reaction and adjust to you. That's not cruel or anything, but it's an inevitable little power dynamic.
Or, suppose that the patient is someone unconcerned with being polite, and simply blurts (seriously) "Whoa, what are you trying to tell me with that HAIR?!" Then you'd both have an issue to work through, instead of just getting down to the patient's medical problem.
So, really unusual hair or attire seems likelier to distract, at least momentarily. Patients who are unusually comfortable with physicians might see it as an "icebreaker," something to chat about, but how many of them do we know? While it also depends on how the bearer (wearer) handles the "Huh?!" moment--and you sound like you're pretty disarming--not all contexts (hospitals, practices, patient families) will be equally tolerant of very different styles of self-presentation.
BTW, the 'hawk in the photo is green, not pink.
Posted by: Joey | Jan 2, 2007 4:12:57 PM
After being told for years to quit smoking by doctors with Marlboros in thier front pocket, and dealing with doctors who make the situation worse, the pink hair and mohawk would be a breath of fresh aire. One doctor said it was disrespect. Well most of my doctors have been so full of themselves, respect falls way down the list.
I would feel more comfortable talking to a doctor who was being themself rather than something they dont want to be. I was in ICU for 45 days. I came out and died my hair blue. I was close to dying but was retrieved by some of these young funky doctors. You only live once. You have to feel your oats while still alive cause you wont after your dead.
All those old "respectable" doctors were too busy trying to figure out what drug I was on to try to save my life. Good thing an open minded doc showed up and decided to look at my colon. After coming up neg on every drug test, my colon being torn for a couple of days was what turned out to be the problem.
I ont care what you look like. Just be able to do the damn job.
Posted by: Dave Ball | Jan 2, 2007 4:16:49 PM
I think it's great that you have a pink mohawk. I would not leave the room if you were my physician, in fact I would be intrigued to stay. I feel that appearances are greatly over analyzed, obviously you have great intelligence if you've made it through medical school, and great morals if you want to help people out by being a physician. Why should it matter what color your hair is? As long as your knowledge is plentiful and accurate then there should be no issue. I hope you keep your hair color, because for every person that might walk out, there is another like myself who thinks it shows character. Good luck!
Posted by: BJ | Jan 2, 2007 4:19:48 PM
I am not a med student. I am currently in grad school for a gerontology certificate and read these articles for general knowledge, so you are going to get a perspective from someone who would be a patient rather than a colleague. I am 52 and would have no problem whatsoever personally with what you looked like once I got a sense of your personality and efficiency. My father, who is 76, would find you absolutely fascinating, especially if he could joke with you. That being said, I would err on the side of caution if I were you. First impressions DO count, and even though I reserve judgement until the facts are in your appearance would raise an eyebrow with me as a patient until I had further interaction with you. (By the way, I would just as easily drop a conservatively dressed doctor if I felt that he/she is an authoritative-looking whack-job.) My suggestion would be this: tone everything down until you are accepted for your residency. Once you establish yourself then re-introduce your personal dress in stages and see how it goes. I think that ultimately the ideal to hold before yourself is that you are there for the patient, and if your appearance is more of a negative in the balance then you need to adjust accordingly and ask yourself which is more important, the welfare of the patient or your need for self-expression. Hopefully you can have both, but if push comes to shove I would put the patient ahead of yourself. Good luck!
Posted by: Potential Patient | Jan 2, 2007 4:27:53 PM
I understand the need to look professional within this career. I also understand that patients will range from not just in ages but also the eras that inlfuence their judgement on people. But to compromise one's own character to conform to the stereotypical view of how a doctor should should be or look like? Just with these comments alone shows that people still look at what's on the outside and judge that before knowing the person themself, but how can we help it when that's the first thing we notice about a person?
Comment to Brian: You're harping over a few errors in her BLOG? come on now! its a freakin blog, not some essay or whatever to turn in and get graded. i understand the need to be meticulous with, lets say, papers having to do with patients, but a blog? please!
Comment to Kat: attention getting? its only attention getting if you take notice of it and perceive as going against your normal perception of an average person's looks. but who's to say what is average or normal nowadays?
Comment to Katbg: what unerves you about people with brightly colore or styled hair and not piercings? is it because you associate those characteristics with people of questionable character?
Posted by: To all the Commentors | Jan 2, 2007 4:32:52 PM
I am a second year medical student, and last semester a female student with a pink Mohawk was enrolled in my medical school. I am hoping that the school had no prior knowledge of her hair, and they will somehow figure out how to either make her change her hair stile or ask her to leave school before her class gets to their clinical rotations. I don't believe a pink Mohawk to be part of professional attire, and I think you will have a tough time getting through the clinical years of school and I am sure you are not likely to get a residency position with a pink or green Mohawk. I agree with a previous poster, that it make me wonder why you are trying to attract so much attention to yourself? It's just unprofessional in a profession that is built around professionalism.
Posted by: William Smith | Jan 2, 2007 4:35:42 PM
I could care less what color hair you have. The question is...Can you help me with my ailment? We are such a critical society when it comes to appearence and this is really sad because smart, caring, able doctors don't always come with Barbie and Ken packages. We need to look at the letters behind the name and show some respect to that person who has put in countless hours of study and work to earn that degree.
Posted by: tina | Jan 2, 2007 4:40:34 PM
I am a male 3rd-year med student in the midwest. I sport a mohawk in my clinical rotations. Actually, I grew the mohawk out and now it is more of a faux-hawk. When I'm away from the hospital, I gel it up and it sticks straight up and I fit in to most punk venues that I frequent. When I'm in the hospital, I tone things down quite a bit. The hair is still a little bit hawkish, and once in a while a younger patient will take notice, but for the most part I blend in very well with the normal humans. Every situation requires a certain face...a certain look. Medical professionals must play dress-up to look like medical professionals. Expressing individuality is great, but this must be done in moderation, as all things must be done. Pink mohawk? Over the line...sorry.
Posted by: jay | Jan 2, 2007 4:43:16 PM
Your hair doesn't offend me, but it doesn't belong in a hospital, either. I'd be _more_ shocked if hospital administrators/residency directors/others in positions to hire/fire/make life hell would care for such things, or be ineterested in having that image projected to patients and their families as representative of their programs.
But like all things in life, as long as you accept the consequences, you ALWAYS have a free choice. If you go with the mohawk, I _do_ salute your courage, even if I disagree.
Posted by: Tugboat | Jan 2, 2007 4:52:27 PM
As a physician, you will need to relate on some level with every one of your patients, and you won't get the opportunity to choose who they will be. I believe you know that there will be a large cohort of patients who will find your behavior disquieting. Is that how you want your patients to begin their relationship with you, with a challenge to accept you for who you are? Can you not be who you are unless your hair is pink?
I would question the BMJ study you describe in your post; showing pictures to people in a controlled environment, and having a doctor with pink hair walk in on you, are two differnt things.
Randi
By the way, the graphics on my computer show your hair as green.
Posted by: randi | Jan 2, 2007 4:54:31 PM
Do you think it is appropriate for janitors to wear doctors' uniforms to work? I see this all the time in the hospital. Nurses, phlebotomists, secretaries and janitors in my hospital are dressing up in white lab coats! Now doctors are dressing up like rock stars! Go figure.
Posted by: Nguyen | Jan 2, 2007 5:06:25 PM
Good medicine is about addressing the patients' needs. Doctors, I believe, should make the patient the focus of every interaction. Having such abnormal hair screams that the doctor needs her own attention which directly opposes the hopefully desired goal of making the patient the most important person in the exam room.
Posted by: 4th year med student | Jan 2, 2007 5:10:35 PM
One day I dropped by my granddad's friend's house before I had to be to my family practice rotation. My granddad's friend is a general surgeon and also happened to be my research supervisor. All three--my granddad (a GP), his surgeon friend, and my FP attending are all close friends. I showed up at the surgeon's house to go over my neurosurgery paper--and for lunch--in Dockers dress pants and some very expensive short-sleeved dress shirt, but without my white coat, I felt nude. He echoed this feeling in yelling at me all through lunch. I set there with my head bowed in total submission. The truth of the matter is that my two coats were both in the wash. He quit yelling at me when I informed him that his FP friend didn't wear a white coat--therefore couldn't lend me an extra (We're about the same size.).
The thing is that I totally agreed with him on all points. When I began my psychiatry rotation, my attending began wearing a white coat and dress clothes on the second day, after seeing his student's dress. He also happened to be friends with the other three docs and likely figured word would get around about his old jeans and t-shirt. I stared at him on the second day. He looked up and smiled, saying, "Well, I have to keep up with my student."
I have a rare dysmorphic non-progressive myopathy involving the distal limbs and craniofacial region, called Freeman-Sheldon syndrome. I do not equitant people accepting this 'difference' with accepting the 'difference' of liberal dress. Not even in any remote sense. Physicians must look and be professional at all times, without exception--maybe an emergency. The surgeon mentioned previously dresses professionally, even when he's at home taking care of his grandchildren. Dress pants, two breast pocket dress shirt, with his note-pad, two pens, and pen light. It may sound over-kill, but it's not really. I've seen him prove it to me, time and time again. He always looks professional in an emergency.
There is no exception or sound excuse for premeditated frankly unprofessional dress and adornment.
Posted by: Mike | Jan 2, 2007 5:10:46 PM
The great thing about studies on professional dress is that the studies all disagree. Your patient population largely determines what will be considered appropriate. I put up a discussion of this matter on my own website about two months ago, including references/reviews of several pertinent articles on the subject:
http://illusionofknowledge.com/bbs/index.php?topic=6.0
Regardless of the results of studies, it is patently obvious that you WILL be judged on your appearance, which may in some cases be accepted but not appreciated.
Posted by: David Weingarten | Jan 2, 2007 5:23:53 PM
Honestly, i would not discriminate against Dr. Campbell. Instead, i would observe her bedside and professional manners around the patient. Regardless of her appearance it take a while for the patient to become comfortable with their doctor and form a mutual trust. Besides, i think the patient would appreciate a doctor with a little personality. All in all, i don't think Dr. Campbell should be condemned for having confidence. After all, you have to have confidence to wear pink.
Posted by: Linda | Jan 2, 2007 5:24:34 PM
Patients' opinions don't matter as much as your colleagues/superiors. If they don't like what they see, you won't get career advancement.
If you wanted a profession where you could "be yourself," you picked the wrong one.
Posted by: sunil | Jan 2, 2007 5:27:09 PM
