Scrubs: New Medical Students Continue Tradition

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine Class of 2017 will be presented their first scrubs at the annual Scrub Party at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 3) at the TTUHSC Courtyard, 3601 Fourth St.

The TTUHSC Office of Alumni Relations hosts the event, which brings students, families, faculty and administration together to welcome a new class of future colleagues. The tradition provides each student entering medical school with their first set of green scrubs. The color green represents the quest for the green velvet hood the students will receive once they earn the title of Doctor of Medicine.

Steven L. Berk, M.D., TTUHSC executive vice president and provost and School of Medicine dean, said traditions like the Scrub Party are important for students.

“This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our Scrub Party,” Berk said. “We want the students to be excited about their medical education and know that they are now a part of the School of Medicine family. Events such as this are a great tradition for them to remember.”

Priscilla Carter-Snodgrass, M.D., (School of Medicine Class of 1988) and her husband, Brad Snodgrass, M.D., (School of Medicine Class of 1988) began the tradition in 2003, by annually presenting green scrubs to first-year medical students at the School of Medicine's Scrub Party. The event was hosted at the Snodgrass home and later it expanded and was held on the TTUHSC campus.

For more breaking news and experts, follow @ttuhscnews on Twitter.