The Best Gifts for Doctors, According to Medical Professionals

Because wearingpersonal-protective equipmenton the daily can be harsh on the skin, a moisturizing cream can work wonders to soothe irritation. Lina Velikova, a clinical immunologist and medical adviser atSupplements 101, recommends First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair, which is safe forsensitive skin.

Constant washing andPurell-ingbetween shifts means rough hands — so having a richhand creamis essential. Dentist Michelle Lee likes Kiehl’s salve, which features hydrating ingredients like shea butter and avocado and sesame seed oils.

Or go for the ultrarich Cutemol cream, which is nicer-looking than a tub ofO’Keefe’s Working Hands. A favorite of dermatologistBrendan Camp, who calls it an “on-brand” present to give, considering his profession, Cutemol is made for severelydry skinand also works well for anyone witheczemaorpsoriasis.

Humble Vaseline — thebest lip balmaround — is what Marisa Garshick, dermatologist atMDCS Dermatology, gives fellow doctors to help with cracked hands and chapped lips. This giftable set comes with four different scents, each with their own purpose: aloe for light hydration, cocoa butter for conditioning, nourishing vitamin E, and the original that’s pure petroleum jelly.

Garshick, who regularly wears heels to work, is a true believer in the “podiatric miracle” of Baby Foot. If you’re close enough to your doc that it won’t be too awkward to gift them a foot resurfacing, the Japanese exfoliating mask will take care of dead skin cell buildups and smooth out the wear and tear.

Lee recommends yoga as an outlet to release tension and tightness (along with addressing the lower-body issues that come from standing all day). A high-qualityyoga mat, like this yogi-approved Manduka, would be fitting for the specialist who pops in a quick downward dog between patients or takes full Vinyasa class over the weekend.

PodiatristVelimir Petkovalways keeps potted plants in the office — the greenery gives some much-needed color among all the neutrals, and lessens the stress among staffers. A busy schedule (and a potential lack of natural light) calls for a hard-to-kill, easy-to-care-forsnake plant.

Plastic surgeonConstance M. Chenonce received a year’s worth of monthly flower deliveries from a patient and found them “incredibly uplifting.” Bouqs Co. is one of our favoriteflower-delivery servicesand offers three giftable subscription tiers — original for 10 stems, deluxe for 20 to 32 stems, and grand for up to 45 stems — and creates arrangements out of cut-to-order, straight-from-the-farm buds.

Sleeping during the day is a fact of life when dealing with routine late-night shifts. Nodpod’s “weighted blanket for your eyes”is what emergency medicine physicianWallace McKinneyuses to fall asleep faster.

Another welcome addition for their sleep routine: a knee pillow that ensures their legs, hips, and spine are aligned throughout the night, keeping back pain at bay the next day. Waxahatchee’sKatie Crutchfieldcan’t live without it — especially since it’s inflatable and easy to take on the go.

For something a little luxurious, give them asilk pillowcase, which helps preventwrinklesand is less damaging to hair than a cotton pillowcase. Quince makes this elegant one that’s half the price of Slip’s status-y pillowcase and just as sumptuous, according to our beauty writerTembe Denton-Hurst.

After catching internistHolly Phillipsrubbing her neck and shoulders, a patient gifted her this heating pad that’slined in crushed gemstones (amethyst, tourmaline, and obsidian) to emit infrared rays. It comes with its own remote control, and doesn’t get as hot as traditional heating pads so she can rest sore muscles for longer without burning up.

To get in some moments of mindfulness (or to make a habit of having them) psychologistJaci Lopez Witmerrecommends this meditation cushion, which will support posture when practicing deep-breathing exercises.

DentistMatthew Asarorecommended a massage gun. He likes the miniature version of the powerfulTheragunto release stiff shoulders and easeback painafter a day of hunching over someone’s pearly whites.

For a more hands-on approach, thishookgets out knots with numbered knobs for different trigger points — “1” for the back, “2” for the shoulders, and so on. AuthorOttessa Moshfeghuses it for her chronic back pain, and directorDaniel Kwonrelies on it for relieving neck tension.

Velikova turns to the simplefoot massagerafter spending all day on her feet. It comes outfitted with acupuncture nubs for aching arches and can be conveniently tucked underneath a desk as a footrest between uses.

You can’t go wrong with a big basket of fruit, nuts, cheese, and crackers — Petkov points out that since a basket is shareable, the staff of an office can snack on it together. (There are “additional health-care workers involved in getting you better besides your doctor,” he reminds.) This one is packaged in a bronze box with gold ribbon and includes pepper-and-onion relish, chocolate truffles, three-seed crackers, and a sharp cheddar.

Plastic surgeonsJohn Paul TutelaandGary Linkov, reproductive endocrinologistThomas A. Molinaro, and dermatologistHeidi Waldorfall brought up gifting bars of chocolate. Waldorf will share hers with colleagues “in a moment between patients or while sitting in on an administrative meeting or academic lecture.” More unexpected than Godiva or Ghirardelli, these bars from Dr. Bronner’s feature delicious fillings like coconut praline and peppermint (plus, the brand name will get a laugh).

Though it might not be an obvious “doctor gift,” dermatologistErum Ilyasonce received a popcorn maker that she loves because it’s so easy to fire up for a quick snack and also makes the office smell delightful. (This Dash model comes with a measuring cup to melt butter in true, movie-theater concession-stand fashion.)

Giving a bottle of good booze or fine wine came up again and again. Bariatric surgeonDaniel J. Rosenfavors Johnnie Walker: “It makes me look like a superstar if I roll in with a bottle of Blue Label to a party.”

PsychiatristAliza Rabinraves about her Emberself-heating mug, which can be a workhorse on busy days when there isn’t time to finish a cup ofcoffeein one sitting. The brand’s newer tumbler design holds 16 ounces and will keep drinks hot for up to three hours on one charge.

A sleekwater bottlewill serve as a necessary reminder to stay hydrated, as according to Penzi, it’s “often easy to forget to take care of ourselves” when seeing a rotation of patients. The Owala FreeSip is aStrategist stafferfavorite for its hidden straw.

Or go for theSlim Bottlefrom Stanley, which features a removable collar that can be filled up with ice cubes and the brand’s double-wall vacuum insulation — so they’ll always have a cold sip at the ready.

Unsurprisingly surgeons like blades, says neuroscientistRahul Jandial. The all-purpose No.6 from Opinel is a classic — Picasso used it to sculpt, Jandial points out — and will make opening up even an Amazon box feel special. (Tip: You can get the handle personalized for $6 when you buy from Opinel directly.)

“Even in the age of electronic records, doctors do lots of writing, according to anesthesiologistGoldie Winge. Instead of picking up a pack at the drugstore, get the elegant Baron Fig rollerball, which topped our ranking of the100 best pensand will “dance across the page.”

To jot down thoughts and document observations the old-fashioned way, Velikova suggests this portfolio outfitted with pockets for a pen, phone, IDs, cards, and papers.

Emergency-medicine specialistJeremy Rothfeldkeeps ajournal, stethoscope, hospital pass, andpower barsinside this briefcase, which he’s been sporting since his residency.

These colorfulItalian surgeon clogsare a favorite of facial surgeonMichael Yuan, who calls them a cross between Danskos and Crocs for their acupressure footbeds.

DermatologistHadley King’s hands tend to be cold during routine skin exams, so one of patients jokingly presented her with a pair of long underwear to wear under scrubs. We like that this top from Terramar (a brand we’ve heard about fromoutdoorsy folks) is made of non-itchy silk instead of wool.

Staying connected is another need. Sonpal likes Anker’s reliable PowerCore chargers, and this model can charge two devices at once, for the doctor who switches between aphoneandtabletduring business hours.

Plastic surgeonMelissa Doftrelies on aportable Bluetooth speakerfor listening to music in the operating room. The Wonderboom is one of the best around — waterproof and simple to connect, with clear sound.

Although they’ll be the first to espouse the benefits ofexercise, busy doctors often don’t have time to work out. AFitbitis what holds family doctor Amber Robins accountable for getting her steps in, and the latest Charge 6 includes features like a stress management score and compatibility with fitness equipment to show your heart rate in real-time.

If you’re buying a gift for a derm (or any doc who’s into skin care), dermatologistDebra Jalimanlikes this mini-fridge for storing essentials likeeye creams, so their floral facial mist or under-eye mask will feel even more refreshing.

Gift a good night’s sleep with ane-gift cardfor a custompillowfrom Pluto. Xin Kang, a psychiatrist with the Los Angeles County Department of Health, raved about the brand, which has customers take a short quiz about how they sleep and creates a made-to-order pillow to match their preferences.

Waldorf suggests a “generous gift certificate” to a delivery service like DoorDash so that when they get home late after a long day, they won’t have to bother with making dinner.

Michael Chen, an internal medical physician with the cancer-screening start-upEzra, suggests ameditationclass for dealing with stress. With this gift card, they can access meditation, relaxation, and sleeping programs on the Calm app from their phone.

A number of doctors told us they’d like a gift certificate to indulge in some form of R&R — whether it’s a massage, a mani-pedi, or a facial. A Spafinder gift card will let them select the service of their choice from hundreds of locations nationwide.