The best holiday gifts for DOs and osteopathic medical students in 2025

The holiday gift-giving season is right around the corner, and it’s time once again to start thinking of what to get that special DO or osteopathic medical student on your list (or even yourself!). Here are some special ways to show the people you care about that you are there for them at any stage of their career (or every stage!).

From a quality water bottle and book light to a personal memoir kit and doctor’s bag, below is a list of some of our favorite gift ideas that are sure to please your DO, no matter where they are in their professional journey. These gifts were curated to align with the unique stages of our wonderful profession. I couldn’t (and didn’t) do this on my own; I met with some wonderful “gift givers” on my team to brainstorm what gifts would align with the different stages of a DO’s journey, starting from the beginning.

For the premed/soon-to-be DO

Noise-cancelling headphones

Help your future DO focus on studying for the MCATs, acing anatomy and conquering organic chemistry by quieting distractions with noise-cancelling headphones like these from Bose.

A quality desk chair

Your future DO will no doubt be planted at their desk for long periods of time studying and completing osteopathic medical school applications, so why not get a cozy seat to make them more comfortable? This one on Amazon is relatively inexpensive and comes highly rated by Wired magazine.

An anatomy coloring book

The first year of medical school has been described by many students as intimidating but also inspiring. Your soon-to-be DO will appreciate this hands-on and colorful introduction to anatomy before they get hands-on in real life.

For the preclinical osteopathic medical student

A water bottle

The first two years of osteopathic medical school are spent in the classroom, the anatomy lab, the osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) lab or the library, and even though your DO may be hyper-focused on their studies, it’s important for them to stay hydrated. Help them do it in style with the ever-popular Hydro Flask.

A book light—stocking stuffer alert!

Whether your DO is up late studying or nose-deep in a book they just can’t put down, this rechargeable book light by Glocusent will ensure they can do it all without straining their eyes (but remind them not to stay up too late—sleep is essential for retaining all that knowledge!).

A comfy backpack

Medical textbooks are numerous and heavy. Make sure your DO has all the support and comfort they need with this North Face backpack. In addition to ergonomic shoulder straps and a supportive back panel, this bag has lots of pockets to stash devices, keys, snacks and the always important change of clothes for OMM lab.

For the clinical osteopathic medical student

A stain-remover stick—stocking stuffer alert!

Does your student’s white coat look like a Jackson Pollack painting? Give them a stain-remover stick that fits right in their coat pocket to help them keep their coat as white and fresh as it was on the day of their White Coat ceremony.

A sweet treat

Who doesn’t love a good, quality treat? Jeni’s ice cream can be delivered right to your student’s door so they can relax on the couch and unwind after a particularly stressful day of rotations.

A pocket notebook

Taking notes on the fly can be easy and stylish with a notebook (that fits in a white coat pocket!) from Cloth and Paper.

For the DO resident

Day trip suggestion cards

Starting residency in a new city can be exciting, but it can be difficult to explore new surroundings with a busy schedule. These scratch-off cards give fun suggestions for your DO to explore their new home on their days off.

Reuseable snack bags

Taking time to eat during a shift can be tough—but these silicone food storage bags make it easy to grab a snack on the go.

A Calm gift card

The first year of residency can be incredibly stressful. Giving your DO the gift of sleep sounds and guided meditations can help them manage their stress in a healthy way.

No-hassle meals

For busy DO residents, offering them options for a no-hassle meal could be a huge help. A slow cooker would allow them to cook meals low and slow, so they’re ready by the time they return from a long shift. Or even better—they could just skip the cooking altogether with a DoorDash gift card.

Healing hand cream

How many times does a DO wash their hands? The limit does not exist. Give them the gift of soft, hydrated hands with this Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve.

Badge reel holder—stocking stuffer alert!

Your DO can show off their pride in their new specialty with one of these customizable badge reel holders.

For the newly practicing DO

Doctor’s bag

A doctor’s bag harkens back to small-town physicians who made house calls and treated whole families, but many DOs still do this today. Give your DO a new twist on a vintage classic to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation.

Office décor

Does your DO have their own office? Why not get them some creative wall art to show off their personality? They can also set a calming mood with this stone diffuser from Vitruvi.

Self-heating tumbler

Does your DO like hot beverages? This smart tumbler from Ember allows them to set a specific temperature for their drink and keep it warm for up to three hours. So even after a morning or afternoon of seeing patients, your DO can still come back to their desk for a warm beverage.

For the mid-career DO

Gifts to rest and recharge

Every DO knows the soreness that can come from being on their feet all day. Self-care gifts like this Herbal Comfort Soak or this heating pad can help soothe sore feet, legs and backs so your DO is recharged for the next shift.

An excellent pair of socks—stocking stuffer alert!

Another great item for the DO who’s always on their feet? A good, sturdy pair of socks—particularly compression socks to fight swelling or moisture-wicking socks to fight sweat and prevent blisters. Check out these options from Bombas.

Lifelong learning

Continuous learning opportunities ensure that your DO will remain at the top of their game. That doesn’t have to be continuing medical education—a subscription to a learning platform like Coursera, Masterclass or Udemy offers a wide range of courses that cater to whatever interest your DO might have.

For the retired DO

A travel planner

Your DO has finally decided to hang up their white coat and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Why not give them a year of travel options with this month-by-month travel planner, so they can explore the world with all that new free time?

Garden goodies

If your DO likes to spend time in their garden, this copper watering can from Williams Sonoma can help keep it looking lush. And for any winged visitors, this window bird feeder allows your DO to keep tabs on new avian friends.

Help them tell their story

Your DO has had a long career and a lifetime filled with amazing memories. Help them tell their story with a Storyworth memoir kit—and ensure that story is preserved for your family’s future generations.

For the proud DO

Bonus gift idea: Check out the AOA’s store for #DOProud merchandise and AOA gear, including a physician teddy bear, hats and badge holder.

Thanks to my amazing colleagues Renee Cree, Cara Glatfelter and Kim O’Malley, who helped source all of these amazing gifts—the privilege of working with them is truly a gift for this DO!

Related reading:

The NASA engineer who went to osteopathic medical school at age 58

How a passionate DO became a bodybuilding champion