Cardinal Closet helps medical students support one another

Medical school asks a lot of students. Rigorous academics, clinical experiences and community engagement requires significant investments of time, energy and resources – all while students prepare for a career centered around caring for others.  

When a group of University of Louisville medical students noticed classmates quietly struggling to afford professional clothing for interviews and presentations, they decided to do something about it. The result is the Cardinal Closet, a professional attire resource built by medical students for medical students. 

The initiative is led by medical students, Gavin Falvey, Sarah Belcher, Ali Alkafaji, Emma Fearon and Emily Schulman-Geltzer, with guidance from advisors Maureen Stebbins and Tony Simms. 

The idea was sparked by an unexpected connection with the UofL Brandeis School of Law. During an event for the pre-matriculation program, the assistant dean for the Office of Professional Development from the law school came to talk to students about professionalism. In passing, she mentioned something that the law school had already built: a closet stocked with professional clothing, free for any student who needs it.  

“That conversation planted the seed, and we immediately recognized how valuable a dedicated closet would be for medical students,” shared Gavin Falvey, second-year medical student and one of the founders of the Cardinal Closet. 

The concept resonated because the students understood the financial challenge firsthand. Medical education comes with significant costs beyond tuition and living expenses. A blazer for an interview, a blouse for a presentation, a suit, a pair of dress shoes or other professional clothing can quickly add up. 

“We completely understand the relief of saving a single dollar wherever we can – whether it’s finding free food or clothing,” shared the Cardinal Closet leadership team. 

The Cardinal Closet exists to directly close that gap by providing free, donated professional attire to medical students who need it. By removing the financial stress, students can focus on what actually matters: their education and their patients. 

What makes the initiative especially meaningful is that it was created by medical students, for medical students. The Cardinal Closet’s founders are navigating the same demanding academic and financial realities as the classmates they hope to serve. 

“This project is deeply personal because we are medical students ourselves, walking the exact same financial path and experiencing the high costs of school firsthand,” said the students. 

For the students behind the Cardinal Closet, supporting their peers does not necessarily mean solving every challenge of medical school. Sometimes it means recognizing a need, finding a practical way to help and making sure a classmate knows their community has their back. In that way, the Cardinal Closet reflects one of the school’s Cardinal Principles – a Community of Care – teaching our future physicians to not only care for their patients, but to also care for one another.  

The Cardinal Closet officially opened late in the last academic year, making this semester its first full semester of operation. While the team has spent much of its early work establishing the closet and building inventory, the community has already begun supporting the effort through regular donations. 

“As we prepare for our first full semester of use, the steady influx of items shows a strong community willingness to support one another,” shared the student leaders. 

The Cardinal Closet runs on donations, and right now keeping the inventory strong and varied is a top priority. The initiative accepts new or gently used: 

• Dress shirts and blouses 
• Dress pants 
• Suits and pantsuits 
• Sport coats and blazers 
• Ties 
• Dresses 
• Skirts 
• Dress shoes 
• Other professional attire 

As the leadership team plans additional donation bins across the HSC campus during the academic year, those interested in contributing items now should reach out directly to Maureen Stebbins. 

“Every bit of support helps us better serve the student body,” shared the leaders of the Cardinal Closet. 

As the Cardinal Closet enters its full semester, the team's goals are straightforward: build awareness and make sure that no student lacks professional attire when they need it. At its core, the Cardinal Closet is less about the clothing and more about what it represents: a community for future physicians choosing to look out for one another, one donated suit at a time.