In February I made a cake for my husband's physician's assistant's 40th birthday and everyone at his office loved it. It is posted at http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1953292. It took a lot of time to make all the instruments and I really don't want to do that for my next one. A doctor in the practice is turning 50 in May and my husband wants me to make a cake to take in for him. I love the lab coat and stethoscope cakes I've seen here and could do something like that but this doctor doesn't wear a white lab coat so it seems inappropriate to me. Also, my husband started this medical practice 30 years ago this summer and I want to make a cake for that occasion as well. For that one I'm thinking of either a timeline on a sheet cake or a carved tiered cake with milestone markings all the way up to the top. So, I would appreciated your ideas for this 50th male doctor's birthday. Also, because it is a medical practice and patients will probably see the cake, I prefer to celebrate LIFE rather than making it an over-the-hill/handicap/false teeth, etc type of cake. He is in great physical shape himself and I just want it to be nice and special. The coworkers have great expectations of me after the one I did for Jason. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Since it is his 50th birthday cake it would good to do a cake that would a perfect compliment to who he is. I know you said he doesn't wear a labcoat so what does he wear when he sees his patients. At the hospital I work at there is a doctor that doesn't wear a lab coat but he wears slacks with suspenders and he wears wacky ties. You don't have to do a lab coat but what about a shirt with something that would be unique to his style and still with a stethascope. For instance if I were making a cake like for this docs birthday. I would do a shirt with wacky tie and suspenders with a stethascope hanging down. I don't know if this would work for the doc you are making the cake for or not.

Good luck.

Your cake is awesome.

The only other idea that comes to mind besides the lab coats is the doctor's bag.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brookwhisler/4096536019/

I love the doctor bag cake. There is also a doctor where I work that his "trademark" should we say, is to carry a doctors bag like the one in this picture. Oh definitely a great idea. Love, love, love the doctors bag.

maybe do something medical that he uses, but points to the accomplishment of turning 50. Like a prescription pad with his signature on it and a prescription for many more years of helping his patients?

I like Manman's idea - like a shirt and tie cake but add the stethoscope and a pen in his pocket or whatever fits his style.

Or does he have a hobby that you could focus on instead? fishing, football, coin collecting, etc. Might show a more personal side than just his profession.

Thanks to those who replied. I may try the shirt and tie, stethoscope, pen, name tag and prescription pad ideas. The other problem I have is TIME. My husband will want to take this in on Tuesday morning and I am making a graduation cake with lots of roses for 2 young ladies in our church youth group. I have already started working on the roses. We have a piano recital on Sunday afternoon and the cake for the grads is for a reception following the evening service at church. It's going to be a long day and then I will have to make the medical cake on Monday. So, I appreciate the help; now I just have to work out my timing. I don't usually cover cakes in fondant but I would think that would be best for the shirt cake. I'll keep mulling it over in my mind. Thanks again.