diff --git a/src/meds/schema.py b/src/meds/schema.py
index f7a48ca..68d7fc0 100644
--- a/src/meds/schema.py
+++ b/src/meds/schema.py
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@
 # which vastly simplifies many data analysis pipelines.
 
 # We define some codes for particularly important events
-birth_code = "SNOMED/184099003"
-death_code = "SNOMED/419620001"
+birth_code = "MEDS_BIRTH"
+death_code = "MEDS_DEATH"
 
 def patient_events_schema(custom_per_event_properties=[]):
     return pa.schema(