PhD a "doctor" in health care setting??

This may be wrongheaded, but I think of "Dr." as a title designation, based upon one's academic credentials (e.g. anyone w/ a legitimate Doctorate in any discipline, save law, as people w/ J.D.'s are commonly referred to as "Mr.", w/ "Esq." tacked on the end for good measure). My fiancée is an unlicensed M.D. However, we both work for the same company (major Pharma company in the N.E.) and she is always referred to as "Dr. Hxxx" and never as "Ms. Hxxx." Now, to Rich's point, she is a research Physician, and is not seeing patients. Obviously, she would need a license to see patients (or another healthcare license). Which brings up the interesting case mentioned earlier in this thread, of the foreign (unlicensed) M.D., practicing as a Nurse. This is one (albeit, rare) case where I would suggest NOT using the title "Doctor", at least not around patients.

Just my $.02 worth.

- Tom (who is very rarely mistaken for a Doctor, by nature of being engaged to one!)

 

I get to be called "doctor" at my dentist's office plus I get a 10% professional courtesy discount. Let me know if you want my dentist's name so you can get to be called "doctor" at the dentist's office!

 

Thanks everyone for your insightful replies.

 

Having been one who walked the hallowed grounds of healthcare before switching to education - I'll offer a perspective.

We had a few MD's who were currently practicing and, yet, had attained their PhD. These types are usually quite academically and research oriented. We also had ancillary services where members had earned a PhD. If your academic accomplishment warranted it, you were called "Dr."

It wasn't a problem for any of us who were well below their accomplishments - since all MD's were required to wear a white lab coat. Perhaps in our facility - this is where the greatest distinction arose. You automatically knew if the "Dr." you were addressing was medical or academic.

 

This title of "doctor" is a courtesy title for those that hold Bachelor of Medicine degrees. Ironically enough, in the UK, holders of Doctor of Medicine degrees prefer to be called "mister". In the interest of international transferability, as far as I know, these are just courtesy titles. I don't think you get a certificate indicating that you have the right to be called "doctor" or "mister" or whatever.

The professional title is "Physician". My physician here in Canada has all his degrees and licenses clearly hanging on the wall of his office. He has a "Doctor of Medicine" degree and is licensed as a "Physician" to practice "Physic Surgery and Midwifery". There is no reference to "doctor" except the degree. When he acts as a reference for my passport application he writes down "Physician" as his profession.

My personal opinion is that a holder of a Ph.D., Eng.D., D.B.A. or whatever has been trained to a higher lever of specialty than the average general physician in their fields. A Doctor or Medicine is an UNDERGRADUATE degree in most countries, just as a Juris Doctor. A holder of a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering has a B.Eng. (4 years), M.Eng. (2 years) and Ph.D. (4 years) for a total of 10 years FULL TIME academic training in Mechanical Engineering. This beats the average M.D. with 3-4 years of medical education. That said, if I am admitted to the hospital for a medical condition, please disregard the above!!!! ;-)

 

There is a section for two or three "guarantors", people that have known you for several years that can vouch for you. Of course, there are other things like birth certificate, photos, fees, contact information, etc...

 

Overseas perhaps, but not so in the U.S. My fiancée has her M.D. and she went through 4 years of College (BA, Biology from Williams College), 4 years of Medical School (MD, Mt. Sinai Med School), and a 4 year residency program (Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook). In addition, she also spent 2 years (albeit, simultaneously along w/ her residency program) of Graduate School (MPH, Columbia Univ) since this was a requirement of her Prev Med residency. Add to that, two fellowships each lasting 1 year in length and that is quite a lot of schooling (14 years consecutive, 16 years cumulative)!

- Tom

 

I think that Rich hit on the head on the distinction between academic and professional settings. For example, my brother studied medicine overseas. In that country, he is called Doctor but not here. When he came here, he has to take the equivalency exams while working various menial jobs at the hospital (case manager, ECG tech....). He was called Mr (a courtesy title not professional). Once he finished his exams and his residency, he was being referred to and considered a Doctor here in this country.I have met other friends of his in the same situation who came from other countries but can't be called Doctor here until they pass their exams.

 

Doctor in health care

Here is my view. If a health care provider had a doctoral degree related to health care and is working in that role than the title Dr. is apropriate. An Aud, DPT, PharmD, DNP, PsyD ect... not just MD, DO, DPM, OD, DC.


Now if someone is working in health care and has a Phd in plant biology then it is not appropriate since it is not a clincally related degree. Research and acedemics are different.

Jeremy

 

I call my physician by his first name.

 

Am I a "real "Doctor?

I recieved my Ph.D. in Educational Counseling from Ohio State University in June,1980.
On December 4,1981,while working in an outpatient CMHC in Cleveland,Ohio, I was informed that my graduate courseowrk and dissertation were deemed equivalent by the Ohio State Board of Psychology.
I became licensed as a Psychologist in Ohio on April 28,1984.
I've never insisted that anyone ever call me "Doctor."There were places that I worked where my bosses only had a Master's degree.I didn't feel it right or appopriate that I show them up.
There were time when the clients called me "Mr."I never corrected them.Why should I? They were being respectful.
I remeber watching a "Columbo" episode from late 1973.Robert Culp was the guest murderer.He was a Ph.D. motivational research psychologist,and alwasy corrrected Columbo,who adressed him as "Mr." and Culp corrected him with"Dr."I made up my mind that I was never going to be like that.
I never took myself so seriously.Why should I?Nobody else ever does?
I always introduce myself as "John."(my real name.)

 

I agree Hans. The only thing is that when you are marketing yourself to the public, they will tend to see a doctor as more competent than others that don't have that title. Hopefully having earned that title is indicative of having true competency. The reality is that, in my humble opinion, most in the field of counseling with doctorates are moderately OK and not that great. Nevertheless the public trusts them more.

I use my title as a marketing strategy to put me above the host of other Masters level folks and many other doctoral level folks. I am pretty good at marketing myself so I need to put my title out there (Dr. Sam) and my web site (http://www.DrSam.tv).

 

Cool website Sam.

Abner

 

Thanks, Abner!!!!

 

Yeah, but your doctor is younger than you?

 

She was full of crap then.

 

A holder of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (or any other doctoral degree) is indeed a doctor, regardless of where they might be. It is up to the individual to become intelligent enough to ask: "And what is your doctorate in?"

 

I tend to agree, Ted, especially these days in the counseling field where many different types of doctorates are represented from MD and DO psychiatrists, PhDs in psychology, social work, family therapy, counseling and pastoral counseling, PsyDs from license eligible and non-license eligible programs, EdD psychologists--from licensable and unlicensable programs to DSWs and D.Mins.