md phd title

“M.D.” vs. “Ph.D.” vs. “Dr.”: Are They Synonyms?

Quick: when you hear the word doctor , what do you picture?

Most would probably describe someone in a white lab coat with a stethoscope hanging around their neck or someone in medical scrubs—someone you would seek out if you have a deep cut that needed stitches.

That word doctor , however, is a title assigned to many who don’t come close to that description, many of whom you wouldn’t want stitching up that cut. Take your English professor, for instance. No offense, Dr. Barrett. 

It can all be a bit confusing, which is why it’s important to know who and why someone might be called a doctor , as well as what all those initials and abbreviations after their name mean. Here we break it all down.

What does Dr. mean?

Let’s start with doctor or D r . for short. While the first definition of the word is “ a person licensed to practice medicine,” that doesn’t mean you want to take medical advice from anyone who calls themselves a doctor . There are many looser definitions of the word that follow and, frankly, make things a bit confusing.

For example, the third definition is older slang for a “cook, as at a camp or on a ship,” while the seventh entry is “an eminent scholar and teacher.” Bugs Bunny didn’t help matters either by plying anyone and everyone with his famous greeting,“What’s up, doc?” 

The term doctor can be traced back to the late 1200s, and it stems from a Latin word meaning “to teach.” It wasn’t used to describe a licensed medical practitioner until about 1400, and it wasn’t used as such with regularity until the late 1600s. It replaced the former word used for medical doctors— leech , which is now considered archaic. 

WATCH: When Did The Word "Doctor" Become Medical?

Physician vs. doctor : are these synonyms.

While the term physician is a synonym for doctor , it’s typically used to refer to those who practice general medicine rather than those who perform surgery, aka surgeons . 

A quack , on the other hand, is defined as “ a fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill.”

What does M.D. mean?

Moving on to initials that carry more weight than a nod from Bugs, let’s look at M.D.s .

M.D. , which can be used with or without the periods ( M.D. or MD )  is the designation for a medical doctor. This is earned by attending medical school (typically a four-year program after completing at least one undergraduate degree, plus a residency program), and learning to diagnose patients’ symptoms and offer treatment. 

The initials M and D stem from the Latin title  Medicīnae Doctor. There are many different types of doctors, with different specialties, but if you have a physical ailment, visiting a doctor with the initials M.D. is a good place to start.

Specialty doctors may add even more initials to their title, such as DCN (doctor of clinical nutrition), DDS (doctor of dental surgery), or countless others they acquire with additional training. To make things even more confusing, some may add abbreviations from medical associations they belong to, such as FAAEM (Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine). 

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What does Ph.D. mean?

As for Ph.D. , this stands for “doctor of philosophy.” It stems from the Latin term Philosophiae Doctor.

You can get a Ph.D. in any number of subjects, from anthropology to mythological studies. It’s not an easy feat, however, as to earn one, you must do original research and write a dissertation . 

Ph.D. vs. M.D .: are these synonyms?

There are two big differences between Ph.D. s and M.D .s. When it comes to medicine, M.D.s can prescribe medications, and Ph.D.s can’t. And yes, it’s possible to be both an M.D. and a Ph.D. In fact, some med schools offer programs in which you can achieve both simultaneously. 

You can also get a professional doctorate degree in a number of fields. For example, you might receive a doctorate of education, an  Ed.D . 

So, in a nutshell, both M.D.s and Ph.Ds can be referred to as doctors . If you’re looking for someone to treat what ails you physically, then you want at least an M.D. following their name. If you want to dig deep into a subject and get advice from someone who has done their own research and who likely knows the latest and greatest developments in a particular area, then you’re probably looking for a Ph.D. And if someone has both, even better—depending on your needs, it may be just what the doctor ordered.

Want more synonyms? Get Thesaurus.com’s sizzling synonyms right in your inbox! 

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How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name

How to Reference a Person With a PhD

When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., degree, that person is subsequently referred to as “doctor” in formal speech. The same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian. In formal speech, that person should be referred to as “doctor.” However, the rules are different in written form when addressing someone who is called “doctor” in formal speech. In written form, the titles “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” are not interchangeable.

Determine the Type of Doctor

First, you should identify what type of doctor you are addressing. Doctors of medicine and psychology, doctors of dentistry and doctors of veterinary medicine must be addressed differently in comparison to academic doctors who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. Be advised that there are different types of doctoral degrees. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is just one kind of doctoral degree. There’s also, for example, a Doctor of Education doctoral degree and a Doctor of Psychology doctoral degree. The titles associated with the various doctoral degrees are not interchangeable. Only a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree should be addressed as Ph.D.

Addressing a Doctor in Writing

Place the title of “Dr.” before the name of a person who is a doctor of medicine or psychology, doctor of dentistry, or doctor of veterinary medicine. For example Dr. George Ross. Always write the word “doctor” in its abbreviated form when it goes before the person’s name. Never write, for example, Doctor George Ross. Do not combine the title of “Dr.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. Never write, for example, “Dr. George Ross, Ph.D.,” even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Pick one title. Do not use the “Dr.” title when referring to someone who is solely an academic doctor.

Put a comma followed by the title “Ph.D.” after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Do not combine the title of “Ph.D.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. For instance, even if the person being addressed is a doctor of medicine who has also earned a Ph.D., never write, for example, Dr. Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Pick one title. Do not use the “Ph.D.” title when referring to someone who not earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree.

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Maya Austen began freelance writing in 2009. She has written for many online publications on a wide variety of topics ranging from physical fitness to amateur astronomy. She's also an author and e-book publisher. Austen has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the New England Institute of Art and currently lives in Boston, Mass.

Duke University School of Medicine follows the AP Stylebook , with some exceptions.

See the sections below for our recommendations on common questions and the exceptions we make to AP style. In most cases, we echo Duke Health Writing Style and the Duke Language Usage Guide .

Our guidance here largely follows the  Duke Language Usage Guide. 

Department names are uppercase only when written out as the formal, official name of the department (e.g., the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Music). In all other instances, department names are lowercase (the music department, the physics department), unless the subject in question is a proper noun (the English department, the German department).

The same rule applies to institutes, centers, schools, etc. (the School of Nursing; the nursing school).

Also see the entry for Faculty Positions, Professorships, and Other Titles, below.

When listing  medical degrees  or other  advanced   degrees  for a faculty member or alumnus, list the MD and the highest degree obtained, such as PhD. But if there is a non-medical degree, such as MPA or MPH, or a certification, list that after the terminal degree. Examples :

• Mary Smith, MD, PhD
• Svati Shah, MD, MHS
• Brigit Carter, PhD, CCRN
• John Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA, MHSc  

In academic degree abbreviations, do not use periods.  This style follows  Duke Health's writing style recommendations . When talking about someone with a master’s degree,  AP Style  treats it differently depending on whether you’re talking about a specific degree or master’s degrees in general. The exact degree is uppercase, but the subject is lowercased in master’s degrees. Examples :

• Master of Fine Arts in interactive media
• Master of Science in leadership
• Master of Arts in international administration  

See:  Degrees and Their Abbreviations , below.  

For guidance about use of courtesy titles such as Dr., see the section on  Personal Names .

For guidance about listing degrees and credentials in DukeMed Alumni News and other development publications, please visit the special section on  Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs Publications .

In general, in news and feature stories, use “said” when attributing direct quotes and other statements.

Intentional exceptions can be made in feature stories when a scene is set in the present tense.

In academic degree abbreviations, do not use periods.  This style follows  Duke Health's writing style recommendations .

For reference, following is a list of Duke University degrees and their associated abbreviations. Another good reference is the Duke Alumni and Donor Database (DADD), in the Names and Salutations/Nametag field of individual alums.

We do make an exception to AP Style by using the serial comma. In a series of three or more items, each item is separated by a comma. Example :

• Students will gather, dine, and study at the life center.

Initials in Personal Names

Following AP style, when initials are used for given names, use periods and no space between two initials; include a space after the final initial only. Examples :

• David A. Pickel
• A.K. Spivey

Jr., Sr., III, etc.

No comma is needed between a person’s last name and Jr., Sr., III, etc.

Latin terms

Set common Latin terms in roman type. Terms are considered common if they are listed in  Merriam Webster dictionary .  Examples  of common terms include:

• summa cum laude

AP does not use italics for scientific or biological names, such as bacteria or viruses. Capitalize the first, or generic, Latin name for the class of plant or animal and lowercase the species that follows. Examples :

• Helicobacter pylori
• Aedes agypti
• Tyrannosaurus rex

Titles of Works

We follow AP Style : capitalize the titles of books, movies, plays, poems, albums, songs, operas, radio and television programs, lectures, speeches, and works of art. These titles are also enclosed in quotation marks. Example :

• Neil Spector, MD, wrote “Gone in a Heartbeat,” which chronicles his long battle with Lyme disease.

Also following AP, titles of shorter works such as newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and single episodes of TV or radio series should be capitalized, but not enclosed in quotation marks.

Use of University

Lowercase the word university unless it’s used in a formal title. Examples :

• He is a student at the university.
• She attends Duke University School of Medicine.

Generally speaking, primary appointments of a doctor in his or her field of study are indicated by “of,” while  appointments in their non-primary field are indicated by “in.” Examples:

• A physician (MD degree in pediatrics) would be appointed assistant professor of pediatrics, but their appointment in the Department of Immunology would be assistant professor in immunology.
• A person with a PhD degree in biochemistry would be assistant professor  of  biochemistry, but their appointment in the Department of Anesthesiology would be assistant professor  in  anesthesiology.
• Cardiologist Christopher O’Connor, MD, professor  of  medicine, associate professor  in  psychiatry and behavioral sciences

Also note that faculty appointments are made in the department, not the division. Example :

• Christopher O’Connor, MD, is a professor of medicine, not a professor of cardiology.

When in doubt, follow the titles listed in  scholars@duke

In cases where faculty members have  multiple titles , when identifying the person in a  magazine article or other running text,  use only their primary appointment and one other relevant title, such as a secondary appointment or a directorship of a center. However, when the faculty member is signing a  letter, email, or a message  introducing a publication or brochure, their full list of titles may be used if the individual desires.

Capitalization of Academic Titles

In ordinary sentence text, we follow AP’s general rule, as well as the Duke University Language Usage Guide :

Formal titles such as academic and professional titles are capitalized only when they immediately precede an individual’s name. Examples :

• Professor of Medicine John Doe, MD, addressed the audience.
• Among the audience were School of Medicine Dean Jane Doe, MD, and Department of Surgery Chair Joe Jones, MD.
• We welcome Dean Doe and Professor Jones.

Academic and professional titles are lowercased when they follow the name and are set off by commas or they stand alone in a sentence. Examples :

• John Doe, MD, professor of medicine, addressed the audience.
• Jane Doe, MD, is the dean of the School of Medicine.
• We welcome the dean and the professor.

Named professorships  are an exception to the general rule. These are capitalized in all instances. Examples :

• Bayard Carter Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology John Doe, MD, addressed the crowd.
• John Doe, MD, the F. Bayard Carter Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, addressed the crowd.
• John Doe, MD, is the F. Bayard Carter Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In  non-sentence text  such as bulleted lists, event schedules, or directory listings, titles should be  capitalized  even after the name. Examples :

• Professor of Medicine Jane Doe
• Jane Doe, Professor of Medicine
• Dean Joe Jones, MD
• Current Titles: Chair, Department of Medicine; R. J. Reynolds Professor of Medicine; Professor of Pathology; Professor in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

The general  rule of thumb , then, is: If it’s in a sentence, capitalize a title only when it immediately precedes the name or if it is a named professorship. If it’s not in a sentence, capitalize titles regardless of where they appear.

To confirm faculty titles and named professorships , etc., use  scholars.duke.edu

Use the shortest working URL in text. Do not use http:// nor www. 

Examples: dukehealth.org, duke.edu

website, not web site

email, not e-mail

Internet, not internet

In general, follow AP style: spell out one through nine, and use figures for 10 or above; use figures whenever a number is preceding a unit of measure or referring to ages of people, animals, events or things; use figures in all tabular matter, and in statistical and sequential forms.

Clinical Trial Phases

For ease of reading by non-scientists, lowercase and use words, rather than roman or cardinal numerals. This practice follows AP style. 

• Correct : She is leading phase one, phase two, and phase three clinical trials.
• Incorrect : She is leading Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III clinical trials.

Generally spell out amounts less than one in stories, using hyphens between the words: two-thirds, four-fifths, seven-sixteenths, etc.

Use figures for precise amounts larger than one, converting to decimals whenever practical. See the  AP Stylebook  for further guidance.

Phone Numbers

Always include the area code.

Use hyphens for phone numbers. Example: 919-419-3270

Toll-free numbers do not require “1-” (HS)

• 888-ASK-DUKE
• 800-MED-DUKE
• 877-555-5555

As space permits, add the numeral translations of vanity phone numbers.

• 888-ASK-DUKE (275-3853)
• 800-MED-DUKE (633-3853)

Time of Day

In all instances, except for noon and midnight (which AP recommends writing out, without numerals), AP recommends indicating the time of day as follows: 3 p.m. (lowercase a.m. and p.m., use periods, and with a space between the numeral and a.m./p.m.). The dinner begins promptly at 7 p.m. Lunch is at noon.

The abbreviations a.m. and p.m. should not be used with  morning ,  afternoon ,  evening ,  night , or  o’clock. Example : She began writing at 5 every morning.

If a  time range  is entirely in the morning or evening, use a.m. or p.m. only once. Use both if the range spans the morning and the evening. Examples :

• Reception: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Talks: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Years – Ranges

When listing a range of years in class notes or obituaries, the format is as follows: Jones was on the medical board from 1968-1992.

When listing a range of years in news or feature articles, the format is as follows: Jones was on the medical board from 1968 to 1992.

This guidance follows AP style, which is to pick either style and be consistent within one story or document.

Duke Cancer Institute  on first reference. On second reference, the institute, Duke, or DCI. When using DCI, do so only on second reference, after spelling out the full name on first reference and indicating the abbreviation in parentheses.

Duke Cancer Center  is the name of Duke Cancer Institute’s physical treatment facility.

Duke Children’s  (not Duke Children’s Hospital or Duke Children’s Health Center).

Duke Eye Center 

Duke-Kunshan University , located in Kunshan, China, is a Duke University partnership with the Municipality of Kunshan and Wuhan University.

Duke-NUS Medical School.  Duke-NUS is acceptable on second and subsequent references. Duke-NUS is a collaboration between Duke University and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Duke Raleigh Hospital

Duke Regional Hospital

When referring to the medical school at Duke, use  Duke University School of Medicine  (not Duke Medical School.)

Duke University Hospital  (not Duke Hospital).

Duke University School of Nursing  (not Duke Nursing School). On second reference, School of Nursing or the school. In general, avoid the acronym DUSON, except when writing for  Duke Nursing  magazine. For the magazine, use Duke University School of Nursing on first reference and DUSON on second reference. DUSON is not acceptable on first reference.

Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center  (not VA Hospital).

Mary E. Klotman, MD , executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of Duke University School of Medicine . In most cases, when identifying her on first reference, use both of these titles as written above. The executive vice president title is her highest title and always comes first.

Klotman does hold a third title: Chief Academic Officer of Duke University Health System. This title can be used in signatures or standalone identifiers in formal letters or messages, such as the welcome letter at the beginning of DukeMed Alumni News. Otherwise, it is rarely used.

For DukeMed Alumni News and other publications or letters for which School of Medicine alums are the primary audience, it’s acceptable to refer to her in informal uses or on second reference by her deanship only: Dean Mary Klotman or Mary Klotman, MD, dean of the School of Medicine.

School of Public Health at Wuhan University  in Wuhan City, China.

In  magazines, newsletters, and other publications or products for a wide, general audience, on first reference, use a source’s first and last name, with any relevant academic degrees or titles. On second reference, refer to the source by last name only, without a courtesy title. Use of courtesy titles such as “Dr.” can be used in these products only if they are in a direct quote.

These guidelines concur with Duke Health's writing style recommendations .

• Michael Kastan, MD, PhD, spoke at the Symposium on Canine Comparative Oncology. Kastan is executive director of Duke Cancer Institute.
• “Dr. Smith saved my life,” said Jane Doe, of her oncologist, Sarah Smith, MD.

Use of  courtesy titles  such as “Dr.” are acceptable on second reference in pieces that are from a particular person, such as  letters or emails , or in  impact reports, proposals , and other materials with a limited audience.

If  two people with the same last name  are mentioned in a story, use both first and last names on all references. However, when referring to children ages 15 and under, AP style recommends using first names on second reference.  Note : Editors may make exceptions to this rule on a case-by-case basis, to suit the style or tone of a specific publication.

• Sally and John Rogers attended the reunion every year for 10 years. After Sally Rogers passed away, John Rogers didn’t know if he could bear to attend without her.

When using names of states, write them out in all instances, including when used with a city. Exception: in tables or return addresses.

• She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• The couple met in Houston, Texas.
• He lives in Virginia.

When using a city and state name together in the middle of a sentence, always include a comma after the state.

• John Jones of Miami, Florida, died in August.

drug-resistant (one word, hyphenated)

fundraiser (one word)

health care (two words)

layperson (one word)

orthopaedic

poliovirus (one word)

Southeast Asia (two words)

U.S. News & World Report  (uses an ampersand and includes a space after “U.S.”)

zebrafish (one word)

Hyphenation

The AP Stylebook includes a comprehensive entry on hyphenation and hyphenation of compound modifiers. Use a hyphen only when it is needed to avoid ambiguity. Also, many compound adjectives are hyphenated before a noun, but not when used after a noun.

When in doubt, follow  Merriam Webster Dictionary .

• She lives in a middle-class neighborhood. This neighborhood is middle class.
• Philanthropy is needed to fund high-risk, high-reward science. He knew the procedure was high risk.

Alumni Magazine Class Notes

• Make sure each note is placed in chronological order within the decade the alum graduated.
• Within notes for the same class year, alphabetize by last name.
• Boldface names and class years of all Duke University alumni.
• Include only information supplied by the alum on the class note; do not add extra information from Duke Alumni Development Database (DADD), which is often not up to date. Use DADD only to doublecheck spellings of names and place of residence, and to confirm years of housestaff training.
• Use title case for headlines.
• Do not use degrees and class years in feature story headlines. Degrees and class years may be used only in headlines for expanded class notes or contents page teasers or taglines. See also the entry for  Advanced Degrees and Academic Credentials.

Multiple Titles

When identifying faculty in a  magazine article or other running text,  in most cases use only their primary appointment. In some cases one or more other relevant titles, such as a secondary appointment or a directorship of a center, may also be used.

• John Doe, MD, associate professor medicine
• John Doe, MD, associate professor of medicine and a member of the Duke Cancer Institute

However, when the faculty member is signing a  letter, email, or a message  introducing a publication or brochure, their full list of titles may be used if the individual desires.

• Text: Mary E. Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of the Duke University School of Medicine .
• Signature : Mary E. Klotman, MD Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Duke University Dean, Duke University School of Medicine Chief Academic Officer, Duke University Health System

Photo Captions

• In magazines and newsletters,  class years should not be listed in captions, unless the person is not mentioned in the main article. Degrees, such as MD, PhD, or BSN, should not be listed after an individual’s name in captions, unless the person has not been already mentioned in the story.
• In  brochures, fact sheets, and flyers , to avoid confusion, photo captions should use full identifying information, including degrees, titles, and class years when applicable.
• In photo captions, uses parentheses when indicating the position of individuals in the photo.  Example : John Doe (left) is a medical student working in Amy Murtha’s lab.

When to List Degrees and Credentials

• In  alumni publications , including  DukeMed Alumni News ,  Blue Devil Docs , and  Golden Blue Devils ,  identify alumni  by setting their name in boldface type and indicating their degree and class year after their names.  Those who earned an undergraduate degree at Duke  University are indicated with “AB” (for Bachelor of Arts ). See  Degrees and Their Abbreviations . Example :  Joe Smith, AB’90 , spoke at the meeting.  
• In  DukeMed Alumni News  magazine and other alumni publications ,  alumni or faculty who were residents or fellows  at Duke University School of Medicine are indicated by adding “HS” (for house staff) and the applicable years after their names. If two or more separate HS experiences run sequentially without a break, list them as one item. Example :  Mary Klotman, AB’76, MD’80, HS’80-’85  
• If a trainee has separate house staff experiences with a break in between, list each separately. Example :  Jane Doe, MD’90, HS’90-’92, HS’94-’96  
• In non-alumni publications such as  Breakthroughs  and  Stories ,  indicate Duke University alumni status via narration in the text, rather than using class years or boldface type.  Example :  For 27 years, Heather Paradis, MSN, a 1995 graduate of Duke University’s Master of Science in Nursing Program, cared for cancer patients at Duke University Hospital as a hematology-oncology nurse practitioner.  
• In DukeMed Alumni News, Breakthroughs, Stories, and other publications,  identify  current students  in text rather than using abbreviations. This recommendation is consistent with  Duke Magazine  and our peer institutions. Reserve boldface text and class years for alumni. Example : Jane Doe, a second-year medical student, led the research project. NOT : Jane Doe, MSII, led the research project.  
• In  DukeMed Alumni News  and other alumni publications, indicate parent or grandparent status  in text when appropriate rather than using boldface type and abbreviations such as “P” (for parent) and “GP” (for Grandparent). Boldface type and the degree abbreviation are reserved for alumni. Example : Dave Hart, parent of Duke sophomore Sally Hart, has given $1 million to the university.
• In magazine story headlines or photo captions  in  DukeMed Alumni News, Stories, and Breakthroughs , do not use degrees and class years , as doing so would quickly become cumbersome.  Exception : Degrees and class years may be used in headlines for expanded class notes or contents-page teasers or taglines, or if the person has not already been identified in the text of the main story.  
• In photo captions in  brochures, fact sheets, and flyers , to avoid confusion, use full identifying information, including degrees, titles, and class years when applicable.

In  DukeMed Alumni News  or other print publications, in feature articles  use full credentials and titles on first reference in each individual article. In  news briefs, captions, or event photos , if the person is identified fully elsewhere in the publication, it is acceptable to omit full credentials and identify the person by their primary title only.

• master of science in nursing (MSN) degree
• doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree
• doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree with specialization in nurse anesthesia
• post master’s certificate (PMC)
• graduate nursing certificate (GNC)  

How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate “rules”

There are many conventions in the academic world that can make it difficult to navigate the PhD title. The PhD title is awarded to those who have completed a doctoral degree but, not many people know how to use it once they have it.

This article will go through everything you need to know about using the PhD title and when you can start using it.

The “rules” are relatively simple and can be broken as they are not officially set in stone – other than when you can officially call yourself a doctor.

There is no one correct answer but it may be misleading if you use the PhD title incorrectly. Here are the recommendations for effective communication.

It very much depends on the setting. Here are some examples of how I would use my PhD titles awarded to me after my PhD degree.

How do you Write PhD correctly after a name? Is it ph d or phd?

It can be confusing to know exactly how to write PhD after your name. Which bits are capitalised? Is there a ‘.’ In the middle?

When writing a name with a PhD after it, the correct way to do so is to use “PhD” or “Ph.D. or Ph.D”

Depending on the preference of the individual, either form can be used.

However, if the individual has a business card that states their degree in full, then the more formal “Doctor of Philosophy” should be used.

It is important to note that using “PhD” without any periods is incorrect; this abbreviation should only be used in informal contexts such as emails or text messages. I tend to use PhD in my YouTube videos and some people have pointed out that this is incorrect…

Following the individual’s preferred format will ensure that their name and credentials are properly represented.

Should you use Dr as well as PhD?

Some people like to use Dr and PhD in their official titles. There are a couple of important points that you need to know about markers and academic titles.

• A person can have more than one marker in their name. For example my full title is Dr Andrew Stapleton, PhD, MChem.
• The doctor title at the front can be used as a variant to the PhD at the end.

It can be a little bit ambiguous if I was to use Dr Andrew Stapleton, PhD as there are two markers. This could mean that I have two PhD’s, it could mean that I have a PhD and a medical doctorate, or it could just be that I want to use both the doctor and the PhD tags for the one degree.

However, in my experience, I still like to use the doctor title at the front and the PhD tag at the end of my name for official purposes.

Academics would rarely use the PhD suffix in everyday communication. They would much rather just use the doctor title.

What is the proper title for a PhD?

The proper title for a PhD is Doctor of Philosophy. However, some teachers and professors like to be referred to without their official title.

If you are not sure about how your professor, lecturer, or friend with a PhD wishes to be officially addressed you can ask them.

Most of the time, I like to refer to my colleagues with their doctor title for official purposes, but I do not include the PhD at the end of their name. That is much better suited to a business card.

Your lecture may wish to be referred to as:

• Dr [last name]
• Dr [first name]

Asking them in the early stages of your relationship is the best way to work out which one they prefer.

If in doubt, always go for the more formal name and nomenclature.

When can you start to use your PhD title after your doctorate?

When you have earned your PhD, you can start using your title immediately. Although, it can be a little bit confusing as to when you have actually passed your PhD. Is it when you have submitted your dissertation? Is it when you have received the comments back?

The University of Adelaide says that you can use it from your conferral date:

Students can be conferred on one of five dates during the year and for PhD students the conferral date will be the first available following the completion of all the academic requirements of your degree, including final thesis lodgement and the disbursement of any outstanding financial obligations to the University.

I started using my PhD title as soon as my confirmation letter arrived at my house. It was the first letter from the University that referred to me as Dr Stapleton. It was incredibly excited.

Generally, it is acceptable to use the title “Dr.” both professionally and socially but socially, people very rarely use it – at least in Australia. But you should never use it if you are a PhD student, PhD candidate or enrolled in a PhD program without a previous PhD qualification. 

I do use it in professional settings but it always makes me feel a little bit awkward.

However, there may be some restrictions for certain settings. For example, if have a research degree resulting in a doctor title and you are working in a medical setting – some institutions do not like you to use Dr as it can confuse patients into thinking that you have a medical degree. 

Instead, they ask that you use the PhD tag at the end of your name rather than the doctoral title for official and professional communications.

What is the correct way to write PhD?

When writing about someone’s PhD, the correct way is to write the term in full and capitalize each letter.

This should be done for all academic degrees, not just PhDs.

For example, it would be “Doctor of Philosophy” or “PhD” instead of “Ph.D.”, “Dr.”, or “DPhil”.

Additionally, it is common to mention the field of study in which the degree was earned if known, such as “Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics”. It is also good practice to include the institution that granted the degree if it is a recognized one.

When writing about someone’s PhD, use proper capitalization and include relevant information like field of study and institution if known to ensure accuracy.

How do you put a PhD in a title?

Putting a PhD in a title is not as complicated as it may sound.

Generally speaking, the proper way to list a PhD in an academic or professional setting is by writing “Dr.” before the name, followed by the person’s full name and the appropriate abbreviations for their degree.

For example, if John Smith has earned a doctorate in psychology, his credentials would be listed as “Dr. John Smith, Ph.D.”

In some cases, such as when addressing someone formally in speech or on a business card, it may also be acceptable to list their credentials as “John Smith, Ph.D.”

Depending on context and personal preference, some people may also choose to list their higher degrees after their names by writing out the entire degree instead of just its abbreviation.

For example, John Smith could choose to write his full title as “John Smith, Doctor of Psychology”

However, I have not seen this in real academic life.

Should the font size of Ph.D. be the same as someone’s name?

The question of whether the font size of a Ph.D. should be the same as someone’s name is an interesting one.

On one hand, it could be argued that the Ph.D. deserves to be highlighted and therefore should be given a larger font size than someone’s name to denote its importance.

On the other, it could be argued that this would not be necessary or appropriate, and that treating everyone equally regardless of their title or degree is more important.

It depends on context and usage – if both names appear in the same document then they should likely have the same font size; however, if one appears in a formal setting such as a diploma or certificate, then it may make sense to give it a larger font size than someone’s name to emphasize its importance and significance.

Ph.Ds (or PhDs) are an important academic achievement and should be respected accordingly but without going overboard by giving them overly large fonts sizes which can take away from rather than add to their importance.

Wrapping up – doctoral title rules

this article has been over everything you need to know that using the PhD title properly and effectively.

The doctor title can be used in place of the PhD and for incredibly formal communications, such as a business email or card, you can use both.

However, sometimes using both can cause confusion as to whether or not there is a reason first using both the doctor and PhD tags. Nonetheless, many people still use both.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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• PhD vs MD – Differences explained
• Types of Doctorates

A MD is a Doctor of Medicine, whilst a PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy. A MD program focuses on the application of medicine to diagnose and treat patients. A PhD program research focuses on research (in any field) to expand knowledge.

Introduction

This article will outline the key differences between a MD and a PhD. If you are unsure of which degree is suitable for you, then read on to find out the focuses and typical career paths of both. Please note this article has been written for the perspective of a US audience.

What is a MD?

MD (also seen stylized as M.D and M.D.) comes from the Latin term Medicīnae Doctor and denotes a Doctor of Medicine.

MDs practice allopathic medicine (they use modern medicine to treat symptoms and diseases). A common example would be your physician, though there are numerous types of medical doctors, with different areas of speciality and as such may be referred to differently.

What is a PhD?

A PhD (sometimes seen stylized as Ph.D.) comes from the Latin term Philosophiae Doctor and denotes a Doctor of Philosophy.

A PhD can be awarded for carrying out original research in any field, not just medicine. In comparison to an MD, a PhD in a Medicinal field is focused on finding out new knowledge, as opposed to applying current knowledge.

A PhD in Medicine therefore does not require you to attend medical school or complete a residency program. Instead, you are required to produce a thesis (which summarizes your research findings) and defend your work in an oral examination.

What is the difference between a MD and a PhD?

Both are Doctoral Degrees, and someone with either degree can be referred to as a doctor. But for clarity, MDs are awarded to those with expertise in practicing medicine and are therefore more likely to be found in clinical environments. PhDs are awarded to researchers, and are therefore more likely to be found in academic environments.

This does not mean that MDs cannot pursue a research career, nor does it mean that a PhD cannot pursue clinical practice. It does mean, however, that PhDs are more suited to those who would wish to pursue a career in research, and that MDs are more suited to those who prefer the clinical aspects of medicine or aspire to become a practicing physician.

It should also be noted that a medical PhD doctorates possess transferable skills which make them desirable to various employers. Their familiarity with the scientific method and research experience makes them well suited to industry work beyond medical research.

Program structure and time

The standard MD program structure sees students undertake 2 years of coursework and classroom-based learning, before undertaking 2 years of rotational work in a clinical environment (such as a hospital). Getting an MD requires attending a medical school (accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education) and completing a residency program. Both of which prepare students to diagnose patients and practice clinical medicine.

The standard PhD program lasts 5 to 7 years and sees students undertake original research (monitored by a supervisor). Getting a PhD requires the contribution of novel findings, which leads to the advancement of knowledge within your field of research. With the exception of some clinical PhDs, a PhD alone is not enough to be able to prescribe medicine.

PhD doctorates are required to summarize the purpose, methodology, findings and significance of their research in a thesis. The final step is the ‘ Viva Voce ’ where the student must defend their thesis to a panel of examiners.

To summarize, a MD program usually lasts 4 years, whilst a PhD program lasts 5 to 7 years. Before being licensed to practice medicine, however, you must first complete a residency program which can last between 3 to 7 years.

What is a MD/PhD?

A MD/PhD is a dual doctoral degree. The program alternates between clinical focused learning and research focused work. This is ideal for those who are interested in both aspects of medicine. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, an estimated 600 students matriculate into MD-PhD programs each year .

The typical length of a MD/PhD program is 7 to 8 years, almost twice the length of a MD alone. As with a MD, MD/PhDs are still required to attend medical school and must complete a residency program before being able to practice medicine.

In comparison to PhD and MD programs, MD/PhD positions in the United States are scarce and consequently more competitive. The tuition fees for MD/PhD positions are typically much lower than MD and PhD positions are sometimes waived completely.

Those who possess a MD/PhD are commonly referred to as medical scientists. The ability to combine their medical knowledge with research skills enables MD/PhDs to work in a wide range of positions from academia to industrial research.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

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MD-PhD: Physician-Scientist

What is an md-phd career and is it right for me.

Do you like science and are you inspired by making new research discoveries? Then you should seriously consider pursuing a PhD in some area of the sciences. Are you drawn to clinical work and rewarded by the opportunity to offer a healing hand? Then certainly a medical degree would be the training you should seek. Some students have a passion for both careers and are conflicted, unable to choose between them. These students have a broad set of attributes and are ideally suited to become physician-scientists. In this exciting career, physician-investigators are trained to recognize new ways that clinical care benefits from research discoveries and are strategically poised to exploit state-of-the-art scientific approaches to address unmet medical challenges in the clinic. It is clear that in the 21st century these specially trained doctors, through positions in academic medical centers, research institutes and biotechnology companies, will be leaders in discovery and application of new knowledge about the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease. Talented students committed to this career should seek training in one of the MD-PhD Programs around the country. These programs are very competitive and only a few applicants are accepted each year. The good news is that as an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, you are fortunate to be training in one of the best universities in the country for placing the highest number of its students into MD-PhD programs. An excellent link for a wealth of information about MD-PhD Careers and training can be found at the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. See a list below of helpful links:

• MD-PhD Dual Degree Training
• Helpful tools and information regarding medical MD-PhD programs
• Applying to MD-PhD Programs
• MD-DO/PhD Training Program FAQ

You can also check out the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) Undergraduate Resources page for more information.

How do MD-PhD programs train you to be both a scientist and a physician?

The curricular goals of medical school and graduate school are fundamentally different. Medical schools emphasize the learning and application of existing knowledge, while graduate schools emphasize the discovery of new knowledge. MD-PhD programs creatively mix the MD and PhD curricula, provide integration, and offer specialized MD-PhD courses to prepare aspiring physician-scientists. MD-PhD programs have a variety of approaches to integrate and streamline medical and graduate curricula, thus reducing total training time while maintaining a quality experience in both medical and graduate schools. The typical eight-year MD-PhD training curriculum is termed the “2-4-2” track, which reflects the number of years that a student studies in the three components of MD-PhD training: preclinical medical courses, PhD training, and finally clinical training. The medical education components are often similar among MD-PhD programs, since students must pass Step I and Step II of the United States Medical Learning Examination (USMLE) to complete the MD component of the training program. In contrast, graduate school activities vary, since PhD curricula and research opportunities differ by institution and faculty expertise. Thus research experiences obtained during graduate school training are one of the crucial differences between MD-PhD programs. The biomedical research experiences of MD-PhD trainees continue to expand beyond the “traditional” basic science disciplines to include computational-, bioinformatics-, engineering-sciences, and public health, to name a few of many diverse research opportunities. Overall, the goal is to train you for a successful research-driven career since many MD-PhD graduates spend more time in research than in the clinic.

What type of research projects should I choose? How much research is required?

If you are interested in applying MD-PhD, it is important to become involved in research early in your undergraduate years. Students often ask about the extent and quality of the research required. Generally, research experiences are extensive, with more expected than one finds for PhD-only applicants. Substantive research experiences are critical. By this we mean research projects where students are involved in hypothesis-driven experiments rather than simply serving as a “lab tech” (ordering supplies, making buffers, etc.) The best experiences are those where you have been actively involved in some experimental planning, trouble shooting, and data interpretation, i.e. taking some ownership of the project. While it is not necessary that you have publications from your work, ultimately you should have sufficient in-depth experiences to possess a deep appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of research careers.

A great advantage of attending Johns Hopkins University is the rich selection of research opportunities for undergraduates. These include laboratories in Biology, Biophysics, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology, and Engineering on the Homewood campus, along with Departments downtown in the Medical Institutions and the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

To learn more about requirements for undergraduate research, how to find an undergraduate research position, and how to register for undergraduate research, go to the following sites:

• School of Medicine Research Opportunities
• School of Public Health Research & Centers
• Krieger School of Arts & Sciences Research Opportunities
• Whiting School of Engineering Research Opportunities

Seek out projects in areas that stimulate you and are rewarding. We want you to follow your passions as you participate in cutting edge projects in your field of interest. Do not forget that there are numerous awards available to fund research such as:

• Provost Undergraduate Research Awards

You should plan to be actively involved in full-time research during the summers after each academic year. You might continue on the research team you work with during the year. Alternatively, to broaden your research training, full-time research internships over the summer are encouraged. Many major medical institutions and several MD-PhD Programs offer excellent Summer Research Training Experiences for Undergraduates ; a list found on the AAMC website. You can also check out the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) Undergraduate Resources for research opportunities.

NIH also offers an exciting summer research internship program for talented undergrads.

You should consistently be involved in research over the years so that by the time you apply you will have a rich portfolio of research experiences. Remember no applicant has ever been turned down because he/she has too much research training.

How can you best prepare to be a successful MD-PhD applicant?

In order to be a well-prepared applicant for MD-PhD programs, it is crucial to know what impresses their admissions committees. Because MD-PhD Programs are very competitive, strong academic credentials (GPA and MCAT) are essential. Beyond these metrics, most importantly, MD-PhD program admission committees are looking for students that have extensive research experiences, expecting a level of research beyond that required for PhD-only applicants as discussed above. The most successful applicants possess maturity, integrity and show concern for others, leadership potential, and an aptitude for working with colleagues. They are often involved in and committed to extracurricular activities, frequently occupying leadership roles in these endeavors. The most compelling applicants have a set of substantive clinical experiences that is best complimented by shadowing experiences with role model physician scientists in an academic setting. Thus, MD-PhD applicants are distinguished from PhD applicants in that they are committed to clinical activities. They are distinguished from medical student applicants in that they are very inquisitive and have a strong desire for scientific discovery to be an integral part of their careers.

Because of the unique set of experiences required of MD-PhD applicants, it is essential that you begin to focus early on your plan of study. (Freshman year is not too early!) Where to start? Once you are committed to exploring this training plan and have attended Pre-Health 101, make an appointment to meet with one of our advisors to discuss your goals and a timetable to achieve them. As part of our advising plan, we schedule workshops, small group sessions, and visits from MD-PhD program directors. Accordingly, you will be expected to attend and participate in these sessions to deepen your insights and to allow us to know you better.

Below is a timetable that approximates a reasonable schedule for the major milestones in your training and serves as a guideline for your planning.

First Year (where to start?)

• Attend Pre-Health 101
• Attend a fall or spring MD-PhD workshop for freshmen/sophomores
• Schedule one-on-one meeting with pre-med advisor
• Seek long-term research at the Hopkins Homewood campus or at the Hopkins medical campus
• Plan on conducting summer research
• Get involved in extracurricular activities- follow your passions!

Second Year

• Formulate a feasible plan for completion of coursework requirements for both pre-med and your major/minor
• Attend a fall or spring MD-PhD workshop for freshmen/sophomores (especially if you didn’t as a freshman).
• Continue with research; taking on more independence
• Set up clinical experience(s)
• Plan on conducting summer research; if applying for an internship, most applications are due in January or February
• Continue extracurricular activities; take on more responsibilities

Junior Year

• Continue research; gaining independence in the lab
• Attend a fall or spring MD-PhD workshop for juniors/seniors
• Start clinical volunteering if you haven’t yet
• Set a timeline and schedule for MCAT prep
• Consider taking the MCAT the summer before senior year

Senior Year

• Continue research; gaining more independence in the lab
• Continue clinical volunteering
• Apply for bridge year research jobs or research master’s programs
• Request letters of recommendation—especially from research mentors
• Submit primary AMCAS application as early as possible (late May).

What is the application process for MD-PhD programs?

Most schools participate in the American Medical College Application Service and offer the MD application as part of the MD-PhD application. It is important that you reference the AAMC website for applying to MD-PhD programs. Be aware that schools differ greatly in how admissions committees function. For example, some MD-PhD programs make completely independent decisions separate from their medical school. Others require admissions first into the MD program before consideration for the MD-PhD program. You will need to check with each school to get precise information on their admissions process.

Only U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents are supported by the pre-doctoral MD-PhD federal grants, however there are some institutions that accept international MD-PhD applicants.

Components of AMCAS Primary Application

• Official Transcript (complete all pre-med requirements!)
• JHU Committee Letter
• Document/describe activities, accomplishments, awards well—particularly research awards and presentations.
• Very important: Letters of recommendation from research mentors
• MD Essay – a personal essay on why you want to be a physician.
• MD-PhD Essay – why you want to pursue MD-PhD. Document life experiences that compel you to strive for a career as a physician-scientist.
• Significant Research Experience Essay – Describe your research experiences, each in scientific detail. Also convey how you have matured a research scientist.

Secondary Application

After you submit your primary AMCAS application, the schools you select will send you their secondary applications. Submit these as soon as possible so your application can be evaluated for interview selection.

Since MD-PhD programs only interview a fraction of applications received, the early applicants have a much better chance of receiving interviews. Interviews take place September through February. Final decisions are announced from November through March. You need to check each program for specific information on these dates as they vary. All programs offer second visit opportunities that generally take place in March or April. Once accepted you will have ample opportunity to acquire the information you need to make an informed decision about the best program for your training. Final decisions must be made by April 30. MD-PhD Programs start in the June to August time period.

Advice for the MD-PhD Interview

This advice is offered by Brian P. Sullivan, Executive Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University in St. Louis:

MD-PhD interviews attempt to assess the candidate’s potential to become an independent researcher. To do this, interviewers will first typically ask the candidate to describe their research projects. This is not a presentation, so the 12-minute talk with a 3-minute Q&A they gave at the student research symposium will not be enough to prepare them. Presenting at lab meetings is also insufficient; unlike the candidate’s PI, the interviewer will often have little, if any, specific knowledge of the research. The best practice is for the candidate to meet with other scientists & engage in a give and take on the candidate’s research. This forces the candidate to learn how to explain their work to someone who is not an expert in the candidate’s project, but who, nonetheless, is very smart. The interviewer will evaluate them on basic scientific knowledge, but they are not expected to know everything. More important is how the candidate handles a question: do they think clearly? Are they able to assimilate new information and engage in a lively discussion?

Another aspect of the interview is the interviewer describing their own work to the candidate. The candidate is evaluated on the basis of their ability to follow the research description and ask insightful questions. Intellectual curiosity is very important, and successful candidates are able to follow research descriptions outside their immediate field and ask relevant, relatively sophisticated questions. This is challenging, but individuals who spend a good deal of time talking about science with folks outside their lab usually do well.

Bottom line: candidates should immerse themselves in research & take every opportunity to talk about their work with others.

Here are a few tips I have gleaned over many years of observing MD-PhD admissions:

• Do not be afraid to say “I do not know.” It is far better to admit a knowledge shortage (which can be filled by exposure to source materials) than to pretend you know more than you really do. For obvious reasons, the ability to know & accept your limitations is important in science, and critically important in medicine.
• Do not attempt to cover all aspects of your work; there simply is not enough time. Pick the project that is most interesting, and best shows your ability to carry out independent work. Ideally, these should be the same project. Interviewers want to determine your ability to make intellectual contributions to the project, so you need to demonstrate your ability to think creatively, cogently, and deeply. A 10,000-foot survey of all your research experiences is not good enough. Leave the elevator talk in the elevator.
• If your name is on a paper, even as 10th author, you better be familiar with the entire paper. If you are fuzzy on the details the interviewer will wonder about your intellectual curiosity.
• Do not aggrandize your accomplishments.
• State the hypothesis. You would be amazed how many candidates fail to do this.
• Focus more on ideas than details. We want to know how you think, not that you are good at regurgitating facts.
• Ask your interviewer about her/his work.
• Ask thoughtful questions about your interviewer’s work.
• Remain engaged when your interviewer describes her work, even if it is deadly boring. She thinks it is the most interesting stuff in the world, and if you seem disinterested, she will attribute that to your thick headedness. (Tip: avoid foods that spike your blood glucose; post-prandial interviews are typically the candidate’s worst.)
• Be nice and appreciative towards the staff people you interact with. Many a brilliant jerk has been brought low by a mistreated secretary. Brains are plentiful in this business, but truly nice people are precious.

Finally, remember that this is an MD/PhD interview, not just a PhD interview. The student must be an outstanding candidate for med school, and must have a compelling rationale for pursuing combined degree training.

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• v.190(21); 2018 May 28

Whom should we really call a “doctor”?

This is in response to the News article by Roger Collier. 1 These days many health professionals use the title “doctor.” Indeed, The Canadian Press Stylebook now decrees that the title of doctor should be reserved for physicians. Physicians, surgeons, dentists, chiropodists, university professors and, in some countries, pharmacists describe themselves as doctors. This raises the question — are they? To answer this question, one has to examine that title from both linguistic and historical standpoints.

The word doctor is derived from the Latin verb “docere,” meaning to teach, or a scholar. Only by special arrangement do any of the preceding professionals teach. Only university professors with a doctoral degree normally teach at a university. Historically speaking, the title doctor was invented in the Middle Ages to describe eminent scholars. These doctorates date back to the 1300s. Such people were accorded a lot of respect and prestige.

The PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest graduate degree awarded by our universities.

Health professionals receive undergraduate degrees in medicine. These are professional degrees, and not really doctorates. The MD degree is not a part of graduate faculties at North American universities.

It has now become fashionable to award so-called Doctor of Law degrees to undergraduate law school graduates in the form of a Juris Doctor or JD degree, including at the University of Windsor. These, too, are merely undergraduate degrees.

Because of the respect and prestige, medical schools, particularly in Scotland, started to address their graduates as doctors in the 17th century. The argument was that graduates of such schools obtain a bachelor’s degree before joining medical school. There are problems with such logic, namely, a degree past a bachelor’s degree could potentially be a master’s degree, but not a doctoral degree.

A doctoral degree (PhD) is a degree that one earns after a master’s degree. A PhD entitles a person to use the title doctor. These are the social and physical scientists who conduct and evaluate published research. A PhD degree is normally obtained after six to eight years of hard work past the bachelor’s degree.

When we are asked in a physician’s or a dentist’s office what kind of doctor we are, we respond, “the real one.” We are the ones who teach the others.

We hope that this contribution helps in clearing up the confusion in the community about the title doctor.

The Canadian Press should change its policy and stylebook to reflect these facts and this history.

This contribution should not be construed as an attack on any professional or group of professionals. The main purpose here is to educate the public.

Competing interests: None declared.

MD-PhD Degree Programs by State

New section.

Combined MD-PhD degree programs provide students the opportunity to earn both the MD and the PhD in areas pertinent to medicine.

Combined MD-PhD degree programs provide students the opportunity to earn both the MD and the PhD in areas pertinent to medicine. Below is a list of schools offering a combined MD-PhD degree, with links to their web sites. Please contact the institutions directly for curriculum information and admission requirements. School administrators may contact [email protected]  with any omissions or corrections to this listing.

University of Alabama School of Medicine Birmingham, Ala.

University of South Alabama College of Medicine   Mobile, Ala.

University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Ariz.

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix Phoenix, Ariz.

University of Arkansas College of Medicine Little Rock, Ark.

Loma Linda University School of Medicine   Loma Linda, Calif.

Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, Calif.

University of California, Davis School of Medicine   Davis, Calif.

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine   Irvine, Calif.

University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine   Los Angeles, Calif.

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine   La Jolla, Calif.

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine   San Francisco, Calif.

Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California   Los Angeles, Calif.

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center   Denver, Colo.

Connecticut

University of Connecticut School of Medicine   Farmington, Conn.

Yale University School of Medicine   New Haven, Conn.

District of Columbia

Georgetown University School of Medicine   Washington, D.C.

Howard University College of Medicine   Washington, D.C.

University of Florida College of Medicine   Gainesville, Fla.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine   Miami, Fla.

University of South Florida College of Medicine   Tampa, Fla.

Emory University School of Medicine   Atlanta, Ga.

Medical College of Georgia   Augusta, Ga.

Morehouse School of Medicine   Atlanta, Ga.

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Augusta, Ga.

Loyola University of Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine   Maywood, Ill.

Northwestern University Medical School   Chicago, Ill.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - Chicago Medical School   North Chicago, Ill.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MTSP)  Chicago, Ill.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MD/PhD) Chicago, Ill.

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine   Chicago, Ill.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Medicine   Urbana, Ill.

Indiana University School of Medicine   Indianapolis, Ind.

University of Iowa College of Medicine   Iowa City, Iowa

University of Kansas School of Medicine   Kansas City, Kan.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine   Lexington, Ky.

University of Louisville School of Medicine   Louisville, Ky.

Louisiana State University, New Orleans School of Medicine   New Orleans, La.

Louisiana State University, Shreveport School of Medicine   Shreveport, La.

Tulane University School of Medicine   New Orleans, La.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine   Baltimore, Md.

National Institutes of Health Intramural MD-PhD Partnership   Bethesda, Md.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences   Bethesda, Md.

University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Medicine   Baltimore, Md.

Massachusetts

Boston University School of Medicine   Boston, Mass.

Harvard Medical School   Boston, Mass.

Tufts University School of Medicine   Boston, Mass.

University of Massachusetts Medical School   Worcester, Mass.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine   East Lansing, Mich.

University of Michigan Medical School   Ann Arbor, Mich.

Wayne State University School of Medicine   Detroit, Mich.

Mayo Medical School  Rochester, Minn.

University of Minnesota Medical School   Minneapolis, Minn.

Mississippi

University of Mississippi School of Medicine   Jackson, Miss.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine   St. Louis, Mo.

University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine   Columbia, Mo.

University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine   Kansas City, Mo.

Washington University School of Medicine   St. Louis, Mo.

Creighton University School of Medicine   Omaha, Neb.

University of Nebraska College of Medicine   Omaha, Neb.

University of Nevada School of Medicine   Reno, Nev.

New Hampshire

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth   Hanover, N.H.

Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School   Newark, N.J.

Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School   Piscataway, N.J.

University of New Mexico School of Medicine   Albuquerque, N.M.

Albany Medical College   Albany, N.Y.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University   Bronx, N.Y.

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons   New York, N.Y.

Hofstra North Shore - LIJ School of Medicine Hempstead, N.Y.

Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program   New York, N.Y.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine   New York, N.Y.

New York Medical College   Valhalla, N.Y.

New York University School of Medicine   New York, N.Y.

SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine   Buffalo, N.Y.

SUNY at Stony Brook Health Sciences Center   Stony Brook, N.Y.

SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine   Brooklyn, N.Y.

SUNY Upstate Medical University   Syracuse, N.Y.

University of Rochester School of Medicine   Rochester, N.Y.

North Carolina

Wake Forest School of Medicine   Winston-Salem, N.C.

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University   Greenville, N.C.

Duke University School of Medicine   Durham, N.C.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine   Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Dakota

University of North Dakota School of Medicine   Grand Forks, N.D.

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine   Cleveland, Ohio

Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine   Rootstown, Ohio

Ohio State University College of Medicine   Columbus, Ohio

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine   Cincinnati, Ohio

University of Toledo College of Medicine   Toledo, Ohio

Wright State University School of Medicine   Dayton, Ohio

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center   Oklahoma City, Okla.

Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine   Portland, Ore.

Pennsylvania

Drexel University College of Medicine   Philadelphia, Pa.

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University   Philadelphia, Pa.

Penn State University College of Medicine   Hershey, Pa.

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine   Philadelphia, Pa.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine   Pittsburgh, Pa.

Temple University School of Medicine   Philadelphia, Pa.

Rhode Island

Brown University School of Medicine   Providence, R.I.

South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina  Charleston, S.C.

University of South Carolina School of Medicine   Columbia, S.C.

South Dakota

University of South Dakota School of Medicine   Vermillion, S.D.

East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine   Johnson City, Tenn.

Meharry Medical College School of Medicine   Nashville, Tenn.

University of Tennessee, Memphis College of Medicine   Memphis, Tenn.

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine   Nashville, Tenn.

Baylor College of Medicine   Houston, Texas

McGovern Medical School at UTHealth/MD Anderson Cancer Center/University of Puerto Rico Tri-Institutional Program   Houston, Texas

Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center College of Medicine College   Station, Texas

Texas Tech University School of Medicine   Lubbock, Texas

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston   Galveston, Texas

University of Texas Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine   San Antonio, Texas

University of Texas, Southwestern Med Center - Dallas   Dallas, Texas

University of Utah School of Medicine   Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Vermont College of Medicine   Burlington, Vt.

Eastern Virginia Medical School   Norfolk, Va.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine   Richmond, Va.

University of Virginia School of Medicine   Charlottesville, Va.

University of Washington School of Medicine   Seattle, Wash.

West Virginia

Marshall University School of Medicine   Huntington, W.Va.

West Virginia University School of Medicine   Morgantown, W.Va.

Medical College of Wisconsin   Milwaukee, Wisc.

University of Wisconsin Medical School   Madison, Wisc.

McGill University Faculty of Medicine   Montreal, Quebec

McMaster University of Faculty of Health Sciences   Hamilton, Ontario

Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine   St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Universite de Montreal Faculte de Medecine   Montreal, Quebec

Universite de Sherbrooke Faculte de Medecine   Sherbrooke, Quebec

Universite Laval Faculte de Medecine   Quebec, Quebec

University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry   Edmonton, Alberta

University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine   Calgary, Alberta

University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine   Vancouver, British Columbia

University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine   Winnipeg, Manitoba

University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine   Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine   Toronto, Ontario

University of Western Ontario   London, Ontario

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Information on how to become a research physician, also known as a physician-investigator or a physician-scientist.

A Personal Plea to Premeds

Trisha Kaundinya | January 13, 2021

When I was in college, I was in a premed “bubble” a lot of the time. I took many of my courses and labs alongside hundreds of other aspiring physicians. I would see the same people throughout my academic day, and sometimes even outside of the lecture hall. Because of this, I unintentionally overheard conversations […]

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Formal MD Thesis Requirement

All students at Yale School of Medicine engage in research and are required to write an MD thesis during medical school. The only exceptions are students who have earned a PhD degree in the health sciences before matriculation and students enrolled in Yale’s MD/PhD program. The YSM MD Thesis is under the governance of the EPCC, which meets regularly to recommend rules, regulations, and deadlines.

Deadlines/Important Dates

Thesis approval process, thesis awards, required formatting and components of the md thesis, examples for reference section formatting, avoiding the risk of copyright violation and liability when submitting your md thesis, instructions for submitting a thesis to the yale medicine thesis digital library, thesis depositors declaration form, evaluations of advisor, student evaluation of thesis advisor.

• Yale School of Medicine Digital Thesis Depositor’s Declaration Form
• Thesis Deadline Extension Request Form

Thesis Deadlines for the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Md students:.

The Office of Student Research, in conjunction with the Dean’s Office, has established the following deadlines for theses submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation in May 2024. The deadlines ensure that (1) students have sufficient time to complete their theses; (2) that there is sufficient time for rigorous departmental review and subsequent revision by students before final approval. These deadlines are strictly followed. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their theses well before the Class of 2024 Thesis Deadlines provided below. This timeliness will provide students, advisors, and sponsoring departments sufficient time for useful review and revision. It should be recognized by all concerned that the integrity of the thesis requirement and effective, rigorous review requires adherence to these deadlines. OSR will hold periodic “Thesis Check-in Sessions” via zoom for the Class of 2024 and will send periodic reminder emails with more detailed instructions as these deadlines approach.

*Students missing the August 4th, January 19th, and/or March 29th deadlines will be referred to the Progress Committee to ensure they receive adequate support to make progress towards this graduation requirement. Students missing the January 19th and/or March 29th deadlines will be ineligible for thesis prizes at graduation.

Extensions beyond the above thesis deadlines will be granted only for special circumstances and must have the approval of the student’s thesis mentor/advisor, academic advisor, and the Departmental Thesis Chairperson . Students seeking an extension for the January 19, 2024, deadline must submit a Thesis Deadline Extension Request Form to their Academic Advisor, and the Departmental Thesis Chair, for approval. Students missing the August 4th, January 19th, and/or March 29th deadlines will be referred to the Progress Committee to ensure they receive adequate support to make progress towards this graduation requirement. In the event of an extension, if granted, the following ABSOLUTE Class of 2024 Thesis Extension Deadlines will apply:

*All late theses require an extension. The student must submit the Thesis Deadline Extension Request Form before January 19, 2024.

MD/MHS Students:

Consistent with degree requirements, MD/MHS students must present their thesis to their three-person committee prior to the January 19th deadline. Students are encouraged to start arranging the date of this committee meeting in the fall to avoid unanticipated delays.

MD/PhD Students:

A different process applies to students in the MD/PhD program. For students enrolled in the combined MD/PhD Program, the dissertation submitted to and approved by the Graduate School will satisfy the MD thesis requirement. Therefore, MD/PhD students who have already defended their dissertation and received their PhD should provide this information to OSR via email as soon as possible.

To ensure compliance with YSM graduation deadlines, MD/PhD students in the class of 2024 who have not defended and submitted their dissertation to the Graduate School by the October 1, 2023, deadline will need to submit a copy of their dissertation directly to OSR via the MD/PhD Box Upload Link by March 15, 2024. OSR will convene a committee to review the dissertation, obtain feedback, and provide approval for graduation. Please note that MD/PhD students must also defend and submit their dissertation to the Graduate School no later than March 15, 2024, to meet the Graduate School spring degree deadline for conferral of the PhD degree. MD/PhD students who have not yet defended their dissertation should provide this information to OSR. If there are any questions about the process, please contact the MD/PhD Office.

Financial support is not provided for writing the thesis.

Thesis Preparation and Approval

Preparation for thesis submission begins in the summer of the fourth year with the OSR leadership. At this time, timeline and practices are distributed via email and reviewed with students in class meetings. Because thesis approval is a lengthy process involving three levels of review, students are encouraged to manage their time well and start writing their first draft early in the fall semester of their final year of medical school. A suggested timeline is provided below.

July : Thesis deadlines are distributed via email to all students in the graduating class and an informational session is held. Students should be on track to complete their thesis research by mid-fall. Any student anticipating a challenge in this regard should contact the OSR as soon as possible. All students expecting to graduate in May of a given year must, provide the OSR with information regarding their thesis title and mentor/advisor. Students will receive an email from the OSR containing a Medtrics link requesting this information. The OSR will contact all thesis mentors/advisors to confirm this role and to provide information and expectations regarding the thesis process.

August – December : Students should be finalizing research and writing their thesis draft. As the semester progresses, activities should shift from the data generation/analysis to the writing of the actual thesis. Students should do their best to complete the first draft of the thesis by mid-late December. Because students are also involved in the residency application and interview process, they are discouraged from starting new projects at this time.

December – January : This period is devoted to reviewing and editing of thesis draft that is ultimately approved by their thesis mentor/advisor and submitted by the student to the Thesis Chair of their sponsoring department. The YSM thesis mentor/advisor will be asked to complete a thesis assessment that evaluates the student’s mastery of YSM’s research-related educational objectives and provides formative summative feedback to the student.

January – March : The Departmental Thesis Chair coordinates thesis review by external reviewers. An “external reviewer” is defined as an individual who is not directly involved in the project. This individual may be a Yale faculty member internal or external to YSM or may hold a faculty appointment at an outside institution. This reviewer is required to complete a thesis assessment and provide formative summative feedback, as well as recommendations for any required changes, to the thesis. Departmental Thesis Chairs review assessments, notify students of departmental approval, and transmit these approvals to the OSR.

March : Theses and their associated assessments undergo school-level review by the OSR. Students receive YSM approval of their thesis along with summative feedback obtained during the review process. Students incorporate any required changes into their thesis and upload to the Yale Medicine Digital Thesis Library/Eli Scholar via the ProQuest platform (see below).

April : The OSR confirms that theses have been deposited into the Yale Medicine Digital Thesis Library and the registrar receives the names of students who have completed the thesis requirement.

The central role of the medical student thesis is to assess student’s performance on the YSM’s research-related educational objectives. As such, all students are expected to produce an excellent piece of scholarly work. In recognition of these achievements, the OSR has worked to develop an award process that celebrates the wonderful research being done by our students without creating a competitive atmosphere surrounding the thesis. Hence, thesis awards are based on competency-based assessments submitted by thesis mentors/advisors and reviewers during the approval process, and internal review of the final thesis that was deposited into the Yale Medicine Digital Thesis Library. Consistent with all other graduation prizes, YSM MD Thesis Awards will remain confidential until they are announced in the YSM Commencement Program on May 20, 2024. While some departments may elect to confer thesis “honors” based upon their own internal review, this recognition is distinct from YSM graduation prizes and is not under OSR’s purview.

Read about the required formatting and components for the thesis .

See helpful examples for reference section formatting.

Read about avoiding the risk of copyright violation and liability when submitting your MD Thesis.

Learn more about submitting a thesis to the Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library .

Learn more about the Thesis Depositors Declaration Form.

Learn more about evaluating your experience with your thesis advisor .

Apply for a Thesis Extension

Read about the required formatting and components for the thesis.

Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine

Learn more about the journal or submit a manuscript.

How do you write a MD Ph.D name?

The following is assuming the doctorate is a PhD.

Joseph Williams M.B.A., PhD. However, many individuals only list the highest level of educational attainment, unless there is a necessity to indicate both, which could be determined by ones position within a specific organization. Listing both in many cases is just an overkill.

It depends on the specifics of your job placement. Some situations an individual may want to emphasize the PhD, some situations MD, some both.

Here are examples, assume all three are the same person, who holds both MD and PhD degrees:

1) John Smith, M.D., Ph.D. - A Medical School Professor in the Faculty Directory

2) Dr. John Smith, M.D., Ph.D. - A Medical School Professor Appearing on TV

3) Dr. John Smith, M.D. - A Medical Doctor, in a Plastic Surgery Practice (where PhD carries little weight).

I'm just giving examples of how my father's title changes depending on who he is being presented to (he earned MD and PhD separately, though I don't think earning them as a joint degree changes anything. They are both valid degrees on their own).

In most academic situations everybody is assumed to have a PhD, so it is often left off entirely.

However a Medical School professor doesn't necessarily have a PhD, but most certainly has an MD. Yet to leave out the MD in the case of a Medical School Professor, and to only use the PhD would lead many people to assume that they are only a PhD, which is why you won't see that happen.

A lay audience often is less educated and thus is more likely to think that if somebody has a degree they would say so, i.e., "Fox Medical Correspondent Dr. John Smith, M.D., Ph.D., " has both MD and PhDs while "John Smith, M.D., Ph.D." might not be a doctor (again, I would never think that, you may never think that, but some people are just uneducated on the decorum of doctors of all kinds.)

Also note that while Dr______MD are always used together, Dr_____PhD are not, as often it's either Dr OR PhD, i.e., one or the other in academia/higher-learning.

Hope that helps.

Add your answer:

Is a Ph.D required to be an MD?

No phd can refer to lots of fields of study but a md must be a phd

What is the name of person who has to write PhD thesis?

"candidate"

Rebus puzzle 0 MD Ph.D?

if it is 0 ______ MD Phd it is 2 degrees below zero if it is 0 ______ MD Phd it is 2 degrees below zero

What is salutation correct salutation for a doctor who also has Jr behind his name?

Walter J. Smith, Jr., MD. Never use Dr and MD (or PhD) in the same name.

How many degrees have the italicize letter?

Italicized letters do not have a specific number of degrees. The angle of italicization in text is based on the font design and style chosen by the designer or typographer. It can vary depending on the font and the software being used.

If you have the abrevisation Dr in front of a name is it correct or incorrect to also have MD or Ph.D after the name?

First, you do not use both. Typically, when work related the abbreviation follows the name. For example, John Williams MD. Or John Williams PhD.

Can dr Gerald grubbs in mesquite Texas prescribe drugs?

No, he is a psychologist. Only psychiatrists can prescribe meds. Psychologists only have a PhD. Psychiatrists are DO or MD and can write prescriptions.

Does a medical doctor hold a Ph.D?

No. Medical doctors in the USA (e.g. physicians) receive the professional training degree of MD or OD (Osteopathic Doctor). In contrast, a PhD is a higher academic degree based on philosophy, or research. A PhD does not prescribe medicine. A medical doctor may have a PhD, especially those that perform medical research, but most do not. If an individual has both an MD and a PhD they would list them in that order after their name (PhD listed last as it is the highest degree). A medical doctor holds a Doctor of Medicine diploma. Both Ph.D. and MD are doctorate degrees, so they're equal.

Do you put a comma after a doctor's name before the MD?

Yes. You should write it at John P. Doe, MD

What is Brain teaser with o line with MD BA PhD under?

Besides an md what other degrees would be good to get.

PhD is top dawg!

Which is harder to get a PhD degree or MD degree?

Both are intensive degree programs.

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• UTHealth Houston

Grand Rounds, April 18, 2024

Presentation title: teaching and learning in an outstanding surgical environment, speaker: john riggs, md, abbey bachmann, m.ed, phd, samuel neher, edd, ms, and vineeth john, md, mba.

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024 Time: 7:00 AM ‐ 8:00 AM Location: Medical School Building Learning Format: In‐Person

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe experiences that lead to great learning moments
• Discuss your vision for surgical education
• Explain the relationship of character skills to achieving career goals
• Adopt new methods for learning in surgical care

Accreditation Statement: McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation:

• McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
• McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 Hour(s) Attendance w/No Credit. Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABS MOC Statement: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self‐Assessment requirements of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Event Disclosures:

Speakers: Abbey Bachmann, M.Ed, PhD, Vineeth John, MD, MBA, Samuel Neher, EdD, MS, and John Riggs, MD, MS have no financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re‐selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients to disclose.

Planners and other Administrative Support: David Lubkin, MD, Ashley Dawson, MD, Sasha Adams, MD, David Kim, MD, and Nicole Harris, MD have no financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients to disclose.

Lillian Kao, MD, Professor, Surgery has disclosed a financial relationship with one or more ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re‐selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients:

• Wolters Kluwer ‐ Editor of Section in UpToDate ‐ Relationship Ended

Any financial relationship that was found to be relevant has been mitigated.

Commercial Support: This activity is not commercially supported.

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