To sign up at the surgery as ‘Dr’

[Chocolatebutton43]

I got my PhD two months ago, moved to a new place and signed up to a new doctor’s surgery and dental practice.

Filling in the forms, I got a bit carried away with my new title and ticked the ‘dr’ box! I’ve been doing it a lot lately for silly little things partly ‘cause I’m just happy to have finished and passed my degree and also because I relish that I am no longer defined by my marital status.

But, I now need to visit the surgery and I feel like an idiot. The form also had occupation so the doctor will know I’m not a medical doctor. Is he/she going to think I am a total prat for using Dr outside my work and at the doctor’s surgery of all places? Cringe

Do not cringe OP. Women don't use their academic titles enough IMO. As pp said use it - you earned it.

@TableFlowerss

**My husband is an academic. So?

Those who become medical doctors are drawn from the brightest and the best pupil at school and go on to become the students who have the longest and most challenging course at university.
The public places then in high regard, generally, because it is acknowledged that they are worthy of their status**

@Janegrey333

This this and this more. IMO a medical doctor is the epitome of the crem de la crem. Only the brightest students can go in to study medicine.

It’s the hardest degree in terms of the A-levels needed to even apply for medicine. Chemistry, Biology, Physics/maths. You couldn’t get 4 harder A-levels.

You then have to get A grades in the hardest subjects. Most people wouldn’t be able to do this.

Then 5 years as uni on an extremely difficult course. That’s why they are honorary Doctors, because it acknowledges they are at the top academically. They have to be to get there in the first place.

Then they save lives!! Very important job!

A PhD is a big deal in each field but some fields are harder than others. I know people that have gone on to do a PhD on the back of their average ‘soft’ A-levels such as Sociology, General studies etc... of course they’ve upped their game to get their PhD. They’ve got an interest in their field and worked their socks off but they wouldn’t have been able to study medicine.

That’s the only reason to use the title Dr, to inform the uninformed that they do in fact have a PhD. In real life no one really cares.

I don't think you can claim which subjects or A Levels are objectively 'harder' than others. It doesn't work like that.

It's vanishingly unlikely someone intelligent enough to do a PhD would not be intelligent enough to study medicine. The issue won't be intelligence - it might be something like squeamishness!

(And btw, medics can and do fail to get PhDs. A family friend of mine became a Dr Dr when he was well on into his medical career, and it was a big achievement of which he was justly proud.)

I should add, I say this as someone who studied veterinary medicine and has a PhD subsequent to that degree. I know exactly what's involved in getting into competitive undergrad courses...

Indeed - it took DD two attempts over two years to get a place on a course, despite having top A-level predictions/grades. Hell, even getting an interview was cause for celebration! A process not for the faint-hearted. And once you're there, it's really tough - what should have been a 5-year course ended up taking 6...

@CheetasOnFajitas I genuinely didn't really think about it when I did the first draft, I guess he never really uses 'Dr' on normal correspondence and so I just didn't think about it. Then he never mentioned it when he looked at them before they were sent, as he thought I'd done it on purpose (and wasn't that bothered). I felt terrible .

I get using it in a professional role where the job aligns. Using it elsewhere where it’s of no relevance would seem strange to me. A bit too much “ look at me” sort of thing.

A medical degree is generally continuous and not attempted in “bits”

All my quals have been on the same subject so wasn't done in 'bits'. I was building on previous knowledge.

@DiseasesOfTheSheep

I love that a few A Levels and an undergraduate admissions interview is being used as evidence of the greater rigour of a medical degree. Those starting PhDs have a 1st/2,1 u/g degree, usually a masters and will be interviewed for admission onto the PhD course. Medical degrees are very demanding, but in no way do they select exclusively for the most intelligent individuals. The same is, of course, true to some extent with PhDs, as it is a much a measure of resilience and work ethic as it is intelligence.

I should add, I say this as someone who studied veterinary medicine and has a PhD subsequent to that degree. I know exactly what's involved in getting into competitive undergrad courses...

Exactly this. I didn’t have the best school grades because I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I didn’t apply myself.

However, I have a first class UG degree, a MSc with distinction (I won an award for getting the top grades on my programme) and I underwent a rigorous application and interview process to get a funded PhD place.

Fine, I wouldn’t have been offered a place on a medical degree based on my school results but I resent the implication that I’m less intelligent than a medical student. I didn’t go for a PhD as a Mickey Mouse option.

@SarahAndQuack

**I don't think you can claim which subjects or A Levels are objectively 'harder' than others. It doesn't work like that.

It's vanishingly unlikely someone intelligent enough to do a PhD would not be intelligent enough to study medicine. The issue won't be intelligence - it might be something like squeamishness**

It does work like that though, otherwise medical schools wouldn’t stipulate those subjects. There are absolutely subjects that are considered ‘hard’ and soft.

Much the same way University’s have degrees that are considered Micky mouse degrees. A degree in football management for example, wouldn’t hold the same clout as a maths degree.

I’m not saying some PhD students wouldn’t be bright enough to study medicine, I’m sure they would. I don’t however think that all of them could.

@SarahAndQuack

(And btw, medics can and do fail to get PhDs. A family friend of mine became a Dr Dr when he was well on into his medical career, and it was a big achievement of which he was justly proud.)

Again, a PhD in medicine or the like, will be harder than a PhD in say sociology....

It does work like that though, otherwise medical schools wouldn’t stipulate those subjects. There are absolutely subjects that are considered ‘hard’ and soft.

Medical schools request those subjects because they need students to have previous knowledge in them .... they've not looked at list a just gone for those they think are the most difficult!

Much the same way University’s have degrees that are considered Micky mouse degrees. A degree in football management for example, wouldn’t hold the same clout as a maths degree.

I bloody hate the term 'Mickey Mouse degrees'. It's just outright snobbery and lack of understanding of the HE sector and graduate employability

@SueEllenMishke

It does work like that though, otherwise medical schools wouldn’t stipulate those subjects. There are absolutely subjects that are considered ‘hard’ and soft.

Medical schools request those subjects because they need students to have previous knowledge in them .... they've not looked at list a just gone for those they think are the most difficult!

They also happen to be considered the most difficult subjects at A- level!!

@SueEllenMishke

Much the same way University’s have degrees that are considered Micky mouse degrees. A degree in football management for example, wouldn’t hold the same clout as a maths degree.

I bloody hate the term 'Mickey Mouse degrees'. It's just outright snobbery and lack of understanding of the HE sector and graduate employability

Well shall we say degrees that aren’t considered as difficult?!

They also happen to be considered the most difficult subjects at A- level!!

But that doesn't mean those that don't choose these aren't capable. Sometimes it down the preference and interests.

You don't actually need Biology A Level to do medicine.

The others are required because they provide the necessary background.

It's not because they are objectively 'harder'.

And no, a PhD in Medicine will not be harder than a PhD in another subject. It just does not work like that.

I haven’t read thru the whole thread so sorry if this has already been said. I’m a medical doctor (GP) and I wouldn’t mind one bit if you called yourself Dr - you’ve earned it! I probably would ask as I might explain things in different language if I’m talking to another medical Dr tho.

And as per the above- medical students definitely aren’t the brightest purely by default. I know plenty of people who are smarter than me. Things like physics for example are way above my head and I’m not great at university challenge. However most medical students are “well rounded” and clearly need to be of a certain standard.

Is my husband allowed to use his dr title if it's about what A levels he did? He did maths, further maths, physics and chemistry. He has an Astro physics undergrad, nuclear physics msc and then his phd was about writing in astrophysics code to model something else. Is he worthy or is he automatically less clever than a medical doctor for not doing a medical degree?

People can have really funny reactions to PhD-doctors. My personal opinion is that it should only be used in work contexts to avoid misleading others.

It's in no way misleading for me to use the title 'Dr' if I'm asked for a title. If people find it misleading, then it's due to a lack of awareness of the education system. So the more people with PhDs use the title, if they want to, the more people find out, the more they realise that not all medics are doctors and not all doctors are medics.

And I also use Mr if the only other options are Miss or Mrs. Fuck that shit.

@SueEllenMishke

They also happen to be considered the most difficult subjects at A- level!!

But that doesn't mean those that don't choose these aren't capable. Sometimes it down the preference and interests.

I never said people that don’t chose them aren’t capable. What I’m saying is, most people would struggle to get top marks in those 4 subjects. It would be extremely difficult.

@SarahAndQuack

You don't actually need Biology A Level to do medicine.

The others are required because they provide the necessary background.

It's not because they are objectively 'harder'.

And no, a PhD in Medicine will not be harder than a PhD in another subject. It just does not work like that.

Well, not sure you’d have had time to go through every universities entry criteria in the UK. They aren’t all identical. Perhaps some don’t, but you can guarantee if Biology isn’t required then Maths, Physics and Chemistry will be.

By the nature of the subject matter, they are harder, which is why it’s only the brightest academically that gain a place.

It depends what subject you’re taking about in which you gain a PhD. Again, a PhD is sociology wouldn’t be as hard as a one in medicine.... imo!

@NerrSnerr honestly I think people who study astrophysics are like the smartest people in the world. It’s so out of my league of understanding as a medical doctor! Blows my mind!

I don't need to take time to know Biology isn't required; this isn't something I looked up yesterday!

It is not only the brightest students who get places on medical degree courses.

You need a certain basic level of intelligence and academic competence; you also need lots of other skills that aren't strictly academic (not a surprise as it's a vocational degree). And you need a work ethic.

Do you actually know anyone who's done a PhD in medicine and then in another subject? I do. A PhD is a PhD. They're hard. I've never heard of anyone getting into the 'my PhD was harder than yours' debate because it would make them sound as if they lacked the basic intelligence to have done a PhD.

@SarahAndQuack

I don't need to take time to know Biology isn't required; this isn't something I looked up yesterday!

It is not only the brightest students who get places on medical degree courses.

You need a certain basic level of intelligence and academic competence; you also need lots of other skills that aren't strictly academic (not a surprise as it's a vocational degree). And you need a work ethic.

Do you actually know anyone who's done a PhD in medicine and then in another subject? I do. A PhD is a PhD. They're hard. I've never heard of anyone getting into the 'my PhD was harder than yours' debate because it would make them sound as if they lacked the basic intelligence to have done a PhD.

I agree with this (and I hope people didn't think I was belittling other PHDs when I mentioned my husbands). A PHD is different to other areas of study, it's a very different challenge to medical school learning which is 'taught'.

I just wish we could all celebrate each other's achievements a bit more and compare a bit less.