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

Doing a PhD is on my bucket list just so I can have Dr Luna on my headstone. you have earned your title, use it everywhere for everything!

Just be prepared as every time you see a new GP or hospital doctor who will also have you recorded as Dr they will ask for your specialty and that will be a Ross Geller cringe moment.

When I got mine I immediately used it for buying a sofa you’ve earned it, use it whenever you want!

@Flittingaboutagain

Just be prepared as every time you see a new GP or hospital doctor who will also have you recorded as Dr they will ask for your specialty and that will be a Ross Geller cringe moment.

Why is it a cringe moment when it is her title? Medical doctors are not that stupid to assume every other person with 'Dr' as their title is a medical doctor.

Flittingaboutagain and presumably one would, with a smile, give the GP or other medic your speciality: beit medieval history, linguistics, pharmaceutical engineer or theology. I don't see the issue unless it's that the average GP or other medic is so ignorant they don't actually know it's possible to have the title Dr without being a medic

God if I got one I’d be getting my immediate family to address me as doctor

I got mine 15 years ago, I use it too. My Drs often asks me what my PhD was in, once they've established Im not a clinician. Tbh they often don't dumb down things (mines in medical related research ) as I'm quite aware of what I know and what I don't, I ask more explanations of and it helps the health related conversation flow

Why is it a cringe moment when it is her title? Medical doctors are not that stupid to assume every other person with 'Dr' as their title is a medical doctor.

Well said @NerrSnerr. And, as I said above, neither are cabin crew.

You’ve earned the title, congratulations!
One of my friends is working on her doctorate in her 50’s and I 100% know she’s going to be known as “Dr.” when she earns it.

I just hope she’s never asked to assist with a medical emergency, she’s squeamish and a Ph.D. in finance won’t be terribly helpful in that situation.🤣

Sorry it was meant lightheadedly hence referring to Ross.

(But yes I do work in general practice and it is quite a medic centric world)

It really isn't used that much by people not in academia. I have friends, neighbours and my BIL all with PhDs and none use it on forms or for their usual name/ address. It means you have achieved a high level in a subject but it doesn't show you have a professional qualification.
(Just like people with bachelor and master degrees never bother to put those letters after their name.)

Don't be embarrassed. Be proud of your achievement op. You are a Dr and have every right to use the title

Well done OP. Don't worry about it.
I am Dr but I don't use it except at work or occasionally in situations where I think it might be of some advantage to me

I use Dr. Much prefer it over Mrs. I’d rather be titled as someone with a PhD than married women.

Ill leave this here

I use my title Dr every time I'm asked for my title. So forms, at the doctors and so forth, I haven't changed everything to Dr but I don't think it's naff at all to use it when directly asked for your title!

In work, no-one addresses each other as Dr so and so unless doing introductions or writing it out on paper, because everyone has a Dr title, or Professor, so it's first names most of the time. It's polite to introduce people by their titles though, and then let them lead the way with their first name, and women being introduced by their first name and men being introduced with their title on panels is a pet hate of mine!

It's good enough for Dr Jill Biden, it's good enough for you.

Congratulations!
Definitely use the title - you have earned it!
You may find that some (medical) doctors politely ask if you are a medical doctor before treating you, though! :)

Just be prepared as every time you see a new GP or hospital doctor who will also have you recorded as Dr they will ask for your specialty and that will be a Ross Geller cringe moment no it isn't because they know there are different types of doctor, usually they ask if you are a medical doctor and if not, what you studied, it gives us something to chat about whilst they are performing an embarrassing medical procedure...

I have reverted to using dr ever since I was assaulted by a medical doctor (I had enough of being viewed as poor little Mrs and it’s probably the only reason any of the fuckers at the hospital listened to me (they still did nothing) ).

little known fact that the doctor title originally only pertained to those with a doctorate and isn’t used for medical doctors everywhere!
You use it with pride!!

You earned it.
Use it.
Be proud of it.

Many congratulations OP, a fantastic achievement.👏👏👏

@Flittingaboutagain

Just be prepared as every time you see a new GP or hospital doctor who will also have you recorded as Dr they will ask for your specialty and that will be a Ross Geller cringe moment.

No, it really won’t.

Use your title and revel in it!!! Bloody well done!!!!

I’m a medical doctor and if you came to see me I’d probably ask what you were a doctor of and then say something along the lines of “Oh a proper doctor!”

I only have MB ChB and MRCP, nothing doctoral level. Wouldn’t think it odd at all!

@Flittingaboutagain

Just be prepared as every time you see a new GP or hospital doctor who will also have you recorded as Dr they will ask for your specialty and that will be a Ross Geller cringe moment.

And you do realise that the joke was on RACHEL in the Friends scene, not Ross?

We have doctors and doctor’s in our family and no one uses their title outside of work. When they’ve chatted about it they have said things along the lines that they have no need to impress random people.

I think it’s cringe and comes across as pompous however I also really hate using Mrs/Ms so I’m a little conflicted. If I was at the Doctors I might mention that I had done a PhD if they were talking about something I knew about but apart from that I don’t see why anyone would need to know.

I think the use of titles is old fashioned.