Why It Is Appropriate to Address Someone with a Ph.D. as “Doctor”
Ph.D. stands for “Doctor of Philosophy.” To earn this degree, one must make an original contribution to humanity’s body of knowledge (In ancient Greek, “philosophy” means “lover of wisdom”). It is an extraordinary feat, taking years of dedicated study at graduate school. The course of study culminates in the candidate writing and defending a thesis dissertation, which must be approved by more senior experts in the chosen discipline (history, education, biology, etc.).
M.D. stands for “Doctor of Medicine” and refers to a physician. It is another extraordinary achievement that involves years of detailed study and training. After four years of medical school, candidates apply for a residency program to become further trained in their chosen medical specialty. Candidates also have to pass rigorous exams in their country, such as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). I’ve heard some people suggest that an M.D. degree is like a “Ph.D. in Medicine.”
In short:
Ph.D. = work on a body of knowledge
M.D. = work on your body
Ph.D. and M.D. are the highest university degrees one can attain. Some people earn both Ph.D. and M.D. degrees (M.D./Ph.D.) and practice both medicine and research. They are sometimes referred to as…