name phd or dr

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.

How to Use Dr and PhD with a Name

In English, as in many other languages, professional titles have abbreviations. These are for writing convenience but people will sometimes annunciate them while speaking. Two of these, Dr and PhD, are very common references when talking about the specific name of a doctor.

Therefore, it means you’re referring to people and in this case, it’s a college-trained and licensed individual who practices things like medicine, psychology, science, mathematics or some other field of study. But, like with most other things in English grammar, there is a particular use of Dr and PhD.

To use “Dr” to indicate a doctor, most particularly in the fields of medicine and science, you will put it before a person’s name. You can indicate first and last name. But, if you want to be casual or informal, you can use Dr before only mentioning a first name.

Dr. Michael Yeadon

Dr. Sherri Tenpenny

Dr. Carrie is my physician.

There are some people who receive doctorate degrees, the highest education one can receive in any given subject. While they are doctors, they aren’t medical, scientific or psychological doctors. For instance, they could have a doctorate in things like politics, journalism, economics or some other such thing.

Dr. Shane Ammora, PhD

Mnemonic Device

Whenever you want to write or mention the name of someone who’s a doctor, you’ll either use Dr or PhD to indicate their title. But, Dr comes before and PhD will be after.

Can a PhD be called Doctor? Doctoral Degree Titles

If someone holds a PhD, they are able to call themselves Doctor. The doctor title is very prestigious and often projects expertise and respect in those who decide to use it.

A person with a PhD can be called Dr. However, many people with PhD degrees choose not to use their official titles unless they are communicating in an official capacity or are working in a professional role where they use their PhD.

I reserve the use my PhD title when I am giving a talk as it provides immediate credibility whereas, I do not often use my doctor title in many other instances.

When I first got my PhD I used my doctor title a lot more than I do now. I guess, the novelty has worn off and I have decided that it is not something that defines who I am as a person and, therefore, I would only use it in an official capacity.

Should PhDs use the title “doctor” after their doctorate? 

It is a personal choice for a PhD holder to use the title of “doctor”.

In many countries, it is common practice to use the title when referring to someone with a doctoral degree.

The title of doctor holds a significant level of prestige, and it generally signifies a high level of education and expertise in a particular field. Which is why it is important to use it in an official capacity.

Those who have earned a PhD have spent many years researching, writing and defending their work and have earned the right to use the title if so desired.

The title of doctor can also be used by medical professionals, and it is important to clarify the intended meaning when using the title to avoid confusion.

The decision to use the title of doctor is a personal one that should be made with an understanding of its significance and potential implications.

Even though the original use of the doctor title was for scholars, nowadays there are several different professional qualifications that can use the doctor title.

There are many honorific doctor titles, including those found in the table below.

The use of the doctor term for many healthcare-related qualifications can cause a fair bit of confusion about what qualification the person has achieved.

If you have any doubt about what degree a person holds look at the letters after their name.

If you want to know more about the doctor title check out my other article:

• How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate “rules”
• Is a PhD a Doctor? [The full guide]

When can a PhD student be called doctor? After their dissertation?

A PhD student can be called doctor after successfully completing all the requirements of their program, including passing their dissertation defense.

More specifically, many universities only allow you to use the doctoral title after confirmation of your degree.

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.

Personally, I felt comfortable using the doctor title as soon as I receive my notification letter from the University referring to me as Dr Stapleton. It was from this moment that I started using the doctor title.

There would be nothing wrong with someone using the doctor title after they have successfully defended their PhD – it just comes down to a matter of personal preference.

The title “Doctor” can still be used informally for those who hold other doctoral degrees such as a JD (Doctor of Law) or an EdD (Doctor of Education).

A PhD student can only be referred as a “Doctor” upon the completion of their doctoral program and after receiving their degree.

Why is PhD called doctor of philosophy?

A Ph.D. is called a Doctor of Philosophy because historically, philosophy was considered the foundation of all knowledge.

The word “philosophy” itself means the love of wisdom, and the pursuit of truth through reason and logic.

In medieval Europe, philosophy encompassed all forms of intellectual inquiry, including:

• mathematics,
• and history.

As universities developed and specialized in particular disciplines, the title of Doctor of Philosophy became associated with the highest level of academic achievement in any field.

This means that a Ph.D. is not limited to the study of philosophy but refers to any individual who has demonstrated the ability to conduct original research in their chosen field and make a significant contribution to advancing knowledge.

A Ph.D. signifies not only mastery of a specific subject but also the ability to think deeply and critically about complex problems. There are now many professional doctorates that include the doctor titleIn recognition of the hard work and deep thinking required to complete.

Wrapping up

Yes, PhD holders can be called Doctor.

Once you’ve completed a PhD and been conferred by your university and institution you can officially use the Dr title before your name and the PhD tag after your name.

Many doctoral degree holders only use their academic title in official settings such as academia and official duties.

Even though I was very excited about receiving my doctor title, after a couple of years the novelty wears off and I only use my official titles in the same way that someone would want to include Mr, Mrs, or Ms.

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.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

We are here to help you navigate Academia as painlessly as possible. We are supported by our readers and by visiting you are helping us earn a small amount through ads and affiliate revenue - Thank you!

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How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

—- For more on the the use of Port-Nominal Abbreviations , see that page . —- For more on use of an Honorary Doctorate , see that page . How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Here are the forms to use when addressing a person addressed as Dr. See the discussion below “How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name 1-2-3-4-5” for more information on who typically does use Dr. as part of their name and who does not.

—- Envelope or address block on letter or email to their office/place of work: ——– (Full Name), (Post-nominal abbreviation for doctorate held). ——– ( Name of office/place of work if  appropriate) ——– (Address)

—- Social/Personal envelope: ——– Dr. (Full Name) ——– (Address)

—- Salutation – for both official & social: ——– Dear Dr. (Surname):  How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name: 1-2-3-4-5

—- #1) Holders of doctorates who work in academia or research institutions are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ professionally and socially in a salutation or conversation. Thus, a Ph.D. professor at a college, a Ph.D. in biology doing scientific research, and a Ph.D. principal at an elementary school all use Dr. (Name) and everybody thinks it is normal.

—- NOTE: At some universities it is traditional to address faculty holding of academic doctorates as ‘Mr. (Name)’ or ‘Professor (Name)’ and not to address as ‘Dr. (Name)’. For those outside the academic community it is acceptable to follow the insider’s rule or to address holders of doctorates as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in writing or oral address.

—- #2) Protestant clergy with doctorates are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in a salutation or conversation. I specify ‘Protestant’ here because not all clergy is. For example, neither priests – addressed in a salutation or conversation as Father [Name] – nor rabbis – addressed as Rabbi [Name] –  holding doctorates are ever addressed as Dr. [Name] . In a salutation or conversation they stick with Father[Name] and Rabbi [Name].

—- #3) Holders of doctorates who work outside academia or research don’t always prefer to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. in a salutation or conversation. —- —- A) In the USA ‘Dr.’ may be used depending on the work environment and/or when the degree isn’t pertinent to the conversation. E.g., a Ph.D. in finance working at a bank or a Ph.D. in American history working in software development are not likely to insist on being addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’ . But always ask for their preference. Use of, or omitting, the honorific can be a sensitive issue to some individuals! —- —- B) And, outside the U.S.A. everyone holding a doctorate will want to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ in every instance.

—- #4) In hospitals and healthcare environments historically there was a practice that only physicians (medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, etc. ) are addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’. This was explained to be out of consideration for the patients who want to know who ‘the doctors’ are and who are nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

—- That made for some unhappy professionals who earned doctorates in hospital administration, pharmacy, physical therapy and nursing, etc. – who felt they too were properly addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ . It’s my understanding that today all the holders of doctorates are addressed as Dr. (Name) and hospitals (etc.) have figured out other ways to define which doctor is a physician, which is a physical therapist and which is a nurse anesthetist.

—- #5) All that said, ultimately how one is addressed by others is up to the individual and usually everyone goes along. For example, if you and I meet a woman who identifies herself as ‘Monsignor Alice’ … I think it is unlikely she’s a Roman Catholic Monsignor. And, it’s unusual she has only one name, like Pink, Rhianna, Sting, Cher, or Madonna. But we should directly address her in conversation as ‘Monsignor Alice,’ it’s nice to meet you …’ because that’s what she says her name is. How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

—- But, when she’s out of range, we will all be talking about her.

—- —- – Robert Hickey

Related Healthcare Links -V — — Chiropractor / Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine -V — — Dentist / Doctor of Dentistry -V — — Medical Doctor / Doctor of Medicine -V — — Military Physician / Armed Services -V — — Optometrist / Doctor of Optometry -V — — Osteopath / Doctor of Osteopathy -V — — Podiatrist / Doctor of Podiatry -V — — Veterinarian / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

More Related Healthcare Links: -V — — Person holding a doctorate -V — — Pharmacist / Doctor of Pharmacy -V — — Psychologist -V — — Therapist

Related Links: —- —- —- Principal —- —- —- Headmaster —- —- —- President College University —- —- —- President of a School —- —- —- Chancellor —- —- —- Professor

When To Use Dr. (Name) and When To Use (Name), Ph.D.?

My daughter is receiving her Ph.D. and will be teaching. I would like to give her a name plate for her desk. Should it be ‘Dr. (Full Name)’ or ‘(Full Name), Ph.D. ‘? ——————- – AP

Dear AP,   How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

‘(Full Name), Ph.D.’ is the official form of her name. You will use it on the envelope, or in the address block of a letter, when you write to her with regard to her professional pursuits. This is the form the university will use when she is listed among the faculty. It is used by the degree holder, when specifying the exact degree is pertinent – like on business cards or in a list of academics.

‘Dr. (Full Name)’ is the social form of her name. You will use it when you write her name on a personal letter’s envelope, e.g., one sent to her home. This is the form everyone will use on the envelope when they send her a birthday or holiday card. It is rarely used by the degree holder since one does not correctly give oneself an honorific. The degree holder – in their signature or when introducing him or herself – just uses their name … no ‘Dr.’ It’s up to the other person to add the ‘Dr.’ E.g., I just introduce myself as ‘Robert Hickey’ – never ‘Mr. Robert Hickey.’

Sometimes you will observe a physician in a healthcare setting introducing him or herself as ‘Dr. (Name)’ – but there it is for the patient’s benefit to know they are the physician in a field of people wearing seemingly identical white coats!

‘Dr. (Surname)’ is the conversational form of her name. Use it both officially and socially in a letter’s salutation as well as in oral conversation.

So, for an office name plate use the official form of her name – (Full Name), Ph.D.

– Robert Hickey

Doctors present the official form of their name to the public:  (Full Name) (Pertinent post-nominals for the service offered).   The social form of their name does not include their degree: Dr. (Full Name).   In both official and social salutations and conversations patients use Dr. (Name).

If My Doctorate is in Music, am I ‘Dr.’?

I hold a DMA, Doctorate in Music, from a Boston university and am a Church Music Director. Please could you advise me as to whether it is acceptable for the church where I work to list me in the service bulletins as: ‘Dr. (First name) + (Last name) ‘? —————- – CJ

Dear CJ: How to Use a Doctorate with your Name It is correct to list yourself in the bulletin using the professional form of your name … (First name) + (Last name), DMA.    It specifies your academic credential in your professional domain.

Among protestant denominations many address their clergy with a doctorate orally and in a salutation as  Dr. (Surname).   If your church is one of those, and it is your preference is to be Dr. (Surnhttps://formsofaddress.info/wp-admin/post.php?post=13983&action=edit#ame), tell everyone that it is your preference to be addressed Dr. (Surname).

Usually academics and researchers who go by Dr. (Surname) professionally – use Dr. (Surname)  socially. But ultimately whether a particular Ph.D. holder is ‘Dr. (Name)’ socially … especially outside of healthcare, academia or research … is at the preference of the bearer. Some insist, some don’t care, others say they answer to anything they are called. Ultimately your name belongs to you and if you want to be Dr. (Surname), then it’s your right to request everyone address you that way.

– Robert Hickey   How to Use a Doctorate with your Name

May I Call Myself Dr. (Name)  if my Degree Is Not Related to the Service I Offer?

I have a Ph.D. and license in counseling. Recently I sent out an announcement for a yoga class I will be teaching. The state of Colorado says I should not teach yoga as   “Dr. (Name)”. How can I convince them I can? ——– – Kevin S., Ph.D., L.P.C., C.M.T., I.K.Y.T.A. ,  Counseling, Yoga Therapy, Integrative Health & Healing

Dear Dr. Kevin, How to Use a Doctorate with your Name

Your Ph.D. is in a field not related to the service you are offering.

A couple of typical practices I observe in the USA come to mind:

Professionals use with their name the degrees pertinent to their profession service. The degrees and certifications are provided for the benefit of the public so the public can quickly evaluate your credentials.

Here’s what I mean by pertinent . A pastor who would be the Reverend (Full Name)  & Pastor (Name) at church on Sundays, would not use the Reverend (Full Name) & Pastor (Name)  when teaching English Monday through Friday, at the local high school. That he or she is the Reverend  might be mentioned in a complete biography or introduction. It just isn’t part of his/her name at school.

So, I can see if you are using ‘Dr. (Name)’ when offering a class in yoga, and your doctorate is not directly to the service you are offering, say a doctorate physical therapy or kinesthetics …. it would be confusing to me … and the state officials must think it is misleading to the public.

– Robert Hickey How to Use a Doctorate with Your Name

Should I Use Dr. or Ph.D. on an Invitation?

If a person holds a Ph.D., should his or her name be ‘Dr. (name)’ a wedding invitation? Or ‘( Name), Ph.D.’ ?  Is this true for the father of the bride?  The groom?  Is the rule for names on wedding invitations and wedding envelopes different that the guidelines for social correspondence? ————– – Beverly Russell, Winchester, Virginia

Dear Ms. Russell: Wedding invitations and their envelopes are social correspondence. Post-nominal abbreviations ( Ph.D. is a post nominal abbreviation) aren’t used on social correspondence:

—- —- DON’T use Ph.D.

—- —- DO use Dr. (Name)

Another question that typically comes up is whether to use Doctor or Dr. (spelled out or abbreviated) on the invitation or on the mailing envelope?

The rule is to spell out everything and not to use abbreviations unless space is an issue.

But, Mr., Mrs., Dr., and Ms. (for which there is no spelled-out version) are typically used on invitations and when addressing invitations in even the most formal circles. I think ‘Doctor (Name)’ looks oh-so-highly precious, but I know some wedding planners who would wrestle me to the mat on that one.

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them. ___ What I don’t cover on this site are  many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions , etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—- #1)    At right  on desktops , at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones , is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—- #2)   If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail . I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so  (unless I am traveling.)   Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—- #3)   If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Recommended Resources:    The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW)  and  Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)     For more information see the Protocol Resources page.

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« What’s in a Name? Authors With Only One Name | Main | Creating a Reference for a Work Published With a Typo in the Title »

May 31, 2017

What’s in a name names with titles in them.

This post is part of a series on author names. Other posts in the series will be linked at the bottom of this post as they are published.

Typically APA Style reference list entries and in-text citations do not include the authors’ academic credentials or professional titles. For example, if a book is written by Samantha T. Smith, PhD, then the reference entry refers to Smith, S. T., and the in-text citation to Smith. Professional titles are also omitted from reference list entries and in-text citations. For example, for a Thomas the Train book written by the Reverend W. Awbry, the reference refers to Awbry, W., and the in-text citation will be to Awbry (1946).

Here are some common examples of academic credentials and professional titles to omit from references and citations (note this is not an exhaustive list—anything in a similar vein will count):

Note that if you do want to mention an author’s academic credentials or professional title in the text because it is relevant to the discussion, you should use the format without periods (e.g., PhD, not Ph.D.; an exception is for abbreviations of a single word, such as Rev. for Reverend ).

Exceptions for Religious Officials and Nobility

Exceptions to including the title in APA Style citations occur when the person’s title is in essence their name. For example, although Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he now writes using the name Pope Francis. Here is how to cite an encyclical letter by Pope Francis:

You should not abbreviate the Pope's name to Francis, P., because this would render it unintelligible to the reader.

And here is an example of how to cite a book by Prince Charles of Wales:

Note that the two authors who are credited after “with” on the cover are listed in parentheses in the reference list entry and are not cited in the in-text citation. (For more information on “with” authors, see page 184 of the Publication Manual , sixth bullet.)

Other Questions

Do you have more questions on author names in APA Style? See these other posts, or leave a comment below:

• How to write two-part surnames with or without hyphens
• Inconsistent formats and name changes
• Cultural variations in name order
• Authors who use only a single name

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Should All Ph.D.'s Be Called 'Doctor'? Female Academics Say Yes

Please try again

On the first day of class, Debbie Gale Mitchell, a chemistry professor at the University of Denver, introduced herself to her students, telling them about her Ph.D. and her research. She told her students they could call her either “Dr. Mitchell” or “Debbie.” A male colleague had told her that he went by his first name and that students were friendlier as a result, so Mitchell decided to try it. Many students chose to call her “Debbie.”

Then one day a student asked if she thought she’d ever get a Ph.D.

“I discovered that for me, the use of my title is VITAL to remind students that I am qualified to be their professor,” Mitchell wrote on Twitter.

Mitchell’s story was just one among hundreds shared last summer on social media calling attention to the way gender affects how professionals are addressed, especially those who hold a doctorate.

The discussion comes at a time when research studies into gender bias are increasingly confirming that how a person is addressed is linked to perceptions of their status.

The Twitter conversation branched from multiple roots. On June 7, Eric Kelderman, reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education, sent out a critical tweet of a female academic who responded to his media inquiry by suggesting that he should have used “Professor” or “Doctor” (the tweet has since been deleted). The next day, a doctor from the U.K., David Naumann, criticized doctors, medical or otherwise, who use their title in a nonprofessional setting. And a few days later the Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, announced revised style guidelines wherein only medical doctors would be referred to using “Dr.”, a convention that is already used most of the time by the Associated Press and news outlets that follow AP Style  (including KQED). What followed was an explosion of opinions and experiences revolving around titles, expertise, and gender and racial bias.

Many Ph.D. holders are fine with reserving the title for medical doctors in common parlance, viewing insistence on the title as arrogant and elitist, and do not use their titles even in a scholarly setting. But for women and people of color, an academic title can be a tool to remind others of their expertise in a world that often undermines it.

Some Ph.D. holders who insist on titles say that they actually prefer their first names. But given the discrepancy in usage, some women feel they must use and defend their titles, especially where the alternative is a gendered title like “Ms.”, “Mrs.”, or “Miss”. Fern Riddell, a Ph.D.-holding historian, wrote:

My title is Dr Fern Riddell, not Ms or Miss Riddell. I have it because I am an expert, and my life and career consist of being that expert in as many different ways as possible. I worked hard to earned my authority, and I will not give it up to anyone. — Dr Fern Riddell (@FernRiddell) June 13, 2018

Following backlash to the tweet, which described her as “arrogant” and “immodest,” Riddell coined the hashtag #ImmodestWomen, encouraging hundreds of women to change their Twitter handles to include “Dr.” or share experiences of bias. Riddell later wrote about the rationale behind the hashtag, saying that “we define women by their ability to be well behaved.” #ImmodestWomen was “retaliation.”

The tweets show “Dr.” is preferred by many women because it is both unrelated to marital status and gender-neutral, unlike “Mrs.”, “Miss”, or “Ms”. Several tweets described situations where a woman’s husband or colleague was referred to as “Dr.” (whether or not he actually had a doctorate) while she got “Mrs.” or a first name.

My pastor has her PhD. She was interviewed by a local newspaper along with another male member of clergy, NOT a PhD.. HE was referred to as “Reverend Smith”, SHE was called “Paula”. Seriously. — Head To Toe Organizers (@HTTOrganizers) June 11, 2018

In other anecdotes, female doctors (M.D. and Ph.D. alike) were met with utter confusion when they answered the phone to a caller looking for “Dr.”, or presented an airline ticket bearing the title. Even in 2018, with women making up 34 percent of active physicians and more than half of medical school matriculants and doctorate recipients , many people assume that “Dr.” refers to a man.

Bias in forms of address and use of titles is not limited to gender, many participants in the Twitter discussion pointed out. People of color with doctorates are also often not given the courtesy of their title, which echoes a long history of racially biased uses of titles. History professor Charles W. McKinney wrote:

Wanna know why my students will always call me “Dr. McKinney”? Because one day in 1980 I went to the store with my 75 yr old Grandmother Melida Thomas. Clerk greeted two 20 yr old, white women in front of us with “Mrs” and said “Well, hello Melida” to my Grandmother. That’s why. — Charles W. McKinney (@kmt188) June 10, 2018

The bias reflected in these stories is backed up by data. Last year, a study from the Mayo Clinic found that female doctors were introduced by their first names, rather than a professional title, much more often than male doctors. And on June 25, researchers from Cornell University published results showing that female professionals are half as likely as their male colleagues to be referred to by their last names, a practice that is associated in the study with lower status.

“The way that we speak about others influences and is influenced by the way that we think about them,” wrote Stav Atir and Melissa J. Ferguson, authors of the recent paper.

Atir and Ferguson described eight different studies, covering forms of address in professor evaluations, talk radio and under experimental conditions. Across the board, female professionals were less likely to be referred to solely by their last name. They even found that fictional researchers who were described with last name only were perceived as better known, more eminent, higher status, and more deserving of awards.

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The researchers proposed several explanations for their results. It may be more culturally common to refer to men by their last names because they are thought to be more permanent, since women may change their last names when they marry. Alternatively, it could be that speakers use first names to identify a subject’s gender, and this is more common for women in male-dominated professions, where male is the assumed default. This type of bias could even result from attempts to highlight women’s participation by identifying their gender using first names.

“The consequences may be ironic,” wrote Atir and Ferguson, “leading to lower judgments of eminence, status, and deservingness.”

As Mitchell, the chemistry professor from the University of Denver, and other academics related on Twitter, one way of fighting this type of bias is to insist upon the title “Dr.”

But other Ph.D. holders question whether insisting on titles is the best strategy. Meena Kandasamy, a poet and writer with a Ph.D. in sociolinguistics, rarely uses her title and did not change her Twitter handle. She questioned the practice of elevating those who earned doctorates over those who have not had the opportunity to do so:

For every one of us who has managed to float up and breathe from that cesspool with a doctorate degree above our heads–we must remember our sisters sent home, their dreams crushed, their futures messed up, academia behaving like one petty thug-gang to have the backs of a few men — meena kandasamy (@meenakandasamy) June 14, 2018

Critics argue that titles do not necessarily reflect how hard one has worked or even level of expertise, and that the most equal solution is fewer titles, not more. But supporters say that claiming the titles is the best choice under the present circumstances. Elissa Harbert, a musicologist, wrote:

I support #ImmodestWomen . As a PhD and professor, I currently use Dr. as my title professionally. My relationships with students improved when I switched to Dr., even though in a perfect world I’d use my first name. It’s not a perfect world. — Dr. Elissa Harbert (@KyrieElissa) June 14, 2018

In some instances, women are less likely to exhibit bias in form of address. The Mayo Clinic study found female medical doctors introduced both men and women with a title more than 95 percent of the time. Men introduced their female colleagues with a title 49 percent of time, compared with 72 percent of the time for a male colleague. In the Atir and Ferguson study, male speakers on talk radio referred to women by last name less than half as often as they did for men, while female speakers did not have such a strong contrast. In other research on gender bias in academia and medicine, women were just as likely to treat men and women differently. As research epidemiologist Chelsea Polis related, implicit bias can extend to usage of titles for speakers and writers of any gender:

I was once quoted in a story where all men w/PhDs were “Dr. X” & all women w/PhDs were untitled. Writer (a woman) was mortified when I pointed it out. Claiming our titles publicly raises consciousness than women can/do have these credentials. I want young girls/women to see that. — Chelsea Polis, PhD (@cbpolis) June 10, 2018

While the evidence points to persistent bias in professional forms of address, the solution is not so clear. Highlighting women with doctorates, medical or otherwise, may provide an important reminder that woman are now earning nearly half of medical and research-based doctoral degrees. But bias in use of doctoral titles is just one example of the larger issue of gender bias, as Atir and Ferguson’s study demonstrates.

“We find evidence of a gender bias in the way that we speak about professionals in a variety of domains,” wrote Atir and Ferguson. Addressing the problem may require attention to bias in all arenas, from the classroom to the boardroom.

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How to Address a PhD in Email

Last Updated: May 12, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure . Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 64,356 times.

Writing an email to a college professor with a Ph.D.? Do you call someone with a Ph.D. a doctor? Figuring out the right way to address someone with a doctorate is a lot easier than it may seem, and we’re going to break this down so that you can get it right. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to address someone with a Ph.D.

Do you address someone with a Ph.D. as a doctor?

How to Address an Email to Multiple Professors

• “Dear Professor Jones, Professor Smith, and Professor Ali.”
• “Dr. Jones, Dr. Smith, and Professor Ali,”
• “Dr. Jones and Professor Smith,”

What is the proper way to write a name with Ph.D.?

• You may have seen Ph.D. holders put “Ph.D.” at the end of their name. This is something authors do, but you shouldn’t need to write it this way.

Do you call a professor a doctor?

• You’re very unlikely to get into any trouble by referring to your college teacher as “professor,” even if they are a doctor. At worst, they’ll kindly correct you.
• In the United States, it is generally seen by most educators as socially acceptable to address a doctor who is also a professor as “professor.” It’s not technically correct, but you’re unlikely to offend any of your educators. As such, you can usually call a doctor a professor or Dr. in email. [4] X Research source

How do you address Ph.D. students?

• A Ph.D. student is not a doctor yet, but they may still be a professor.
• “Professor” traditionally refers to tenure-track educators at the collegiate level, but there’s no harm or risk of offense by calling an adjunct instructor, lecturer, or TA, “professor.” [6] X Research source
• “Miss” has historically been used to address unmarried women, while “Mrs.” has referred to married women. These titles are going out of style since many people find them offensive, so you’re best off skipping these.

Do the rules for addressing Ph.D. holders ever change?

• For example, in Canada, you are not “officially” allowed to refer to non-medical doctors as “Dr.” You would address them as “Mr. Jones, Doctor of Mathematics.”
• This also applies to the “Jimmy Jones, Ph.D.” form, too. In the United Kingdom, for example, you don’t use any periods. Someone in the UK would write, “Jimmy Jones, PhD” without the punctuation.

Expert Q&A

• It doesn’t matter if someone has a Ph.D. is in philosophy, education, biology, math, or any other discipline. If a person has obtained a doctorate degree, they’re a doctor—even if they don’t see patients. [8] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Ph.D. is shorthand for doctor of philosophy. The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word “docere,” which means “to teach.” In ancient times, “Philosophy” was used to refer to any academic field. [9] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• The only exception, at least in the United States, are people with a law degree (they are technically “Juris Doctors”, or J.Ds). You do not use a special title or honorific to address someone with a law degree. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2guides/guides/wrtps/index-fra.html?lang=fra&lettr=indx_catlog_p&page=9e-8ycfVZx-4.html
• ↑ https://www.purdue.edu/advisors/students/email.php
• ↑ https://www.minotstateu.edu/careers/pages/cover-letter-salutation.shtml
• ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/different-genres/sending-email-to-faculty-and-administrators
• ↑ https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/what-should-i-call-my-professor/
• ↑ https://healthenews.mcgill.ca/use-of-dr-doctor-in-quebec-and-updating-your-honorific-in-mcgills-systems/
• ↑ https://www.cmaj.ca/content/re-who-entitled-be-called-doctor
• ↑ https://www.franklin.edu/blog/doctorate-vs-ph-d-what-are-the-differences

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“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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Professional Title Etiquette: When to Use Your Dr. Title

Socially as well as professionally, medical doctors, dentists, and other professionals are addressed by, and introduced with, their titles. People who have earned a Ph.D. or any other academic, nonmedical doctoral degree have the choice of whether to use "Dr." both professionally and socially.  If, when meeting people with doctorates, you're unsure how to address them, "Dr." is always correct.  If they'd rather the title be dropped, they will let you know.

It's more common for women to use the title "Doctor" socially as well as professionally than in the past. When a married woman uses the title "Dr." (either medical or academic) socially, addressing social correspondence to the couple is a little trickier. If her husband is not a doctor, address letters to Dr. Sonia and Mr. Robert Harris. Her name comes first because her professional title "outranks" his social title. If her husband is also a doctor, the address is either The Drs. (Doctors) Harris or Drs. Sonia and Robert Harris (the order of the names doesn't matter).

The Reverend

In introductions and correspondence, many Protestant clergy are referred to as "The Reverend." While business correspondence is addressed to The Reverend James Norris, (D.D., if held), social correspondence is slightly different: The Reverend (Mr./Dr.) and Mrs. James Norris. In conversation, a clergyman or clergywoman is addressed as Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms./Pastor/Rector/Reverend Norris.

Addressing a husband or wife who are both "Reverends" follows the same format as a husband and wife who are both doctors: The Reverends Norris or The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris and the Reverend Mr. James Norris. If either of the couple also has a doctorate degree, that person's name would go first: The Reverend Dr. James Norris and The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris.

Today "Esquire" is largely confined to business correspondence between attorneys and justices of the peace. An alternative is to write:

Mr. David Bowman

Attorney at Law

using two lines, no indent, and including the titles Mr. or Ms.

When "Esq." or "Esquire" is used, the name is never preceded by Mr., Ms., Mrs., or other titles such as Dr., and is written David Bowman, Esq. "Esquire" isn't used in introductions: "I'd like to introduce attorney David Bowman/Mr. David Bowman/David Bowman." It also isn't used for social correspondence, as when writing to a lawyer and his or her spouse or addressing a social invitation. Mr. and Mrs. David Bowman is the correct form.

Professional Designations

Professional designations such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CLU (Certified Life Underwriter) are only used on business cards or business correspondence. They follow a person's name, and Mr. or Ms. isn't used: Martha Dawes, CPA; Phillip Olner, CLU. If a person has more than one designation, they're listed in the order received: Phillip Olner, CLU, CFP. Socially, use Mr., Ms., or Mrs. without the professional designation: Ms. Martha Dawes.

Other Titles

Every day we run into people who have an official title. The police officer at the desk is Sergeant Flynn; the head of the fire department is Chief Elmore; the club chef is Chef Rossi; the pilot on your plane is Captain Howe; and so forth. When on the job, such people are always addressed by their titles, just as they are when the matter at hand is related to their work. Socially, many don't use their titles, though they may. Sometimes a title sticks: A local judge, for example, who's been called by his title for a number of years, is usually addressed as "Judge" even after his retirement.

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

By maya austen / in health.

When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree they are 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 ho is called "doctor" in formal speech. In written form the titles "Dr." and "PhD" are not interchangeable.

• When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree they are subsequently referred to as "doctor" in formal speech; the same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian.

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 (EdD) doctoral degree and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) 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 PhD.

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 ("Dr.") 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, PhD," 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.

• 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.
• Never write, for example, "Dr. George Ross, PhD," even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Put a comma followed by the title "PhD" after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example: Stacey Childs, PhD. Do not combine the title of "PhD" 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 PhD, never write, for example, Dr. Stacey Childs, PhD. Pick one title. Do not use the "PhD" title when referring to someone who not earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree.

How Do You Address Someone With a PhD Degree?

In academia and professional settings, knowing how to properly address someone with a PhD is crucial.

Jun 26, 2024

In today's diverse academic and professional landscape, knowing how to properly address individuals with advanced degrees is an essential social and professional skill. This guide focuses on the etiquette surrounding the PhD title, offering comprehensive insights into when and how to use it appropriately.

Understanding the PhD Title

A PhD, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy, represents the pinnacle of academic achievement in many fields. Despite its name, a PhD is not limited to philosophy; it can be earned in various disciplines, from sciences and humanities to arts and engineering. This prestigious degree signifies:

• Extensive expertise in a specific field of study
• Completion of original research that contributes new knowledge to the field
• The ability to conduct independent research and analysis
• A high level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills

It's important to note that while a PhD holder is referred to as "Doctor," this doesn't necessarily mean they are a medical doctor. The title "Doctor" in this context acknowledges their advanced level of education and expertise in their field of study.

When to Use "Dr." as a Title

Using the title "Dr." for PhD holders is generally appropriate in many contexts, especially in academic and professional settings. Here's a more detailed look at when and where to use this title:

Academic Settings

• In universities or research institutions
• During academic conferences or seminars
• In scholarly publications or academic journals
• When introducing speakers at academic events

Professional Contexts

• In formal business correspondence
• During professional conferences or meetings
• In industry publications or reports
• When introducing experts in their field at events or in media

Formal Correspondence

• In official letters or emails
• On business cards or professional profiles
• In formal invitations or announcements

Public Recognition

• When acknowledging contributions or achievements
• In press releases or media interviews
• On plaques or awards

It's worth noting that some PhD holders may prefer not to use the title outside of professional or academic settings. This personal preference often stems from a desire to maintain a more casual or approachable demeanor in social situations. When in doubt, it's always best to ask for their preference. 

Addressing Someone with a PhD in Email

Email communication often requires a balance between formality and friendliness. When writing to someone with a PhD, especially for the first time or in a professional context, it's best to err on the side of formality. Here are some guidelines:

• "Dear Dr. [Last Name],"
• "Hello Dr. [Last Name],"
• If they sign as "John," you can address them as "John" in your reply
• If unsure, you can ask: "How would you prefer I address you in our correspondence?"
• In the body of the email, continue to use "Dr. [Last Name]" until invited to do otherwise
• "Best regards,"
• "Sincerely,"
• "Thank you,"

Remember, it's always better to start formal and become more casual if invited, rather than starting too casually and potentially appearing disrespectful.

Easily pronounces technical words in any field

Using the Title in Person

Face-to-face interactions require a nuanced approach to addressing someone with a PhD. Here are some scenarios and how to handle them:

First Meetings

When meetings someone with a PhD for the first time, especially in a professional or academic setting:

• "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. [Last Name]."
• "Thank you for joining us, Dr. [Last Name]."

Introductions

When introducing a PhD holder to others:

• "I'd like to introduce Dr. [Last Name], who specializes in [field of study]."
• "This is Dr. [First Name] [Last Name], our expert in [area of expertise]."

Ongoing Interactions

After the initial introduction, follow the PhD holder's lead:

• If they invite you to use their first name, you can do so in subsequent interactions
• If they continue to use formal titles, maintain that level of formality

Social Settings

In more casual environments, it's often acceptable to use first names, but when in doubt, ask:

• "How would you prefer I address you in this setting?"

Envelope and Formal Letter Etiquette

When addressing formal letters or envelopes to someone with a PhD, there are a few accepted formats:

• Dr. [Full Name], PhD Example: Dr. Jane Smith, PhD
• [Full Name], PhD Example: Jane Smith, PhD
• Dr. [Full Name] Example: Dr. Jane Smith

The choice between these formats often depends on the level of formality and the specific requirements of the communication. For instance, when submitting a paper to an academic journal, you might use the second format to clearly indicate the author's credentials.

Proper Salutation in Various Contexts

In universities or research institutions, formality is key:

• Written: "Dear Dr. [Last Name],"
• Verbal: "Dr. [Last Name]" or "Professor [Last Name]" if they hold a professorship

Professional Conferences

At conferences, titles are commonly used in introductions and presentations:

• "Our next speaker is Dr. [Full Name], an expert in [field]."
• "We're honored to have Dr. [Last Name] sharing insights on [topic]."

In casual situations, follow the PhD holder's lead:

• If they introduce themselves by their first name, it's usually fine to use it
• If unsure, you can politely ask, "How would you prefer to be addressed?"

Common Questions About Addressing PhD Holders

Should i use "dr." or "phd" after the name.

Generally, use "Dr." before the name rather than "PhD" after it. For example:

• Correct: Dr. Jane Smith
• Less common: Jane Smith, PhD

The exception is in formal academic writing or when listing credentials, where "Jane Smith, PhD" might be appropriate.

Can I use "Mr." or "Ms." instead of "Dr."?

It's best to use "Dr." unless the person has indicated otherwise. Using "Mr." or "Ms." for someone with a PhD can be seen as diminishing their academic achievements. If you're unsure of someone's credentials, it's better to ask or research before addressing them.

How do I address someone with multiple doctoral degrees?

If someone holds both a PhD and an MD, for instance, you can use either "Dr." or their professional title, depending on the context. In medical settings, "Dr." would typically refer to their MD, while in academic settings, it might refer to their PhD. When in doubt, you can ask which title they prefer in the current context.

What about cultural differences in using titles?

It's important to be aware that the use of academic titles can vary significantly across cultures. In some countries, academic titles are used much more frequently in everyday life, while in others, their use is more restricted to professional settings. When dealing with international colleagues or in multicultural settings, it's helpful to research or inquire about local customs.

Addressing someone with a PhD correctly is more than just a matter of etiquette; it's a show of respect for their academic achievements and expertise. While using "Dr." is generally appropriate in formal and academic settings, it's essential to be attentive to individual preferences and context. The key is to be respectful, adaptable, and willing to ask when unsure.

Remember these key points:

• Use "Dr." in formal and academic settings unless told otherwise
• In email, start formal and adjust based on the recipient's response
• In person, use the title for introductions and follow the individual's lead
• Be aware of context - what's appropriate in a university might differ in a social setting
• When in doubt, it's always acceptable to politely ask for preference

By following these guidelines, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the etiquette of addressing PhD holders in various situations, showing respect for their accomplishments while maintaining professional and social grace.

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Who gets to be called ‘doctor’?

Go to med school, earn an m.d. and the “dr.” honorific gets tacked on to your last name. some women — and ph.d.s — say they get the courtesy title, and respect, less often..

We call physicians "doctor." Should we do the same for people with PhDs? (Credit: Bigstock)

This story is from The Pulse , a weekly health and science podcast.

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Molecular biologist Adam Ruben has a Ph.D.

There was one time when he made a conscious choice to refer to himself as Dr. Ruben — when he emailed an airline to complain about a messed up flight.

“We had to spend a night in some city and I was trying to get a refund for our hotel bill, so I signed the email Dr. Ruben,” he said. “And I know that’s kind of an icky thing to do but I have heard that you get better service when you use the term doctor.”

It kind of worked: He got his refund — after three months.

“It’s not outright wrong and the world should forgive me,” he said.

Ruben has been thinking about the doctor honorific for a while. He polled his friends and acquaintances with Ph.D.s on Facebook and Twitter about whether or not they call themselves doctor.

Some said they’ve earned it. Others said it seems a little pretentious.

“A surprising number of people all had the same concern about using the term doctor: if they were going to be on an airplane when somebody needs a doctor,” Ruben said.

This sort of happened to Ruben several years ago, but when he was on the ground.

Besides being a biologist, he’s also a writer and comedian. He was at a Story Collider storytelling event, performing for an audience of mostly graduate students.

“And somebody actually had a medical emergency in the middle of the show. He fainted and needed an ambulance,” Ruben recalled.

As he described it at the time, someone asked if there was a doctor in the room and about 200 people with Ph.D.s kind of looked around at each other frantically.

Some EMTs helped the guy.   He was okay in the end and the show went on .

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After checking in on social media, Ruben wrote about his informal poll for the journal Science. He heard from female engineers with Ph.D.s who said they are under-represented in their field, and feel like they need to put doctor in front of their names to get the same respect that male engineers get.

Epidemiologist Beth Linas also earned a Ph.D., and she wants media outlets to refer to people with Ph.D.s as doctor, especially if we’re interviewing them about their area of expertise.

“Someone comes up [to me] on the street and says hello to me, they can address me as Beth, but if I’m being called upon for my background in infectious disease, epidemiology or digital health which is the other area that I study, I think I should be recognized as Dr. Beth Linas.”

Linas has been thinking about this issue and wrote a commentary about the congressional hearings with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and research psychologist Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school.

“There was a lot of chatter online and on Twitter about how in written media, she wasn’t being addressed as Doctor Ford, I started noticing it in other publications and other outlets,” said Linas.

Some NPR listeners complained about the “insidious bias” of the radio network calling Kavanaugh “Judge Kavanaugh” but not calling Ford “Dr. Ford.”

The NPR ombudsman explained that like many media outlets, NPR follows the Associated Press stylebook, which says if someone practices medicine, NPR calls them doctor. If it’s someone with a Ph.D., it’s up to the individual media outlet.

On the radio, we don’t have a lot of time, and every word counts. Saying someone is a doctor or saying they have a Ph.D. can be a little vague. Ultimately that doesn’t give the listener much information. So for clear and efficient communication, our policy at “The Pulse” is to introduce someone as an epidemiologist, or pediatrician — being specific about a person’s expertise when we can.

Linas said her concern comes from an issue of representation.

“There are a lot of women, and particularly women of color that really struggle to make their way in science and stay in science, and we face a lot of obstacles, and I think it’s important for women also to be recognized.”

There’s a study that backs her up: researchers found that male doctors introduce their male colleagues as “Dr.” around 70 percent of the time, but introduce their female colleagues as doctor a little less than half the time.

Linas says if media outlets refer to people with Ph.D.s as doctor, especially when we’re interviewing them about their area of expertise, then it shouldn’t be that hard to tell who is the kind of doctor who can help you when someone needs an ambulance — and who’s best suited to give you statistics on the next flu outbreak.

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9 Correct Ways to Write PhD Title on a Business Card

Writing a Ph.D. title on your business card can be a great thing to include. However, there are a few ways to write it, and it would help to know which ones work best. This article will explore some of the best options.

The preferred choices are “name, Ph.D. in discipline name,” “name, Ph.D.,” and “Dr. name.” You can use these options to be subtle and clear on your business cards. It shows that you’ve earned a Ph.D. without going into too much detail and scaring people away.

Name, Ph.D. In Discipline Name

“Name, Ph.D. in discipline name” gives you a good way of showing what you specialize in. Being specific about the discipline that you studied is a great way of showing people what you know about and what you can bring to the table.

If your Ph.D. doesn’t directly relate to the job you have, it might be worth being more specific about the discipline you’re qualified in. This can let people know that you have a Ph.D., but it doesn’t directly translate to your current job.

There’s nothing wrong with this. After all, plenty of people go to university and get a degree but never use it once they get out into the working world.

As long as you have a Ph.D., you can include it on your business card.

Some people might be a little bit off by it, but that’s not always a bad thing. The only issue is if people think you’re bragging by including that you have a Ph.D. You should be careful if this is the case.

Check out these examples to learn how you can use this one:

• Sarah Terrence, Ph.D. in Social Science
• Tom Alexander, Ph.D. in Research
• Harriet Edwards, Ph.D. in Mathematics

Name, Ph.D.

If you don’t feel the need to be specific about the discipline you have a Ph.D. in, you can leave it out. Instead, you can just include your name before the Ph.D. title to show that you have achieved a doctorate at university.

This can be a much better choice than the previous one. Being specific about your discipline choice isn’t always a good move, especially if it doesn’t relate to the job you’re advertising with your business card.

However, if your Ph.D. does directly relate to the job you currently have, including “Ph.D.” as a title works well. It shows someone that you’ve spent a lot of time studying things related to the job that you currently possess.

This will allow most people to have more faith in you and your ability. Again, though, it can be a bit alienating to someone that doesn’t have a Ph.D.

These examples will show you more about how this works:

• Steven Tonbridge, Ph.D.
• Jon Magcargo, Ph.D.
• Arlow Burrows, Ph.D.

You can also use the “Dr.” title instead of “Ph.D.” Many people prefer to include “Dr.” before their name to show that they have earned their doctorate (which is a Ph.D.) in a particular field.

If you’re going to use “Dr.,” you should only use “Dr.” There is never an appropriate time where “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” should be used together. If they are seen together, it is informal and unprofessional because it is a redundant phrase that doesn’t work:

• Incorrect: Dr. Smith, Ph.D.

Some people think that “Dr.” is less aggressive than “Ph.D.” as well. This can help you to stop people from feeling more alienated by the fact that you’ve achieved your Ph.D. when they haven’t.

As before, it’s still better to include “Dr.” when it’s relevant to your job role. If it doesn’t do anything specific to add value to what you do, it might not be worth including it at all.

Check these examples out to see what you might be able to do with it:

• Dr. Tom Sawyer
• Dr. Matthew Perry
• Dr. Suzanne Barker

You might also find that the first name is dropped. However, this will remove the more personal flair that most business cards benefit from:

• Dr. Winters
• Dr. Arlington

Name, Ph.D., Job Title

You may also find that adding your job title after your name and Ph.D. title works well. This just shows people the kind of work that you do, and what you are able to do with your additional Ph.D. title.

Using a job title is a good way to show what people can expect from you after reading your business card.

Here are a couple of examples that can work well:

• Thomas Jeffery, Ph.D., Supervisor
• Patricia Merry, Ph.D., Customer Service
• Dexter Morgan, Ph.D., Blood Spatter Analyst

Dr. Name, Job Title

“Dr. name, job title” is a good option that shows you have a Ph.D. without using the formal title after the name. You can use “Dr.” here again, but include your job title after your name to show what you are offering.

Including your job title or role on a business card is a common practice for some people. It helps them to establish what they are offering through their business card, which allows the people who have the business card to know more about them.

These examples will show you how it can look on a business card:

• Dr. Sue Perkins, Number Cruncher
• Dr. Steve Taylor, Financial Advisor
• Dr. Marcus Christie, Freelance Auditor

Again, you can remove the first name when “Dr.” is used. We don’t recommend this in most cases because it might lose the personal touch:

• Dr. Honest, Stock Broker
• Dr. Pope, Estate Agent
• Dr. Tomkins, Translator

Name, Ph.D., University

You might also find that mentioning the university where you got your Ph.D. is a good choice on a business card. Some people like to do this when they want to show that they went to an esteemed university and earned the highest degree.

If you’re going to use this one, you need to be careful. Many people see this as a form of bragging. It will only work well if you’re giving your business cards to people of equal qualifications or interests.

Most people without a Ph.D. will disregard your business card if it’s written like this. Mentioning your university is another way of showing people that you might feel a bit more superior to them.

Even if you didn’t include the Ph.D. title and university name maliciously, it could still be perceived in this way. You’ll want to pay attention to these kinds of things before it comes to passing your business cards around.

These examples will give you an idea of how you can include a university:

• Garry Geary, Ph.D., University of Virginia
• Peter Taylor, Ph.D., Oxford University
• Tara Howard, Ph.D., Cambridge University

Dr. Name, University

Another good way of writing your Ph.D. title with your university is to include the “Dr.” title before your name. Remember, there is no need to include both Dr. and Ph.D. in the same name, as this is seen as a redundancy in most formal cases.

Again, you’ve got to be careful using something like this. It can easily alienate anybody who doesn’t have these qualifications.

The only reason you’d definitely want to include something like this on your business card is if it directly ties in with your job role. If you use your Ph.D. in some way for your job, it could be worth including it to show that you have spent a lot of time researching what you do.

Here are some examples of how you can use this:

• Dr. Paul Walker, King’s College
• Dr. Samantha Weiss, Brown University
• Dr. Sarah Fredrikson, Harvard University

Yet again, since “Dr.” is used, you can remove the first name. This can work in some cases, but you have to know whether the personal tone of including your first name is more appropriate for your particular business card:

• Dr. Westbridge, Oxford University
• Dr. Grace, Colchester University
• Dr. Smith, Cornell University

Name, University

You don’t need to include your formal title when you are writing your university. You can simply write your name if you do not believe that including your formal title helps your business card in any way.

Remember, a formal title can put a lot of people off. If someone doesn’t have a Ph.D. of their own, they might be intimidated or put off by somebody who does.

It can look like bragging, even if you don’t intend for it to be bragging. It might be wiser to avoid using it unless you know that it’s important to include it based on the business you’re trying to promote with your business card.

Simply including your name with no formal title works like this:

• Scott Abs, Oxford University
• Pete Walters, University of California
• Abbie Drawn, Brown University

Name, Job Title

It might be wise to remove your university name and formal title. In place of anything else, you’ll be better off just using your job title with your name. No titles or university names need to be included. This is a fairly informal option that works well.

While it doesn’t outright say that you have a Ph.D. of any kind, it can still work well for Ph.D. owners. After all, you don’t always have to talk about your Ph.D., even if you have managed to earn one.

If your Ph.D. adds nothing of value or note to your job role, then there’s no reason to include it on your business card. Again, it’s a good way to alienate people who don’t have a Ph.D. of their own.

These examples should clear up how this one should look:

• Jon Walker, I.T. Technician
• Peter Burrows, Financial Advisor
• Tom Christie, Broker

You may also like: DSc Degree vs. PhD Degree – What’s the Difference? Should I Write Ph.D. or PhD? (Complete Guide)

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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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.

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Bridget Basile, PhD, MA, RN, FNP-BC

Assistant Professor in Nursing

Yale School of Nursing - Room 20512

email :  bridget.basileibrahim@yale.edu

Dr. Bridget Basile is a nurse-scientist with over a decade of clinical experience working as a family nurse practitioner providing primary care to underserved communities in urban and rural areas of the United States and Canada, and a registered nurse in inpatient pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant. She also has experience caring for women and their families as a doula and certified breastfeeding specialist. Prior to entering nursing, she worked as an anthropologist on international development projects funded by agencies such as the World Bank and USAID. Dr. Basile Ibrahim holds a PhD from Yale University, an MSN from the University of California Los Angeles, a BSN from The Johns Hopkins University, and a BA and MA in Anthropology from Boston University. She completed an NIH-funded Rural Health Equity Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Research Interests

Dr. Basile’s research aims to improve birth outcomes for women and birthing people marginalized by intersections of race, socioeconomic status, and geography by improving the experience and quality of perinatal care and interactions with the health system. She employs qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches to conduct person-centered, health equity focused interdisciplinary research. Her research interests include: health equity, social determinants of health, respectful maternity care, maternal-child health, and physiologic birth. Dr. Basile Ibrahim’s program of research has been supported by the Association for Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, the March of Dimes, the Heilbrunn Family Center for Research Nursing at the Rockefeller University, the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Minnesota, and the Health Equity Research Working Group at University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Selected Publications

NIH bibliography

Basile Ibrahim, B.,  Kennedy, H.P., Combellick, J. (2021) Experiences of Quality Perinatal Care During the US COVID-19 Pandemic.  Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health.  doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13269

Basile Ibrahim, B.,  Barcelona, V., Condon, E., Crusto, C., Taylor, J. (2021) The Association Between Neighborhood Social Vulnerability and Cardiovascular Health Risk among Black/African American Women in the InterGEN Study.  Nursing Research.  doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000523

Basile Ibrahim, B.,  Knobf, M.T., Shorten, A., Cheyney, M., Illuzzi, J., Vedam, S., Kennedy, H.P. (2021). “I had to fight for my VBAC”: A Mixed Methods Study of U.S. Women’s Experiences of Pregnancy and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean.  Birth, 48(2) .doi: 10.1111/birt.12513

Basile Ibrahim, B.,  Kennedy, H.P., & Holland, M.L. (2021). Demographic, Socioeconomic, Health Systems, and Geographic Factors Associated with Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, An Analysis of 2017 U.S. Birth Certificate Data.  Maternal and Child Health Journal.  doi: 10.1007/s10995-020-03066-3

Basile Ibrahim, B. , Kennedy, H. P., & Whittemore, R. (2020). Women’s Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean in the United States: An Integrative Review.  Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health,  65(3); 349-361. doi 10.1111/jmwh.13083

Chinkam, S.,  Basile Ibrahim, B.,  Diaz, B., Steer-Massaro, C., Kennedy, H.P., Shorten, A. (2022). Learning from women: Improving experiences of respectful maternity care during unplanned caesarean birth for women with diverse ethnicity and racial backgrounds.  Women and Birth.  doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2022.05.004

Kozhimannil, K.B., Interrante, J.D., Admon, L.K.,  Basile Ibrahim, B . (2022). Rural Hospital Administrators’ Beliefs About Safety, Financial Viability and Community Need for Offering Obstetric Care.  JAMA Health Forum.  doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.0204

Combellick, J.,  Basile Ibrahim, B.,  Julien, T., Scharer, K., Jackson, K., Kennedy, H.P. (2022). Birth During the Covid-19 Pandemic: What Childbearing People in the U.S. Needed to Achieve a Positive Birth Experience.  Birth.  doi: 10.1111/birt.12616

Condon, E., Barcelona, V.,  Basile Ibrahim, B ., Crusto, C., Taylor, J. (2021) The Influence of Perceived Racial Discrimination and Traumatic Life Events on Parenting among African American Mothers in the InterGEN Study.  Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.05.023

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Where does the title Dr come from for PhD?

I have always wondered why a person is given the title of Dr after completing a PhD in a non-medical field. This is especially because of the confusion over the medical title of Dr. Why hasn't a better distinction been formulated by now?

• 20 The D in Ph.D. is an abbreviation for "doctor", just as it is in M.D., J.D., Dr.rer.nat., D.Th., D.Min., D.O., D.D.S., Ed.D., and S.T.D. ( Sacrae Theologiae Doctor ). –  JeffE Commented May 4, 2013 at 19:27
• 7 @JeffE I never knew having an STD could be a good thing. –  Marc Claesen Commented Aug 9, 2014 at 15:10
• 11 @MarcClaesen Who said a Sacrae Theologiae Doctor is a good thing? –  The Almighty Bob Commented Aug 9, 2014 at 15:45
• 1 @TheAlmightyBob That's the most brilliant question I've seen for a long time! Well worth an exception to the meta rule "Don't ask new questions as comments."! –  Volker Siegel Commented Aug 27, 2016 at 9:49

2 Answers 2

It's actually exactly the opposite: "doctor" is Latin for "teacher" and the title originally had no special connection with medicine. Instead, a doctor was anyone qualified to teach at a university (in medieval Europe teaching qualifications were typically determined by the church). The concept of a formal PhD degree came much later, but it continued this earlier terminology.

The confusion in English is irritating, but not problematic enough to make universities give up a 1000+ year old tradition. It's not clear why this situation arose. One natural explanation is that if you want to emphasize your medical skills, you can do it by explaining that you are not just a healer, but in fact someone qualified to teach other people the healing arts. In other words, you're a doctor of medicine in the academic sense of the word "doctor". Until very recently universities were fairly exotic, and most people didn't talk about academic doctors very much, so the medical usage was much more salient for the general public and for most people it became the standard meaning of "doctor".

Of course this difficulty with this story is that it doesn't explain why, for example, German does not confuse the terms the same way English does. Maybe it's just chance, or maybe there's some cultural reason.

In any case, though, academia had the title first and is reluctant to change it.

• 9 It's worth noting that, in the UK (and presumably other jurisdictions), a physician does not typically have a doctorate; rather than the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD, DM, DMed), the standard medical degree is Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (BMBCh or similar). 'Doctor' is then purely a traditional courtesy (and even more confusingly, surgeons traditionally decline to use the title). In the UK a Doctor of Medicine degree is a higher doctorate awarded for substantial research. –  dbmag9 Commented May 12, 2013 at 20:43
• 1 In which way do you think is the situation different in German? –  Carsten S Commented Aug 27, 2016 at 21:03
• 3 @CarstenS In German, the words 'Artz' and 'Doktor' are different. In English the equivalents might be 'physician' and (academic) 'doctor', but the former is rather rarely used, particularly in the US, with the two reducing to (medical) 'doctor' versus (academic) 'doctor'. –  E.P. Commented Aug 28, 2016 at 0:12
• 2 It's also worth noting that the Latin root docere is alive and well in many languages (e.g. docent , docente , docencia , doctrine , docile , and so on). –  E.P. Commented Aug 28, 2016 at 0:23
• 1 @E.P. In German the words "Doktor" and "Arzt" are used pretty interchangably for "physician", so the same confusion arises there. –  user84201 Commented Feb 11, 2020 at 22:24

It seems that the real question should be "why the title of doctor seems to be now more associated to medical sciences than other fields".

Doctor comes from doctum, that is a derivative of docere, Latin verb for "teaching". The first doctors in the very first universities studied in four faculties: arts, medical sciences, law and theology. We still use PhD (Philosophiae doctor) but the meaning of the word philosophy has changed over the centuries. During the renaissance, the word philosophy had a broader meaning since philosophy at that time encompasses the whole spectrum of science.

In some countries (France for instance), it is forbidden to use the title of Dr for those who are not MD. In this case, Dr is a degree but not a title. Why do we not use MD everywhere instead of Dr (which seems to be the way to suppress the ambiguity while respecting history)? I don't know.

• 1 Interesting history lesson. Shouldn't that be "The first doctors..." (plural)? I don't quite follow the logic here "In some countries (France for instance), it is forbidden to use the title of Dr for those who are not MD. In this case, Dr is a degree but not a title." –  Faheem Mitha Commented May 6, 2013 at 19:19
• 2 Sylvain: It seems that in France, the usage of the title is not reserved to MD, following a decision of la Cour de Cassation , and a recent law . That said, in practice, I agree that only MD use the title. –  user102 Commented Aug 9, 2014 at 19:08

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UIS and the University of Illinois Foundation name Gabe Cagwin vice chancellor for advancement

The University of Illinois Springfield and the University of Illinois Foundation have announced the appointment of Gabe Cagwin , PhD, as the new vice chancellor for advancement at UIS. Cagwin will also serve as senior vice president for the University of Illinois Foundation. His appointment is subject to approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Cagwin joins UIS from Chapman University, where he was the vice president of development. During his tenure, he led a significant increase in fundraising activities for the university’s $500 million capital campaign. He managed all development, annual fund, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, communications and prospect research responsibilities. He also oversaw one of the university’s highest fundraising years.

“We are excited to welcome Gabe to the University of Illinois Springfield,” said UIS Chancellor Janet Gooch . “His extensive experience in advancement and commitment to higher education make him well-suited to lead our efforts in fundraising and alumni relations.”

Prior to Chapman University, Cagwin served as president and chief advancement officer at the USA Triathlon Foundation, where he achieved a 357% increase in fundraising and expanded donor participation. He led efforts to create a $20 million campaign in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

“In addition to his accomplishments as a prolific fundraiser, Gabe’s colleagues spoke very highly of him as a person and teammate,” said University of Illinois Foundation President Jim Moore . “We look forward to welcoming Gabe and his family to our UIS and UI Foundation communities.”

Cagwin’s experience also includes roles at Tarleton State University as vice president for institutional advancement and alumni relations, where he led the university’s capital campaign, increasing overall cash fundraising by 91% and surpassing campaign goals. He has also held leadership positions at Arizona State University and UCLA, where he led capital campaigns exceeding $100 million and strengthened donor and corporate partnerships.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work alongside Chancellor Gooch, Jim Moore and everyone involved at UIS and the Foundation and build upon their past success,” Cagwin said. “There will be high expectations, and we will work tirelessly to build a culture of philanthropy and provide the resources that our students, staff and UIS community deserve.”

Cagwin played Division I basketball at the University at Buffalo, where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in 2002, a master’s degree in higher education in 2004 and a doctorate in higher education administration in 2006. He and his wife, Angela, have two sons, Cash, 5, and Caden, 4.

• The Newsroom

New Comprehensive Care Department Chair Announced

The School of Dental Medicine is very pleased to announce that Ilser Turkyilmaz, DMD, PhD, will serve as chair of the Department of Comprehensive Care and as associate dean for Digital Innovation.

Dr. Ilser Turkyilmaz is an accomplished dental professional with a career defined by academic rigor, pioneering research and clinical expertise. After earning his dental degree and PhD in Prosthodontics from Hacettepe University in Turkey, he expanded his research by collaborating with Goteborg University in Sweden and completing an implant prosthodontics fellowship at Ohio State University.

His expertise in biomaterials and implant dentistry has positioned him as a leader in complex prosthodontic treatments. As an assistant professor and director of the Dental School Implant Clinic at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Dr. Turkyilmaz played a key role in advancing both clinical practice and dental education.

Since joining New York University’s College of Dentistry in 2016, Dr. Turkyilmaz has made significant contributions as a Clinical Professor and Digital Dentistry Coordinator, integrating cutting-edge technologies into the curriculum. His research focuses on digital dentistry, dental implants and CAD/CAM technology, with 134 peer-reviewed publications and over 3,000 citations.

Vice Dean Dale Baur and Associate Dean Kristin Wiliams led the search committee tasked with finding a new chair. 

"Dr. Turkyilmaz is a world renowned expert in digital dentistry," said Vice Dean Dale Baur. "He brings the skill set to further enhance our role as leaders in modern dental education."

"Dr. Turkyilmaz is a recognized world leader in digital dentistry," said Associate Dean Kristin Williams. "As we welcome him to the School of Dental Medicine faculty, we look forward to the educational opportunities he will bring to the school."

We are thrilled to have Dr. Turkyilmaz join the School of Dental Medicine, and are looking forward to the future.