Another interesting fact is that the MD isn’t even a graduate degree. This is a “professional” degree, not an ACADEMIC one. Consider that lawyers with a JD (Juris Doctor) degree, go back to school to get a Masters of Law. What!? They have a “doctorate” degree, and if they pursue graduate studies, they go “back” to the Master’s level? How can that be? Simple, the Juris Doctor degree is NOT an academic, graduate degree. Same as the Doctor of Medicine degree.

In fact, other countries like India, and England have the right idea, and their medical schools grant the Bachelor of Medicine degree for the same amount of course work.

I remember speaking to medical school graduates from India in the past, and neither refer to themselves as “doctor”. They call themselves a “physician” which is far more appropriate. In Germany, you can’t even call yourself a “doctor” unless you have a Ph.D.

Understandably, our western society has linked the phrase, “he/she is a doctor” with those who possess an MD or a DO. Even chiropractors, podiatrists, and dentists are not considered “doctors”, even though they have a “doctorate” in their respective fields. This is unfortunate, and it will take a lot of effort to re-educate our society to change it’s perception on this honored title.

People holding the title of Ph.D. often differ in opinion, even though they may share the same academic field of expertise, e.g., psychologists. These debates often take place in literature that the average person does not read — in peer reviewed journal articles. Acceptance into most Ph.D. programs means that education continues beyond the Bachelor’s Degree (B.A., or B.S. — often a 4 year degree) and beyond the Master’s Degree (M.A., or M.S. — often a 2 year degree). In fact, the typical Ph.D. program continues 5 full years beyond the Master’s degree, and requires a written Doctoral Thesis — a manuscript that is filled with independent research that contributes to their field.

A Medical Doctor, on the other hand, goes to medical school and more often not specializes in the “hard” sciences during the undergraduate years (B.S., Bachelor of Science), such as Biology, Bio-Chemistry, Chemistry, or other “Pre-Med” sciences. Then, a medical doctor goes to medical school for an additional 4 years in order to be a general practitioner, e.g., the family doctor. After receiving their M.D., doctors can achieve further specialization with certain parts of the body, e.g., in the brain as psychiatrists or neuro-surgeons or in the heart as cardiologists.

With either case, Ph.D. or M.D., close guidance in thought and practice occurs from a superior who already has the Ph.D. or M.D. title. Each must demonstrate mastery in their field because others are depending on their level of expertise for health care and the proper transmission of ideas from one generation to the next.