Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

A PhD who’s no longer a doctor in medical school

SuFu, PhD
Education
September 18, 2011
90 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

I’m a doctor. My mail comes with the Dr. prefix and my checks have Dr. on them. People introduce me as Dr. and when I go to conferences I am Dr. SuFu. However as of a couple months ago I’m no longer a doctor. With the donning of the white coat I paradoxically lost a degree and became a first name or Mr. SuFu. My name badge makes no reference to the last 5 years of my life, nor do any of the mailings, collages or class handouts. In the clinic as a medical student my Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Science is as noteworthy as the roll of toilet paper in the bathroom. I sacrificed a great deal of time and effort to receive my degree and I am very proud of it. Whereas other professions are proud of their students to have a prior graduate degree (e.g. MBA’s in law school) my degree has been swept under the cadaver table. While I understand the implications of not wanting to confuse patients with a Ph.D. degree the sheer lack of acknowledgement by my former colleagues is saddening.

I always planned on introducing myself as Mr. SuFu when in the clinic. I completely understand that an introduction of Dr. SuFu in the clinic could confuse the patients and I would never endanger the life of a patient or disrupt the hierarchy of medicine by claiming to be something I am not.

When I asked the dean, to please attach my degree to my name badge, I was told that it would set me apart from my fellow classmates and make me stand out to the attendings. My response was that all of them know about my degree, it’s tough for something like that to not be spread around rather quickly. I asked a few of my classmates for their opinion and they don’t care, I’m one of them. They come to me with questions about the classes I taught and some come talk with me because they have a genuine interest in getting into research but don’t know how to proceed. Either way my degree has been beneficial to my classmates.

I don’t feel that in today’s medical world a medical student with a Ph.D. in biomedical science would present a target for attending physicians. There are numerous combined MD/PhD programs throughout the nation where the student completes their PhD requirement before the final two clinical years. Do I think my degree will give me an advantage when I enter the clinic? Absolutely and unequivocally not. Right now as a first year medical student, I can’t tell the difference between heart murmurs or even hear one unless it’s shaking the bed. However, I do think my research based doctoral degree gives me a different perspective on medicine. My doctoral research was focused on the areas of oncology that are in clinical trials. I know more about the current state of oncologic clinical than the majority of people. I have personal knowledge of the rigors, time, effort and heartbreak that go into participating on a clinical trial for a chronic and potentially life threatening disease (I am currently a participant in the DEFEND-2 trial). My knowledge of these things could be of interest to the attending, but unless they have followed my career or have looked me up on PubMed they may assume that I am “just another medical student.”

So what am I? Am I a medical student? Am I researcher? I am both and I’m very proud of that. My training in clinical translational research, IRB approval, grant writing and manuscript preparation do set me apart from my classmates, but they have also benefitted from my experiences. I just wish that the powers that be, who are also Ph.D.’s would acknowledge it. I’m the wrong type of doctor for the next four years. Until then my suffix will have to suffice with the standard abbreviation for a medical student, MS, instead of the proper title SuFu, Ph.D., MS-1.

“SuFu” is a first year medical student with a PhD in biomedical science who blogs at Diabetically Mind Numbing.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

False assumptions and clinical errors in modern medical practice

September 18, 2011 Kevin 4
…
Next

When professional courtesy could get physicians in trouble

September 18, 2011 Kevin 4
…

Tagged as: Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
False assumptions and clinical errors in modern medical practice
Next Post >
When professional courtesy could get physicians in trouble

More in Education

  • The role of income in medical school acceptance

    Carter Do
  • Balancing tension and kindness in medical education

    Chloe N. L. Lee, MD, MPH
  • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

    Nandini Erodula
  • A chance encounter in Chicago: lessons in compassionate medicine

    Emily S. Hagen
  • Business education’s role in preventing physician practice decline

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • The impact of assumptions on patient communication in medical training

    Esther Covington
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Pediatricians grapple with guns in America, from Band-Aids to bullets

      Tasia Isbell, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Doctors and disability insurance: Protecting your income

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Doctors and disability insurance: Protecting your income

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Emergency care nightmare: the urgent need for experienced nurses

      Rachel Basham, RN, CCRN | Conditions
    • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

      Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Understanding intersex health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Debating the role of psychiatric assessments in medical decisions

      Christian Youssef & Francisco M. Torres, MD | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 7 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Spine Surgery Cover-Up? Legal Threats Chill Misinfo Research; The Longevity Industry
  • Upcoming Studies on Dupilumab for Alopecia Areata
  • Early Win for PTSD Drug; FDA OKs AI Sleep Diagnostic; Extreme Social Isolation Tool
  • Doctor or DNP: Who Is Really Providing Care?
  • Who Really Needs a Yearly COVID Booster?

Meeting Coverage

  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Pediatricians grapple with guns in America, from Band-Aids to bullets

      Tasia Isbell, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Doctors and disability insurance: Protecting your income

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Doctors and disability insurance: Protecting your income

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Emergency care nightmare: the urgent need for experienced nurses

      Rachel Basham, RN, CCRN | Conditions
    • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

      Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Understanding intersex health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Debating the role of psychiatric assessments in medical decisions

      Christian Youssef & Francisco M. Torres, MD | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

A PhD who’s no longer a doctor in medical school
7 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...