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

“I earned it. I’m proud of it. I am a doctor.”

Laura Beaty, MD
Physician
May 2, 2019
3K Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

I follow a Facebook group of physician moms.  We share and offer feedback on everything from a clinical puzzle to a frustrating patient encounter, and we offer our tricks for how to find balance in a crazy medical life.  I’ve seen several recent posts about women being called Mrs. even when it is known they are a physician.  Most recently there was a long post where a female physician at a social event was told by a male “friend” that it was arrogant to let people other than patients or professional colleagues refer to you as “doctor. ” I’m sure you can imagine the responses from our group.  But, the fact that this is even a discussion point in 2019 baffles me.  I am certain this is not a conversation that has been directed to male physicians.

This is what I wish she had said: “First, using my title does not mean I’m choosing my profession over my husband.  It is my title.  I earned it, it is socially correct to use it, and this is not about me — it is about you not choosing respect.  Furthermore, I bet if your wife collapses and someone yells, ‘Is there a doctor in the house,’ you would then surely want me to respond?”

Sadly, as physicians, we also perpetuate the issue.  A study, published in the Journal of Women’s Health, monitored over 300 conferences in a two-year time span at Mayo.  When males introduced the physician speakers, they used titles introducing men 72 percent of the time versus 49 percent for women speakers.  When females were doing the introductions, they used titles 96 percent for men and 66 percent for women speakers.  I should be shocked, but I’m not.  Women are graduating medical school in higher numbers than men, but the stories continue to pour in of women physicians being mistaken for nurses or patients looking to a male medical student instead of the female attending to answer the difficult questions.

A father and son are involved in a car accident, and both are both are badly hurt.  They are taken to separate hospitals.  When the boy is taken in for an operation, the surgeon states, “I cannot do the surgery because this is my son.”  Why is this a riddle?  I heard it being shared as recently as a few years ago at a pub table of 30-something-year-olds scratching their heads.  There are now more females than males enrolled in U.S. medical schools.  It is probable that there will be more actively practicing female physicians than male physicians in the U.S. in our lifetime.  Yet, we still have an imbalance of public perception.

I don’t get hung up on being called doctor, but in a situation where a title should be used then, absolutely yes, I want my two letters and one period utilized.  I want my years of study, my dedication to a noble profession and my level of expertise recognized.  I want it to ring in the ears of all that are in the vicinity to hear it.  Why?  Because, just like my male physician colleagues, I earned it, I’m proud of it, and I am a doctor.

Laura Beaty is a family physician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Laura Beaty MD.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

AI in medicine: Separate hype from reality

May 1, 2019 Kevin 0
…
Next

New medical students: Here are 10 tips for success

May 2, 2019 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Practice Management

Post navigation

< Previous Post
AI in medicine: Separate hype from reality
Next Post >
New medical students: Here are 10 tips for success

More by Laura Beaty, MD

  • Watching clot-busting drugs work is science in action

    Laura Beaty, MD

Related Posts

  • Osler and the doctor-patient relationship

    Leonard Wang
  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Finding a new doctor is like dating

    R. Lynn Barnett
  • Doctor, how are you, really?

    Deborah Courtney
  • Be a human first and a doctor second

    Sarah Murad
  • Becoming a doctor is the epitome of delayed gratification

    Natasha Abadilla

More in Physician

  • Practicing medicine with conviction

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • The power of memory in shaping human identity

    Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD
  • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

    Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH
  • The erosion of patient care

    Laura de la Torre, MD
  • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

    Eleanor Menzin, MD
  • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
  • 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
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

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 3 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

  • FDA Relents, Approves Novel Antidepressant After Many Rejections
  • OSHA Comes in for Both Praise and Harsh Criticism at House Hearing
  • New Insight Into Hyperglycemia Risk With PI3K Inhibitor for Breast Cancer
  • Oktoberfest Doctor: Not the Wurst Job You Could Have
  • Blue Shield of California Has Fix for MA Enrollees Worried About Co-Pays

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
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
  • 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
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

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

“I earned it. I’m proud of it. I am a doctor.”
3 comments

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

Loading Comments...