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

  • The escalating violence in health care workplaces: a critical problem facing the nation’s health care system

    Harry Severance, MD
  • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

    Howard Smith, MD
  • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

    Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD
  • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

    Kara Wada, MD
  • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

    Zahid Awan, MD
  • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • The escalating violence in health care workplaces: a critical problem facing the nation’s health care system

      Harry Severance, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • A pediatrician’s journey into integrative medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

      Kara Wada, MD | Physician
    • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

      Monika Roots, 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 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

  • Reaction to FDA's Approval of Upadacitinib for Crohn's Disease
  • Missouri Doc Murdered? Biden's Pick for CDC Chief; COVID Immunity in 96% of U.S.
  • CDK4/6 Extends Reach Into Early-Stage Breast Cancer
  • UnitedHealthcare in the Hot Seat Over GI Procedure 'Advance Notification' Policy
  • Genetic Risk Score Predicts Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Meeting Coverage

  • Reaction to FDA's Approval of Upadacitinib for Crohn's Disease
  • CDK4/6 Extends Reach Into Early-Stage Breast Cancer
  • TAR-200 Led to High Complete Response Rates in BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer
  • More Success for CAR T-Cell Therapy in Rheumatic Disease
  • Trial Shows RA Can Be Stopped at Preclinical Stage
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • The escalating violence in health care workplaces: a critical problem facing the nation’s health care system

      Harry Severance, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • A pediatrician’s journey into integrative medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

      Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD | Physician
    • Unconventional health care, flawed studies, and biases: Navigating the complexities for optimal well-being

      Kara Wada, MD | Physician
    • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

      Monika Roots, 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

“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...