What do you guys think about hair transplant surgery?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
O

OsteoGASDOC

Full Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2008
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Members don't see this ad.
So what's the deal with hair transplant surgery? How do you become one? Can you really do any residency followed my a HT fellowship to become certified? How hard is it to get a hair transplant fellowship? is it D.O. friendly? What kind of lifestyle do HT surgeons have? Thanks!
 
I don't have any personal knowledge about this, but all the ones I have heard of have been surgeons. I have seen one ad hiring for one...it stated they were looking for a surgeon. My impression is it's general surgeons or plastic surgeons looking for a better lifestyle (i.e. not working on weekends, etc.). I think you'd do fine trying to get in to this field with a DO, but would think you'd need a surgery residency first. I am an internist and I don't think I'd let an internist or fp do my hair transplant, should I ever need one.
 
There are several threads here in this forum, Surgery and Derm forums as well. A search will find them for you, or you can look at the bottom of this page.

In answer to your question, I think, for many surgeons, if you choose this field, you will have to face a fair bit of snickering. Its not particularly well respected, and many of the programs do not require training in surgery, or completion of a residency.

Lifestyle is obviously good - no emergencies and its a cash practice.
 
J-Rad said:
Not that this is particularly meaningful, but I guess this guy is doing alright for himself.
http://www.hairdr.com/about.html
Click to expand...

No doubt you can be successful doing hair transplant, although I have a bit of a problem with someone who completed only an FM residency and a hair transplant precetorship calling themselves a "surgeon". The fact that he doesn't list his lack of surgical training on his own website tells me he also feels he needs to hide that.
 
Many of the cosmetic dermatologist do that, but it requires a fine knowledge of surgery, if you wanna be competitive in this field. So you can finish your internship in surgery and have some electives with plastic surgeon, but bottom line is that since nobody teach its technique during residency, seriously enough to make you a hair transplant you need to take some additional courses, in socities like this:
http://www.ishrs.org/
 
Winged Scapula said:
No doubt you can be successful doing hair transplant, although I have a bit of a problem with someone who completed only an FM residency and a hair transplant precetorship calling themselves a "surgeon". The fact that he doesn't list his lack of surgical training on his own website tells me he also feels he needs to hide that.
Click to expand...

He calls himself a "hair transplant surgeon"

I'm not sure what else he could call himself. Maybe hair transplant specialist. but he is doing hair transplant surgery. He has been doing it since 1989.

He is most likely successful at it.

He has never made a claim that he is a General surgeon or thoracic etc.

He has only claimed that he does hair transplants surgery.
which is what he does.
 
Joe Richards said:
He calls himself a "hair transplant surgeon"

I'm not sure what else he could call himself. Maybe hair transplant specialist. but he is doing hair transplant surgery. He has been doing it since 1989.

He is most likely successful at it.

He has never made a claim that he is a General surgeon or thoracic etc.

He has only claimed that he does hair transplants surgery.
which is what he does.
Click to expand...

No, he claims to be a surgeon, which he is not. He is a family practitioner who does a surgical procedure. Many FPs do surgical procedures - from skin biopsies to appys in some places, but they don't call themselves surgeons. So should anyone who does a surgical procedure should be able to call themselves a surgeon? I administer local and regional anesthetics and sedation...but I don't claim to be an anesthesiologist.

I don't care that he doesn't claim to be a general surgeon or thoracic surgeon. It is apparent to me and other surgeons I've spoken to that the reason these guys hide their non surgical qualifications is because they are claiming to be something they are not. Its the same issue with cosmetic surgeons (whatever those are).
 
Winged Scapula said:
No, he claims to be a surgeon, which he is not. He is a family practitioner who does a surgical procedure. Many FPs do surgical procedures - from skin biopsies to appys in some places, but they don't call themselves surgeons. So should anyone who does a surgical procedure should be able to call themselves a surgeon? I administer local and regional anesthetics and sedation...but I don't claim to be an anesthesiologist.

I don't care that he doesn't claim to be a general surgeon or thoracic surgeon. It is apparent to me and other surgeons I've spoken to that the reason these guys hide their non surgical qualifications is because they are claiming to be something they are not. Its the same issue with cosmetic surgeons (whatever those are).
Click to expand...


With all due respect, I went back and read his entire bio. this is the page the link take you. This is where he talks about himself.

He did not refer to himself as a "surgeon" in any part of his bio. He said he does "hair transplant surgery" , he said he does hair transplant treatments using surgery. He said he is a Hair transplant specialist (which he is) and that he has done a hair transplant training.

I don't see in his bio where he claims to be a surgeon. He states he was licensed to practice medicine in many states.

Like you said yourself, there are many FPs that do surgical procedures. He does one specific surgical procedure and has not stated he is anything other than this.

Maybe I missed where he says he is a surgeon.

He does say he has privileges at a particular hospital to do hair transplant surgery.

Since there is not a specific residency for hair transplant surgery, it would make sense that after PROPER training he COULD say that he is a hair transplant surgeon. But he doesn't even though that is what he does all day and for the past 20 years. He does not claim to be able to do a heart transplant or a knee surgery, just hair transplants.

Can you please tell me where he says he is a board certified surgeon or surgeon.
 
Last edited:
He does not say he is a BC surgeon, nor did I claim that.

But here is one ad in which he calls himself "Chief Surgeon": http://www.hairdr.com/article_shopinri_sept08.html

If you Google him, you will find other instances. In press releases and media reports I will blame the journalists for calling him a surgeon when he is not, but in his own advertisements, I assume he is proofreading them and knows what they say and has some editorial control.

I'm not sure what him not doing heart transplants or knee surgery has to do with anything. The fact is that there is more than the instance above where he is called a surgeon, presumably with his approval, when he is not.

This discussion is not nearly as important to me as it apparently is to you. If you wish to call yourself a HT surgeon, go right ahead.🙄
 
Winged Scapula said:
He does not say he is a BC surgeon, nor did I claim that.

But here is one ad in which he calls himself "Chief Surgeon": http://www.hairdr.com/article_shopinri_sept08.html

If you Google him, you will find other instances. In press releases and media reports I will blame the journalists for calling him a surgeon when he is not, but in his own advertisements, I assume he is proofreading them and knows what they say and has some editorial control.

I'm not sure what him not doing heart transplants or knee surgery has to do with anything. The fact is that there is more than the instance above where he is called a surgeon, presumably with his approval, when he is not.

This discussion is not nearly as important to me as it apparently is to you. If you wish to call yourself a HT surgeon, go right ahead.🙄
Click to expand...

Well he is the chief surgeon for hair transplants in his clinic. Hair restoration is a surgery and it is the only one he does in his office.

I think we are splitting hairs. 🙂

I mean why does it offend you so much? He knows what he is doing when it comes to hair transplant surgery.
 
Joe Richards said:
Well he is the chief surgeon for hair transplants in his clinic. Hair restoration is a surgery and it is the only one he does in his office.
Click to expand...

Again, doing surgery (which is not what he is doing, he is doing a procedure) does not make one a surgeon. Do you think FPs who do vasectomies are surgeons? Or are they FP who do surgical procedures? Would you call yourself an obstetrician if you are one of the few FPs who are still delivering babies?

I think we are splitting hairs. 🙂
Click to expand...

I don't think so. There is a difference, IMHO, between a surgeon and someone who does surgical or other procedures. Just as there is a difference between an OB-Gyn and an FP who does some deliveries.

I mean why does it offend you so much? He knows what he is doing when it comes to hair transplant surgery.
Click to expand...

I never questioned whether he knows what he is doing and I'm unsure as to why you keep bringing this up. I never questioned his capabilities or his training. I simply said that if you have not trained as a surgeon, you are not a surgeon.

Why does this bother me? Because I went through a hellish training program with all sorts of humiliations to be able to call myself a surgeon. He spent 3 years in a presumably much more lifestyle friendly residency, without near the call or stress I had, and yet he wants to call himself a surgeon.

But more importantly, he knows that patients expect that he is a surgeon and he conceals the fact that he is not. Doing a surgical procedure, even if that is all you do, does not make one a surgeon. As I noted above, I anesthetize people every day, but I don't call myself an anesthesiologist.

Let's just agree to disagree.
 
Winged Scapula said:
Why does this bother me? Because I went through a hellish training program with all sorts of humiliations to be able to call myself a surgeon. He spent 3 years in a presumably much more lifestyle friendly residency, without near the call or stress I had, and yet he wants to call himself a surgeon.
Click to expand...

So, by this logic, a physician who trains in a different country with a less hellish system is not allowed to call him or herself a surgeon? Similarly, if surgery programs in the future embrace the warm and fuzzy nature of say pediatrics and everyone is happy as they train, will they need to rename their apprentices? 😉

I can agree with you that he should not be calling himself a surgeon. My rationale would be that he has not had the same quality and quantity of training, and not necessarily care about the hellishness of his ascent. If he lumps himself in with all surgeons, all of his actions and errors degrade the public perception of surgeons as a whole, despite the fact that he is not a trained surgeon. This is similar to why companies like Jello and Xerox started to get fed up with the media calling all gelatin products and all copy machines by their brand names. Having cheap copies called Xeroxes degraded the public perception of the Xerox brand.
 
AlternateSome1 said:
So, by this logic, a physician who trains in a different country with a less hellish system is not allowed to call him or herself a surgeon? Similarly, if surgery programs in the future embrace the warm and fuzzy nature of say pediatrics and everyone is happy as they train, will they need to rename their apprentices? 😉
Click to expand...

No and that was not my point. Joe asked why it bothered me so much...my response about my hellish training is why it bothers me. Medicine is full of people who want the rights and privileges of a higher degree but don't want to put in the work to get there (see independent NP, CRNAs, etc.)

It was not the reason for my argument. My point was that only people who trained as surgeons should call themselves surgeons. There are plenty of residents, especially these days, even in the US who have a good surgical residency experience.

I can agree with you that he should not be calling himself a surgeon. My rationale would be that he has not had the same quality and quantity of training, and not necessarily care about the hellishness of his ascent. If he lumps himself in with all surgeons, all of his actions and errors degrade the public perception of surgeons as a whole, despite the fact that he is not a trained surgeon. This is similar to why companies like Jello and Xerox started to get fed up with the media calling all gelatin products and all copy machines by their brand names. Having cheap copies called Xeroxes degraded the public perception of the Xerox brand.
Click to expand...

Good point, although my issue is much more black and white. He isn't a surgeon and therefore shouldn't call himself a surgeon.

Its no different than when I was training in psychology and the APA actually enacted legislation that you cannot call yourself a psychologist unless you have a doctorate degree in psychology. And I believe the branding issue was behind that push - people with BAs and Masters degrees doing counseling were calling themselves psychologists and the public was confused about the difference between them and a doctorate.
 
Winged Scapula said:
No and that was not my point. Joe asked why it bothered me so much...my response about my hellish training is why it bothers me. Medicine is full of people who want the rights and privileges of a higher degree but don't want to put in the work to get there (see independent NP, CRNAs, etc.)

It was not the reason for my argument. My point was that only people who trained as surgeons should call themselves surgeons. There are plenty of residents, especially these days, even in the US who have a good surgical residency experience.



Good point, although my issue is much more black and white. He isn't a surgeon and therefore shouldn't call himself a surgeon.

Its no different than when I was training in psychology and the APA actually enacted legislation that you cannot call yourself a psychologist unless you have a doctorate degree in psychology. And I believe the branding issue was behind that push - people with BAs and Masters degrees doing counseling were calling themselves psychologists and the public was confused about the difference between them and a doctorate.
Click to expand...

I think the easiest way to do it is that he calls himself a "hair restoration specialist" who utilizes surgery to achieve his objective.

He can say he is the Medical Director of the office.

But again, People will call him a hair restoration surgeon just like they call PAs doctors and chiropractors doctors.

I was playing the devils advocate with a few exception. I see your point. It is a valid point.

but not because you had such a hellish residency. A hellish residency is a subjective concept. Many internist can say they had hellish residencies as well. Imagine if someone was a critical care fellow. Their life would be hellish. Or if they were a resident in an inner city ER. Very hellish.

I think another post was correct to say that you get to call yourself a surgeon because you went through a formal training program for surgery.

Although many could argue that their medical license say "physician and surgeon" on it.

But I think there is something more important going on here.

I think that you and the other surgeons you mentioned are offended that he calls himself surgeon more because of the clout that prestige you feel name brings than anything else. (and you may have point)

but I don't think it's because you are worried about him not being able to do his job well. which he can.
 
Joe Richards said:
I think the easiest way to do it is that he calls himself a "hair restoration specialist" who utilizes surgery to achieve his objective.

He can say he is the Medical Director of the office.

But again, People will call him a hair restoration surgeon just like they call PAs doctors and chiropractors doctors.
Click to expand...

Sure. I understand that as I often get patient's referred by "Dr. John Smith, PA-C." I've been mistaken for a nurse many times; its a common misperception and I think he capitalizes that.

I was playing the devils advocate with a few exception. I see your point. It is a valid point.

but not because you had such a hellish residency. A hellish residency is a subjective concept. Many internist can say they had hellish residencies as well. Imagine if someone was a critical care fellow. Their life would be hellish. Or if they were a resident in an inner city ER. Very hellish.
Click to expand...

And as I noted above, that was not my point for saying he shouldn't call himself a surgeon. Rather, it was my response to your query as to why it upsets me so. It upsets me because I worked damn hard for a long time to call myself a surgeon. And the same goes for other specialties...I'd be pretty upset if I worked long and hard to become a CC intensivist or a EP and someone without that training attempted to use the same title without the time put in.

The above is my reason for being upset, but not my reason for why he shouldn't call himself a surgeon.

I think another post was correct to say that you get to call yourself a surgeon because you went through a formal training program for surgery.

Although many could argue that their medical license say "physician and surgeon" on it.

But I think there is something more important going on here.

I think that you and the other surgeons you mentioned are offended that he calls himself surgeon more because of the clout that prestige you feel name brings than anything else. (and you may have point)
Click to expand...

I'm sure that's part of it. But we feel obligated to protect our product with all the attempts to invade it from midlevels. My anesthesia colleagues know this better than I, what with their frequent problems with anesthesia assistants and CRNAs calling themselves anesthesiologists or letting patients continue to believe they are physicians. That hasn't happened as much with surgery, but we don't intend to let that happen.

but I don't think it's because you are worried about him not being able to do his job well. which he can.
Click to expand...

Clearly he has a thriving practice and I see no reason to believe that he doesn't do his job well. HT isn't exactly rocket science - its like a lot of other procedures, you don't need to be a surgeon to demonstrate the skills to do it.

If he came right out and said he was a Family Practitioner who did some training in HT restoration I would have a lot more respect for him. But it is these kind of practices (ie, hiding your qualifications), that gives the entire field a stench of shadyness. Its no different, IMHO, than Harvard Plastic Surgeons being upset with Robert Rey, "Dr. 90210" claiming to be a harvard trained surgeon. Sure, he spent a year there, but the vast majority of his training was at nowhere as elite as Harvard. Its misleading.
 
Winged Scapula said:
Sure. I understand that as I often get patient's referred by "Dr. John Smith, PA-C." I've been mistaken for a nurse many times; its a common misperception and I think he capitalizes that.



And as I noted above, that was not my point for saying he shouldn't call himself a surgeon. Rather, it was my response to your query as to why it upsets me so. It upsets me because I worked damn hard for a long time to call myself a surgeon. And the same goes for other specialties...I'd be pretty upset if I worked long and hard to become a CC intensivist or a EP and someone without that training attempted to use the same title without the time put in.

The above is my reason for being upset, but not my reason for why he shouldn't call himself a surgeon.



I'm sure that's part of it. But we feel obligated to protect our product with all the attempts to invade it from midlevels. My anesthesia colleagues know this better than I, what with their frequent problems with anesthesia assistants and CRNAs calling themselves anesthesiologists or letting patients continue to believe they are physicians. That hasn't happened as much with surgery, but we don't intend to let that happen.



Clearly he has a thriving practice and I see no reason to believe that he doesn't do his job well. HT isn't exactly rocket science - its like a lot of other procedures, you don't need to be a surgeon to demonstrate the skills to do it.

If he came right out and said he was a Family Practitioner who did some training in HT restoration I would have a lot more respect for him. But it is these kind of practices (ie, hiding your qualifications), that gives the entire field a stench of shadyness. Its no different, IMHO, than Harvard Plastic Surgeons being upset with Robert Rey, "Dr. 90210" claiming to be a harvard trained surgeon. Sure, he spent a year there, but the vast majority of his training was at nowhere as elite as Harvard. Its misleading.
Click to expand...

My training is in Family Medicine. I fully understand the current problem with midlevels and other less qualified individuals running around in wolves clothing. So I don't disagree with you entirely.

One last thing about him. He does post his CV on his website.

But enough said.
 
Winged Scapula said:
You're right; I did not see the link to his CV.

Was FM only 2 years in length back in the late 80s?
Click to expand...

It was probably three, but DO programs tend to make a distinction between the intern year and the residency (he didn't really put the end year of the residency, but since he's boarded by the AOBFP, I'd assume it was two years of residency after his intern year.

I have to say that this thread is funny: most threads that I post in seem to die within a few days...but I seemed to have found the magic topic😀

It also brings back memories of when I first started losing my hair at the ripe old age of 24, my mother giving me the Bosley Institute advertisement packet and video...what a kick in the gut that was🙂. Come to think of it I wish I'd known about this guy while I was doing my third year in Rhode Island...maybe he would have offered a professional discount for a DO student. Alas...

In regards to the above, I always think, like "cosmetic surgeons" that this is a gray area that should be treaded over lightly. It was like when in the news a few years ago, Sen. Tom Coburn kept being billed as an obstetrician (he was an FP who delivered) and never seemed to counter this statement. I think all of these practioners should err on the side of (over)zealously explaing what they are (FP who is a hair transplant specialist, FP who delivers, whatever who does cosmetic procedures, etc.) at a minimum as a sign of respect to one's colleagues who, like Winged, has put in the time and energy to be rightfully called something (on another line of thinking, in matters of informed consent, it would seem to be prudent to always emphasize what the actual training was so in the case of a bad outcome, no one could come back and say: well he billed himself as a board certified "surgeon").
And as one completely tangential, and irrelevant aside: who said Peds was warm and fuzzy. Not where I trained😉
 
J-Rad said:
And as one completely tangential, and irrelevant aside: who said Peds was warm and fuzzy. Not where I trained😉
Click to expand...

The day when I see internists and surgeons running around with stuffed animals hanging from their stethoscopes and reflex hammers shaped like giraffes is the day I will stop thinking of peds as the warm and fuzzy specialty. :laugh:
 
J-Rad said:
It was probably three, but DO programs tend to make a distinction between the intern year and the residency (he didn't really put the end year of the residency, but since he's boarded by the AOBFP, I'd assume it was two years of residency after his intern year.
Click to expand...

The reason I asked is that he lists:

EDUCATION
Undergraduate:
University of New Hampshire, B.A. Zoology, 1981
Medical School:
University of New England, D.O., 1986
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING
Internship:
Metropolitan General Hospital, 1987
Residency:
Parkview Hospital, Family Practice, Toledo, Ohio 1988
Preceptorship:
Dr. C. P. Chambers, Chambers Hair Institute, Hair Transplant Surgery

which sounds to me like only two years of residency training (1986-1987 for internship and 1987-1988 for residency). But then he states he's BC in FM so was wondering if he misdated his CV or if the training was shorter back then (or if you can be BC without finishing training back then).
 
Winged Scapula said:
. My point was that only people who trained as surgeons should call themselves surgeons.
Click to expand...

What about airforce GP's who are called flight surgeons?

I disagree with you on this one- I think that any MD/DO who performs a surgical procedure should be able to call themselves surgeons. However, this isn't an important issue to me. I am just bored tonight and looking through the various SDN threads.
 
michaelrack said:
... I think that any MD/DO who performs a surgical procedure should be able to call themselves surgeons...
Click to expand...

A surgeon is an MD who is in, or has completed, a surgery residency and practices surgeries - and, one who doesn't mind if he/she is called a "cutter". :laugh:
 
In the past few years I have met with a few different hair transplant doctors to identify whether I should consider the procedure or not.

The first physician I met with was a cosmetic surgeon (I assume based on the fact that the initials after his name are Jone Doe, MD, FACS, FAACS), however, he had told me he worked as a urologist. Either way, he was much older and offered a great deal of information to me regarding his practice. He does minimum of 1 procedure a day, but usually does 2... and he also does procedures on Saturday. His average procedure brings in $10,000, and he also "invented" a type of laser-hair therapy and charges $4,000 for a years worth of laser treatment. The guy is LOADED.

The other physician I met with was a dermatologist before he worked with hair transplants. He was part of the MHR.

Both claimed they did 1 year "fellowships" in hair transplant (which means they trained with private hair transplant physicians for a year).
 
Sorry, but I agree w/wingedscapula
I'm an internist, by the way.
When I read this guy's ad, the first thing I thought was, "He's trying to pass himself off as a surgeon". This person is NOT a surgeon. He's doing a medical procedure. Just b/c I moonlight in an ER and I've whacked off some skin tags and lanced a few boils, even on a regular basis, doesn't mean I get to call myself a surgeon. If he's not trying to pass himself off as something he isn't, he should just state he's a family practitioner who trained to do hair transplants. In one of the ads, he tries to claim he is more competent than a surgeon would be because he has more "medical training". Puhleeze. In that case I'm more qualified than him to do hair transplants, or would be if I did the 1-year hair transplant fellowship, since I have 3 whole years of adult medicine training. I see this happening with some docs who aren't dermatologists or plastic surgeons but who work in skin care centers, etc. You don't think that most patients think they are dermatologists and/or plastic surgeons. The public doesn't know the difference between one doc and another, or between a PA or NP and a family practitioner in most cases, which is why NOBODY should be muddying the waters more, or be allowed to do so.
 
AlternateSome1 said:
The day when I see internists and surgeons running around with stuffed animals hanging from their stethoscopes and reflex hammers shaped like giraffes is the day I will stop thinking of peds as the warm and fuzzy specialty. :laugh:
Click to expand...


Touche😛

I think I may have remembered something to explain the time discrepancy (thanks Winged, I missed how the dates lined up from his grad to show 2 years of training): it may harken back to when GPs were still in practice. I worked for a guy who graduated ~35 years ago and did one year of internship and then was a GP (like many others, DO and MD). He was boarded by the ABOFP because up until sometime in the 90's (I think) the GPs were able to sit for the DO FP boards and if they passed they got ABOFP certification. I'm going to guess that DO FP residencied were 3 years long, but that maybe he got through the back door of certification this way (of course, I don't know if you had to graduate before a certain date to be eligible to sit for those boards with only one year of post-grad training).
 
michaelrack said:
I disagree with you on this one- I think that any MD/DO who performs a surgical procedure should be able to call themselves surgeons.
Click to expand...

So....should any NP who correctly diagnoses and treats asthma be called a physician?

If you're not a board-certified surgeon, then you shouldn't call yourself a surgeon. Regardless of how many procedures you do.
 
michaelrack said:
I disagree with you on this one- I think that any MD/DO who performs a surgical procedure should be able to call themselves surgeons. However, this isn't an important issue to me. I am just bored tonight and looking through the various SDN threads.
Click to expand...


Clearly you aren't a real surgeon. Just because you wear a pair of scrubs now and again and hack out a lipoma in the clinic doesn't mean you're a surgeon.
 
here is an interesting distinction to note.
in georgia, regardless of your specilaty, the print on your medical license says:
dr so and so is hereby licensed to practice MEDICINE AND SURGERY in the state of ga on this date xyz.
 
jdig said:
here is an interesting distinction to note.
in georgia, regardless of your specilaty, the print on your medical license says:
dr so and so is hereby licensed to practice MEDICINE AND SURGERY in the state of ga on this date xyz.
Click to expand...

That is pretty common; many state licenses say that because there is no special license for surgeons vs internists vs other specialists.
 
Pir8DeacDoc said:
Clearly you aren't a real surgeon. Just because you wear a pair of scrubs now and again and hack out a lipoma in the clinic doesn't mean you're a surgeon.
Click to expand...

I don't do surgery and am not a surgeon. I am an internist.

Nobody's commented yet about flight surgeons. And what about the Surgeon General?
 
Last edited:
smq123 said:
So....should any NP who correctly diagnoses and treats asthma be called a physician?

If you're not a board-certified surgeon, then you shouldn't call yourself a surgeon. Regardless of how many procedures you do.
Click to expand...

Do you think someone who flunks their surgery boards can call themselves a surgeon?? I called myself a psychiatrist back when I was practicing psychiatry, even before I passed my boards.

A physician is someone who has passed medical school, has a medical license, and treats medical illness. You don't have to be a board-certified internist to call yourself a physician. As a board-certified internist and a member of the American College of Physicians, I won't take offense if an FP or GP calls themselves a physician. I will get angry, however, if an NP claims to be a physician.
 
michaelrack said:
I don't do surgery and am not a surgeon. I am an internist.

Nobody's commented yet about flight surgeons. And what about the Surgeon General?
Click to expand...

I think we can all agree that those are special situations which are not applicable to a family practitioner passing himself off as a surgeon to the general public.
 
Tired said:
These are traditional titles and those associated with the military understand what they mean (and you know this).

Furthermore, there are no situations where the Surgeon General will be trying to pass himself off as a surgeon. Ditto on Flight Surgeons.
Click to expand...


And doesn't it have something to do with pay grade etc? Its been a while since I have been around my military MD friends but as I recall they said it was some extra training, etc and has NOTHING to do with being a 'surgeon' and lots to do with military bureaucracy and tradition.


and not to :beat:, but I perform lots of procedures. I intubate (not an anesthesiologist), reduce fractures (not an orthopod), emergent surgical airways, thoracotomies (not a surgeon), sew lacerations (not plastics).

Performing one or two specific procedures does not make you a surgeon/orthopod/etc. Your specialty TRAINING makes you that. So, if you do an orthopaedic residency, then you are trained to be an orthopod. etc etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Physicians- What do you think about podiatry?
Replies
8
Views
2K
Mum
M
Dr. Pineal Gland
MS3 asking to speak to someone about general surgery
Replies
0
Views
2K
Dr. Pineal Gland
Dr. Pineal Gland
G
Does residency funding always follow you?
Replies
9
Views
1K
Apollyon
A
IonClaws
Residents - do NOT believe attendings who tell you non-clinical options are viable
Replies
15
Views
5K
xffan624
xffan624
whatsthepoint
How does one go about switching from a categorical position?
Replies
15
Views
3K
whatsthepoint
whatsthepoint
Top