If someone's degree is OTD, do you address him or her as Dr. So and So? Or is that only for Ph.D or MD?
General Admissions & OTCAS Addressing E-mail to OTD: Mr./Ms. or Dr.?
- Thread starter ooottt
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Out of respect, "Dr." should be use to highlight the terminal degree. Definitely in writing but possibly not in person.
In patient environment, "Dr." can be confusing, so there should be clear distinction of the physician and the occupational therapist. Most OTD wouldn't demand you to call them "Dr." but I think it's okay to ask, "What would you prefer to be called in front of clients/ patients?"
In patient environment, "Dr." can be confusing, so there should be clear distinction of the physician and the occupational therapist. Most OTD wouldn't demand you to call them "Dr." but I think it's okay to ask, "What would you prefer to be called in front of clients/ patients?"
It is Dr. unless they tell u otherwise.
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OTs in writing are "Joe Smith, OTR/L" (assuming they are licensed to practice). This is regardless of whether they have a bachelor, master, or doctorate degree. I think it would be strange to call an OT "Doctor". I usually only reserve the title Dr. for people with a PhD or an MD/DO. But easiest thing to do is ask that person how he or she would like to be addressed.
An OT with a doctorate would be referred to as "Joe Smith, OTD, OTR/L", whereas an OT with a Masters would be referred to as "Joe Smith, MS, OTR/L". Therefore, in writing, an OT with a doctorate should be referred to as Dr. (unless they tell you otherwise).
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It's not a terminal degree. It's a professional doctorate. A PhD is a terminal degree. VERY different trajectory (OTD's don't have the same degree of research methods, comp's, and don't have a dissertation).
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It is still a terminal degree according to AOTA
http://www.aota.org/-/media/corpora...oe/faq-on-professional-entry-degrees-2015.pdf
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Nobody will in care if you address the OTD as Dr or Prof in the academic setting or in email.
I am pretty sure it is not allowed in the hospital and you will look strange if you are calling a fellow OT Dr so and so.
I am pretty sure it is not allowed in the hospital and you will look strange if you are calling a fellow OT Dr so and so.
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I think it's better to be cautious whether it's email or in-person. You wait for them to give you the green to address them anything else. Not an OT, but I do know certain people that demand other people refer him/her as "Dr.____" . It's not common but there are those types of people out there.
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Fair enough. Just keep in mind that the COE in AOTA means that OT's are calling it a terminal degree (which means that it is the highest degree that you can earn as a professional OT). Professionals in academia would not recognize it as terminal (respective to a PhD). OTD programs aren't always that different from some Masters programs due to a lack of standards (length of the degree, research requirements, etc...) while PhD and MD have fairly rigorous standards. And as a last thought...an OT that demands being called 'doctor' needs to evaluate her role in a caring and empathetic profession. JMO
