Can I Work Under a Professional Name or Pseudonym?

[doctorDoctor.]

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I go by my first name and middle name instead of first name and last name. For example (I won't reveal my real name for privacy reasons), if my legal name was John Paul Smith, I go by John Paul instead of John Smith. My friends, professors, etc. all know me as John Paul and I introduce myself as such to everyone I meet.

I do not plan to legally change my name, and still use my full legal name on all official documents, etc.

I was wondering if I could continue to use this professional name of sorts during my residency and/or when I become a practicing physician. I am talking about introducing myself to my patients and coworkers as John Paul instead of John Smith, having the sign on my door and the placard in my office say John Paul instead of John Smith, etc.

I am asking this because my "last name" would be different. In other words, with my legal name it would be Dr. Smith, but with my professional name it would be Dr. Paul. I was wondering if this would cause any issues, as long as I continue to use my full legal name on all official documents.

 

[Bobdabuilda14]

I go by my first name and middle name instead of first name and last name. For example (I won't reveal my real name for privacy reasons), if my legal name was John Paul Smith, I go by John Paul instead of John Smith. My friends, professors, etc. all know me as John Paul and I introduce myself as such to everyone I meet.

I do not plan to legally change my name, and still use my full legal name on all official documents, etc.

I was wondering if I could continue to use this professional name of sorts during my residency and/or when I become a practicing physician. I am talking about introducing myself to my patients and coworkers as John Paul instead of John Smith, having the sign on my door and the placard in my office say John Paul instead of John Smith, etc.

I am asking this because my "last name" would be different. In other words, with my legal name it would be Dr. Smith, but with my professional name it would be Dr. Paul. I was wondering if this would cause any issues, as long as I continue to use my full legal name on all official documents.

Nope.

 

[Stagg737]

Some patients could get pissed that you're using a "pseudonym" and it could potentially cause some trust issues if they found that out. Legally I don't thing there would be issues though.

 

[kavorca]

Regina Phalanges?

 

[CherryRedDracul]

I'd like to be called Dr. Feelgood.

 

[Inventor of Post-Its]

Is there any particular reason you feel so strongly about doing this? It seems like a huge headache.

 

[witzelsucht]

This won't work. You will have to use your name on all prescriptions, referrals, etc. as well as your NPI number which will be googleable to your name, etc. Everyone is going to know everything about you. Your med school, residency, age. You are better off using a stage name in real life. Try John Burt Macklin.

 

[doc05]

just legally change your name. and do it before you graduate so that the diploma, licenses, etc, all match.

 

[Crayola227]

You can totally use your middle not your first name, but your last name is your last name.

For medicolegal purposes, you last name is what will be in the the EHR for signing notes and prescriptions.

Colleagues, nurses, social worker, pharmacists, will all be confused, to the point of dangerousness so the hospital will not allow this.

Suck it up and use your last name or get it legally changed.

The end.

 

[IlDestriero]

You can totally use your middle not your first name, but your last name is your last name.

For medicolegal purposes, you last name is what will be in the the EHR for signing notes and prescriptions.

Colleagues, nurses, social worker, pharmacists, will all be confused, to the point of dangerousness so the hospital will not allow this.

Suck it up and use your last name or get it legally changed.

The end.

Exactly. If you want to call yourself Dr Bob, go for it, but you're still Dr. Alouicious Robert Gobbledik. Patients, and everyone else, will need to know you are Dr Gobbledick.
If that's a problem, head downtown and get your name change started.


--
Il Destriero

 

[doctorDoctor.]

Is there any particular reason you feel so strongly about doing this? It seems like a huge headache.

Yes, sort of. This isn't something I would like to start doing, this is something I have done for all of my life... I don't mind using my real last name, but wanted to know if it was possible to just continue doing what I've been doing. I guess the consensus is that I can't haha.

 

[Law2Doc]

Yes, sort of. This isn't something I would like to start doing, this is something I have done for all of my life... I don't mind using my real last name, but wanted to know if it was possible to just continue doing what I've been doing. I guess the consensus is that I can't haha.

Let's say your patient is crashing and your real name appears in the EMR but nobody can find that guy because only your pseudonym appears on the directory. Big lawsuit. There are plenty of iterations of this. So no, don't try this. If you want to be anonymous this is a really bad field.

 

[Mountaineer12]

I worked with a doctor who had a hyphenated name from marriage (let's say Dr. Paul-Smith to use your examples), but only went by Dr. Paul to patients. She still signed everything as Dr. Paul-Smith, but for simplicity sake everyone knew her as just the one last name. Not exactly the same issue as you have, but I thought I'd pass it along. Maybe talk to someone at your school? I don't think it would be that big of a deal to tell your patients you're Dr. Paul and sign all notes, scripts, etc. as Dr. Smith. I know a number of people that introduce themselves as Dr. *insert first name here* instead of going by their last name. If when first meeting the patient you said something like I'm Dr. Paul Smith, but you can call me Dr. Paul. I think they would then know who the Dr. Smith on all of their paperwork was and also know that you prefer to be called Dr. Paul.


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