Is MD/PhD and MD, PhD two different things?

[papilloma]

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I'm trying to make my personal ID at the clinics and need to know if officially there's a difference between writing MD/PhD and MD, PhD. The reason I'd prefer to write MD, PhD is because most patients, RNs, ODs, dont even know about the MSTP program, and might mistaken the combined MD/PhD as a single degree in between MD and PhD. It's a bit more clear to them if I separate the two by a comma MD, PhD I believe. What am I do write?

I've seen faculty, such as ones at UCSF, use MD, PhD even though they completed the MD/PhD MSTP program. That's why I ask. Thanks.

 

[MacGyver]

what the hell?

they ALL write MD, PhD after their name, not the slash thing. Doesnt matter if its a combo program or not.

 

[papilloma]

When I see faculty members give presentations, they put blah blah MD/PhD.

 

[coldchemist]

Use the comma. When I see MD/PhD I think "combined degree program." When I see MD, PhD I think "a person with both degrees."

I'm not sure if what I'm saying is clear. I see "MD/PhD" as a reference to an educational program--not a person. The comma indicates to me that the reference is to a person and not a program.

 

[tofurious]

A student would NOT be allowed to use MD, PhD on the nametag. If you're trying for something like "MD/PhD trainee", you might as well make a KICK-ME sign to wear on your back too.

 

[surge]

Originally posted by tofurious
A student would NOT be allowed to use MD, PhD on the nametag.

This is absolutely true.
It would be exceedingly misleading to write "MD, PhD" as that would indicate that you have earned the degrees. On that note, once you actually do earn them, the only proper way to write them is "MD, PhD". MD/PhD is simply a short name of the program. It's not a degree.

I highly recommend simply having "Medical Student" or something to that effect on your ID. Our student IDs simply say "Student" (all Yale student IDs say just "Student"), and then we have a nametag that says "Yale Medical Student".

 

[papilloma]

Thanks guys for the input. The ID is for residency...