opinion

[dim sum]

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DO,MD,DDS,DMD,DPM,OD,DC,PhD, PsyD, PharmD are all doctors (maybe more that i don't know) differing in:

DO & MD = physician
DDS & DMD = dentist
DPM = podiatrist (or physician legally?)
OD = optometrist
DC = chiropractor
PhD = researcher, teacher, etc
PsyD = psychologist
PharmD = pharmacist

my understanding from reading the forum in podiatry and dentistry is that a DDS/DMD is legally a "dentist" but a DPM is legally a "physician".
i'm just curious (since my exposure to podiatry is minimal) if a DPM refer him/herself as podiatrist or as a physician

 

[LestatZinnie]

i can't answer your question, but i think whether a podiatrist can or can not refer to him/herself as a physician is purely semantics and has no use whatsoever practically. the power of the professional lies within what a podiatrist is or is not able to perform medically, not what title that he can refer to himself as. (unless your purpose is to justifiably tell people that you're a physician to impress them)

 

[efs]

It is really just a matter of semantics. I don't think it matters much to most people, though it might bother some insecure students.

The term surgeon is probably more appropriate for many podiatrists. And I think you will find as many if not more that consider themselves surgeons rather than physicians. There are also those that prefer physician over podiatrist, or podiatric physician.

You may find the same thing among the MDs and DOs as well. The term physician most accurately belongs to those like the IM, ID, FP docs. The General Surgeons, Cardiothoracic Surgeons, etc; are more likely to call themselves surgeons rather than physicians.

Bottom line is that it really doesn't matter.

😉 PS you forgot the JDs. (Jurisprudence Doctor). Those lawyers are really doctors too.

 

[ItsGavinC]

From what I've seen, most refer to themselves as podiatrists, but I also know that state laws classify podiatrists as physicians in many states.

efs was right on the money with the previous post, though.