Salutation, name and degree on scrubs?

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

Dr. Name and Degree on Scrubs?

  • Dr. John Doe, MD

    Votes: 8 8.6%

  • Dr. John Doe

    Votes: 1 1.1%

  • John Doe, MD

    Votes: 67 72.0%

  • Dr. John Doe, MD, PhD

    Votes: 16 17.2%

  • Dr. John Doe, PhD, MD

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Dr. John Doe, PhD

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • John Doe, PhD

    Votes: 1 1.1%
  • Total voters
    93
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mprimrosewbu

New Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
May 7, 2012
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
I was just wondering how to put my name on my scrubs. In the academic world it is not acceptable for me to put Dr. John Doe, MD. you either put Dr. John Doe or you put John Doe, MD. But in the medical field is it ok to put all three together? Dr. John Doe, MD on the scrubs?

Secondly,

Which is first if you have a MD and a PhD? Is it MD, PhD or is it PhD, MD or do you only put one or the other?

Thanks.
Members don't see this ad.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
1. Either title or degree, never both. This applies to academics or the community.
2. Whatever your primary career is, that's what degree goes first after your name. If your mainly a clinician with a Ph.D., then it's M.D., Ph.D.
 
b-real said:
1. Either title or degree, never both. This applies to academics or the community.
2. Whatever your primary career is, that's what degree goes first after your name. If your mainly a clinician with a Ph.D., then it's M.D., Ph.D.
Click to expand...

+1 bingo
 
You're "pre-health". It doesn't matter.

mprimrosewbu, HSD*, CPR, PMS**, P.O.S.E.R.

*high school diploma
**pre-med society
 
I DO have the degree. I work for a hospital doing research for them. I already hold a PhD. At the time of my first post I wasn't sure which route to take whether it be a DO or and MD, I have since chosen DO. However, I have found that in the real world, my fellow medical students are really kind and helpful and the people on this thread are like pampers. Self absorbed and completely full of stool. I'm sorry that you don't want to help someone with a question, but if that be the case, why be on this thread in the first place? Call one of your proctology friends and have him remove the giant stick wedged FIRMLY in your colorectal cavity.
 
You seem to be asking the question really prematurely but I will answer anyway: What you would actually get on a white coat is "John Doe, MD". That is the professionally acceptable thing to do. You could also do the "Dr. John Doe" thing but I've really never seen this. Whatever you do "Dr. John Doe, MD" is really stupid so don't do that. I've also never really worked anywhere that has people buying their own scrubs so getting this on a pair of scrubs seems kind of silly to me but maybe that is a thing some places.

As for why people are making fun of you: your status says prehealth and correct me if I am wrong but you aren't anywhere near graduating from medical school right? It kind of sounds like you haven't even started. If you walk around the wards with "Dr. mprimrosewbu, PhD" on your scrubs as a third year you will essentially be painting a giant bulls-eye on your chest. Don't be the guy that shows up to medical school thinking he is already a doctor. PhD is a great accomplishment and it will probably help you with pursuing a new degree but starting a new training program means starting again at square one in a lot of ways. If you aren't ready for that stay in research.

Also resorting to juvenile insults is not really helping your "I'm not a troll" stance. I'm not say that you are in fact trolling. I'd just put a little more thought into your responses if you want serious answers.
 
SirGecko said:
You seem to be asking the question really prematurely but I will answer anyway: What you would actually get on a white coat is "John Doe, MD". That is the professionally acceptable thing to do. You could also do the "Dr. John Doe" thing but I've really never seen this. Whatever you do "Dr. John Doe, MD" is really stupid so don't do that. I've also never really worked anywhere that has people buying their own scrubs so getting this on a pair of scrubs seems kind of silly to me but maybe that is a thing some places.

As for why people are making fun of you: your status says prehealth and correct me if I am wrong but you aren't anywhere near graduating from medical school right? It kind of sounds like you haven't even started. If you walk around the wards with "Dr. mprimrosewbu, PhD" on your scrubs as a third year you will essentially be painting a giant bulls-eye on your chest. Don't be the guy that shows up to medical school thinking he is already a doctor. PhD is a great accomplishment and it will probably help you with pursuing a new degree but starting a new training program means starting again at square one in a lot of ways. If you aren't ready for that stay in research.

Also resorting to juvenile insults is not really helping your "I'm not a troll" stance. I'm not say that you are in fact trolling. I'd just put a little more thought into your responses if you want serious answers.
Click to expand...

+1

The question has been answered. This thread should be let out to pasture.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
SirGecko,

Thank you for your honest reply. I appreciate that and respect your input far more than some of the others on here for your ability to answer the question and then after actually answering what I am wanting to know point out your feelings about your issue with my post. I have no problems with people having problems with my question or the timing of it, I have problems with people who waste my time reading their BS just to find out that they have nothing of value and are just wasting their time and more importantly mine. If you feel the need to insult me, fine, go for it, but at least have the basic decency to answer the question that I am asking.

I didn't resort to insults until AFTER I was insulted. And I'm not being a troll but if I'm going to have the label, I may as well do something to ACTUALLY earn it (but by stating that I will insult you back for insulting me does not, imo, make you a troll, it means you have a spine).

Lastly, thank you for that. And no, I wouldn't walk around the embroidered scrubs on them, I would use those for when I am in the lab. I look like I am 15 even though I am 29 and new at my job (I JUST finished my PhD) and I am tired of people asking me if I am lost or what I am doing there. My immediate coworkers know me but no one else does yet. I wanted to have this to help alleviate the issue of explaining to them who I am, having to show my ID cards to them and half the time having them call in to verify that my ID cards are real and not a forgery. And no, I have started, I am finishing up my first year now.
 
mprimrosewbu said:
SirGecko,

Thank you for your honest reply. I appreciate that and respect your input far more than some of the others on here for your ability to answer the question and then after actually answering what I am wanting to know point out your feelings about your issue with my post. I have no problems with people having problems with my question or the timing of it, I have problems with people who waste my time reading their BS just to find out that they have nothing of value and are just wasting their time and more importantly mine. If you feel the need to insult me, fine, go for it, but at least have the basic decency to answer the question that I am asking.

I didn't resort to insults until AFTER I was insulted. And I'm not being a troll but if I'm going to have the label, I may as well do something to ACTUALLY earn it (but by stating that I will insult you back for insulting me does not, imo, make you a troll, it means you have a spine).

Lastly, thank you for that. And no, I wouldn't walk around the embroidered scrubs on them, I would use those for when I am in the lab. I look like I am 15 even though I am 29 and new at my job (I JUST finished my PhD) and I am tired of people asking me if I am lost or what I am doing there. My immediate coworkers know me but no one else does yet. I wanted to have this to help alleviate the issue of explaining to them who I am, having to show my ID cards to them and half the time having them call in to verify that my ID cards are real and not a forgery. And no, I have started, I am finishing up my first year now.
Click to expand...

Getting a word salad, in the silly script font they typically use, embroidered on your scrubs will not resolve the problem of the 15 yo-looking you getting asked if you are lost. Only time is going to fix that. If they are calling in to verify your institution-issued ID badge, you think they are going to trust your scrub embroidery?

Also, re: trolling, people think you're trolling because your timeline looks fishy. You posted a noobish MD/DO thread less than a year ago, in language that indicated that you were "new" to the idea of medical school. If you were "new" to the idea in May 2012, you aren't finishing your MS1 year in April 2013. Also, how did you both finish your MS1 year, and also JUST finish your PhD? And are somehow simultaneously working full-time in a research at a hospital. It just looks a little...trollish. Sorry.
 
Whatever you do, don't use phd after your name. People will judge you. I had a classmate with an RN that wanted to put that on her white coat....people made fun of her.
 
I see your point about the scrub embroidery but I am just thinking about anything to help alleviate the situation. I figured it can't hurt so it can only help or have no effect. For $6 why not take the chance that it will help?

I was new to the idea and had already applied to both MD and DO schools. I didn't want to miss out on the deadlines to apply to the schools because I couldn't make up my mind on which path to take. I ended up choosing to go DO mainly because it was either stay at my current school where I got my PhD or go out of state to an MD school that accepted me but wasn't nearly as recognized as my DO school is. I figured go with a better name DO than a low tier named MD. I finished my PhD in May of 2012 as I posted that question about whether or not to choose MD or DO. In my eyes, finishing up 11 months ago is just finishing since there has only been one graduating class since then and that was the December graduation. I never said I was working full-time. I am working part time. I work about 15 hours a week to help cover bills and stuff I don't want to take out loans for. I'm trying to take out as little money in loans as possible. There is no way I could work more than that due to the amount of material to cover for each class. Finally, I started class in August of 2012 and as such I will finish my first year in May 2013.

And ppl made fun of her for wanting RN, PhD on her lab coat? and why? Why would they make fun of her for having an advanced degree unless the degree was in English or Political Science, a field unrelated to nursing? I figure if I was a nurse with a PhD or a DNP I would want that on my scrubs as well. Just like if I was a Physician Assistant with a PhD I would think PA, PhD would be ok to have on your scrubs. I guess I could be wrong and its just my naivety showing here.
 
It can hurt you. As a PhD, people would have certain expectations of you. You do not want that and it sets you up for failure. You're in med school now, nothing else is relevant. You can do research in med school, but you're not going to be a PI. I understand it's a great accomplishment, but you don't want to be treated like the PhD on the wards, you want to be treated like the med student. Same in your preclinicals. Don't be the guy who always brings up your research, everyone knows and they'll think your pretentious.

The nail that sticks out gets hammered.

Note: absolutely use the MD, PhD title AFTER you graduate med school. Until then, I wouldn't draw any attention to it.

Lastly, med students getting embroidered scrubs??????


mprimrosewbu said:
I see your point about the scrub embroidery but I am just thinking about anything to help alleviate the situation. I figured it can't hurt so it can only help or have no effect. For $6 why not take the chance that it will help?

I was new to the idea and had already applied to both MD and DO schools. I didn't want to miss out on the deadlines to apply to the schools because I couldn't make up my mind on which path to take. I ended up choosing to go DO mainly because it was either stay at my current school where I got my PhD or go out of state to an MD school that accepted me but wasn't nearly as recognized as my DO school is. I figured go with a better name DO than a low tier named MD. I finished my PhD in May of 2012 as I posted that question about whether or not to choose MD or DO. In my eyes, finishing up 11 months ago is just finishing since there has only been one graduating class since then and that was the December graduation. I never said I was working full-time. I am working part time. I work about 15 hours a week to help cover bills and stuff I don't want to take out loans for. I'm trying to take out as little money in loans as possible. There is no way I could work more than that due to the amount of material to cover for each class. Finally, I started class in August of 2012 and as such I will finish my first year in May 2013.

And ppl made fun of her for wanting RN, PhD on her lab coat? and why? Why would they make fun of her for having an advanced degree unless the degree was in English or Political Science, a field unrelated to nursing? I figure if I was a nurse with a PhD or a DNP I would want that on my scrubs as well. Just like if I was a Physician Assistant with a PhD I would think PA, PhD would be ok to have on your scrubs. I guess I could be wrong and its just my naivety showing here.
Click to expand...
 
mprimrosewbu said:
I see your point about the scrub embroidery but I am just thinking about anything to help alleviate the situation. I figured it can't hurt so it can only help or have no effect. For $6 why not take the chance that it will help?
Click to expand...

Don't wear embroidered scrubs to your lab research position....

I was new to the idea and had already applied to both MD and DO schools. I didn't want to miss out on the deadlines to apply to the schools because I couldn't make up my mind on which path to take. I ended up choosing to go DO mainly because it was either stay at my current school where I got my PhD or go out of state to an MD school that accepted me but wasn't nearly as recognized as my DO school is. I figured go with a better name DO than a low tier named MD.
Click to expand...

Dumb. You didn't do your research, then. You have likely closed doors by choosing DO over MD, and made your life unnecessarily more difficult if you decide to go into a more competitive residency.

And ppl made fun of her for wanting RN, PhD on her lab coat? and why?Why would they make fun of her for having an advanced degree unless the degree was in English or Political Science, a field unrelated to nursing?
Click to expand...

Likely because she was a medical student at the time. When I'm a resident, if I see a medical student with a RN on her lab coat just so she had some letters next to her name, I'd ask her to go do nursing things since she's so proud of the letters. When you're a med student, you're a med student. Not a nurse, not a MS, not a PhD. Once you graduate medical school, then you can put whatever letters you want (I'd still laugh if I saw RN, MD. MD, MBA/MPH is whatever, and MD, PhD is cool.)

I figure if I was a nurse with a PhD or a DNP I would want that on my scrubs as well. Just like if I was a Physician Assistant with a PhD I would think PA, PhD would be ok to have on your scrubs. I guess I could be wrong and its just my naivety showing here.
Click to expand...

If you were a practicing DNP or PA with a PhD, that's fine. I believe the point the person was making (and that I echo) is that as a med student, you are just that. A med student. You aren't a PA, you aren't a DNP, you aren't a RN.
 
Is medicine a sport now or something? Should all physicians have a unique number on the back of their scrubs? Your hospital ID should cover who you are and what your title is. I've only rarely seen a physician with embroidered scrubs...and a medical student? People would think you look like an idiot....
 
Geebeejay said:
Is medicine a sport now or something? Should all physicians have a unique number on the back of their scrubs? Your hospital ID should cover who you are and what your title is. I've only rarely seen a physician with embroidered scrubs...and a medical student? People would think you look like an idiot....
Click to expand...

A few specialties in my hospital have names on their scrubs (mostly the surgeons). My residency asked how I wanted my name written on my scrubs. It's not that uncommon. What is uncommon is med students having their name on their scrubs. Who is ever going to need who you are? As an MS4, I can tell you that over the last 4 years I have been "that med student" to most patients and that's great. We're kinda supposed to be nameless - we have no title, no responsibility, we are just supposed to learn. No one needs to know your name or credentials to learn.
 
I elected not to put MS on my white coat. The only time I ever use it is with official emails in my signature. I wouldn't even consider embroidering my scrubs! It's unnecessary and I don't seek attention for it.
 
FSU2013 said:
A few specialties in my hospital have names on their scrubs (mostly the surgeons). My residency asked how I wanted my name written on my scrubs. It's not that uncommon. What is uncommon is med students having their name on their scrubs. Who is ever going to need who you are? As an MS4, I can tell you that over the last 4 years I have been "that med student" to most patients and that's great. We're kinda supposed to be nameless - we have no title, no responsibility, we are just supposed to learn. No one needs to know your name or credentials to learn.
Click to expand...

Heh ya, almost the entire hospital refers to med students this way. I don't think this is a bad thing, that's just the way it is. I don't think any residents or attendings have their names on their scrubs at the hospital I'm at. The only time I've seen it is from an attending wearing scrubs he got from a previous hospital. Plus I think there is something unbecoming of my name and title covered in ****, piss, vomit, MRSA, CDiff and other debris.
 
I can see the point y'all are making; however, some of you seem to think that I would be wearing my scrubs when I am a "med student." I will not be. I will ONLY be wearing them when I am AT WORK, EMPLOYED. Having my name and PhD on my scrubs when I am in my official capacity as a doctoral qualified researcher. When I am in class I will be wearing the scrubs that are issued to us, not my own. So the whole idea of me wearing these during instructional "time to learn" periods is wrong. When I am in class I am a med student, in fact, I don't think anyone in my class even knows I have any degrees besides a bachelors degree.
 
mprimrosewbu said:
I can see the point y'all are making; however, some of you seem to think that I would be wearing my scrubs when I am a "med student." I will not be. I will ONLY be wearing them when I am AT WORK, EMPLOYED. Having my name and PhD on my scrubs when I am in my official capacity as a doctoral qualified researcher. When I am in class I will be wearing the scrubs that are issued to us, not my own. So the whole idea of me wearing these during instructional "time to learn" periods is wrong. When I am in class I am a med student, in fact, I don't think anyone in my class even knows I have any degrees besides a bachelors degree.
Click to expand...

And you seem to think that your coworkers will see you in a completely different way if only...your scrubs were embroidered with more acronyms following your name?
 
mprimrosewbu said:
I can see the point y'all are making; however, some of you seem to think that I would be wearing my scrubs when I am a "med student." I will not be. I will ONLY be wearing them when I am AT WORK, EMPLOYED. Having my name and PhD on my scrubs when I am in my official capacity as a doctoral qualified researcher. When I am in class I will be wearing the scrubs that are issued to us, not my own. So the whole idea of me wearing these during instructional "time to learn" periods is wrong. When I am in class I am a med student, in fact, I don't think anyone in my class even knows I have any degrees besides a bachelors degree.
Click to expand...

Your insistence on trying to convince everyone of your rationalizations despite the overwhelming answer of "DON'T DO IT!!!11!!1!1" either means you've already done it, or have already made up your mind to do it meaning that this thread is useless.
 
This thread demonstrates the silliness of credentialism. I have a PhD, and I will NEVER use that title on anything until I'm done with med school. Even then, I also think titles are silly, unless of course there's a functional purpose at hand. Call me by my first name, please.
 
What kind of lab do you work in that you wear scrubs to work? Having a lab coat that says "John Doe PhD" is very common in the labs at my school and many thesis advisers give each student one at their defense*. Go with whatever is normal at your school and in your lab. But either use Dr. or your degree(s), never both. On coats, letterhead and ID badges I have only ever seen the order as MD PhD.

*The MD/PhD students do not ever wear these at medical school functions and most definitely not in the hospital during MS3/4. Frankly the common advice is not to mention the fact that you have a PhD unless specifically asked.
 
Last edited:
A med student wearing scrubs that read "Med Student PhD" will be looked at askance. We'll probably ask you something about what field you got your PhD in, but when you're not around we'll talk about how silly the scrubs look.

A med student wearing scrubs that read "Dr... anything" (even if followed by PhD) will be asked to leave the department, change into the standard hospital scrubs, and not return in the embroidered ones until after graduation. Even if you hold a non-medical doctorate, calling yourself doctor in the hospital is just confusing to the staff and more importantly, confusing to the patients.
 
mprimrosewbu said:
I can see the point y'all are making; however, some of you seem to think that I would be wearing my scrubs when I am a "med student." I will not be. I will ONLY be wearing them when I am AT WORK, EMPLOYED. Having my name and PhD on my scrubs when I am in my official capacity as a doctoral qualified researcher. When I am in class I will be wearing the scrubs that are issued to us, not my own. So the whole idea of me wearing these during instructional "time to learn" periods is wrong. When I am in class I am a med student, in fact, I don't think anyone in my class even knows I have any degrees besides a bachelors degree.
Click to expand...

You're not listening to anybody on this thread and willfully ignoring advice here.

You DO NOT need to advertise your degrees in a public institution. I have never seen a single one of my attendings, residents, basic science teachers, or other fellow med students who have PhDs try and advertise it because they understand that it makes you look like a tool.

I can tell you also that your coworkers will laugh at you if you walk around a basic science lab wearing scrubs with your name and "PhD" on it.
 
brb spending money embroidering something that no one cares about onto something that is 99.9% likely to get smothered in blood, vomit, feces, etc.
 
Hmm...

Maybe I misunderstood the original post. It seemed that the OP only wanted to embroider scrubs for their paid work in a research lab where their PhD is being used... Not during anything med school related.

My guess is that since the OP is working to earn their DO as well they were simply wondering how their salutation would be written after they have both degrees. It sounds like simply curiosity.

OP in the future... Find a way to cut out the meat of your questions on SDN. Leave out the "why" or rational of your questions until it actually matters. Otherwise some posters will eat you alive. Ex: your question could've been written like "How are salutations embroidered on scrubs for people with multiple degrees?" Don't say why you asked... Your rational didn't matter in this case.

Make it less personal to keep the piranhas off of you 🙂
 
quechua said:
Hmm...

Maybe I misunderstood the original post. It seemed that the OP only wanted to embroider scrubs for their paid work in a research lab where their PhD is being used... Not during anything med school related.

My guess is that since the OP is working to earn their DO as well they were simply wondering how their salutation would be written after they have both degrees. It sounds like simply curiosity.

OP in the future... Find a way to cut out the meat of your questions on SDN. Leave out the "why" or rational of your questions until it actually matters. Otherwise some posters will eat you alive. Ex: your question could've been written like "How are salutations embroidered on scrubs for people with multiple degrees?" Don't say why you asked... Your rational didn't matter in this case.

Make it less personal to keep the piranhas off of you 🙂
Click to expand...



Finally, a person in the medical community who can actually read! Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it.
 
His excellency the Judge Dr. (X2) John Doe Sr. BS, MS, PhD, JD, MD. FACS.
 
My hospital gives us all "Dr. John Doe, MD" scrubs. The reason for the title is so that patients won't get confused and by seeing "Dr." will clearly know who they're talking to. We also leave out the "PhD" to avoid confusion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

V
Possible bad comment on MSPE and matching surgery
Replies
30
Views
3K
voxveritatisetlucis
V
R
Thoughts on One Health??
Replies
0
Views
449
rlangetonn
R
A
  • Locked
I got a 215 on Step 2. I was applying for psychiatry and IM. Should I just apply to FM and give up.
Replies
17
Views
2K
GoSpursGo
GoSpursGo
A
Advice on my unique situation
Replies
14
Views
2K
VincentAdultman
VincentAdultman
T
Programs relying on soap to fill
Replies
3
Views
945
Lifeblood_20
Lifeblood_20
Top