Unlicensed MD

[RangerBob]

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It seems odd (at least to me) to have “BS” was written on the door. Why would your employer do that? No one cares about undergrad degrees unless it’s a professional degree (ie, B.Arch.).

I agree that having the MD listed could be misleading. But if your employer is just listing your degrees then it seems appropriate-they should list none of them, your highest degree, or all of them-whatever is most appropriate. But just BS seems odd to me.

 

[rokshana]

That’s exactly what I want but I’m at the stage where I can either be recognized or fade off to oblivion. If your credentials were contested you would be singing a different tune.

Please...I’m a woman in medicine...do you know how many times I’m mistaken for a nurse, NP, PT, etc...? It does not make me any less than the physician I am...

The outward labels are not what should be important to you...pushing the letters MD is not going to get you where you want...improving your CV and re evaluating why you didn’t match the 1st time so you don’t make those mistakes the 2nd time you go through the match.

You will see many mid levels with alphabet soup behind their names and trust me, it doesn’t instill confidence that they know what they are doing.

Work hard at this job to impress people, get great LoRs and work to improve your application for next year’s match. Apply wisely and broadly and go to every IV you get... worry less about the letters behind your name.

 

[JFangel]

Please...I’m a woman in medicine...do you know how many times I’m mistaken for a nurse, NP, PT, etc...? It does not make me any less than the physician I am...

The outward labels are not what should be important to you...pushing the letters MD is not going to get you where you want...improving your CV and re evaluating why you didn’t match the 1st time so you don’t make those mistakes the 2nd time you go through the match.

You will see many mid levels with alphabet soup behind their names and trust me, it doesn’t instill confidence that they know what they are doing.

Work hard at this job to impress people, get great LoRs and work to improve your application for next year’s match. Apply wisely and broadly and go to every IV you get... worry less about the letters behind your name.

I didn’t match because I didn’t apply. Ran out of money. it’s the reason I have this job. This is the bias and judgement that is unwarranted. It’s no ones business but mine and I am an MD officially as bestowed upon me by my med school.

Either way, this issue is resolved with my employer. The PD understands me perfectly but explaining myself isn’t something I should have to do constantly. So CRC suffices but I will use my education credentials when necessary and be careful not to promote myself as a treating physician.

It is important to be recognized properly. It is also important to realize the limitations of recognition.

 

[Giovanotto]

The outside world has decided the value of an MD without a license, and the value is "not much". Using MD may technically mean the medical degree, in common usage it's meant to convey the ability to treat patients. Hence legal restrictions on it's use. In my mind it's like trying to sell a car without the engine. Sure you can ask for full price...but it's missing a critical part which significantly reduces its value.

The other issue that's been as yet unaddressed is that in this situation, and likely in many others, people don't care whether you have MD after your name. As with most things, you're going to be judged on your competence not your qualifications. If someone throws MD up on their presentation and proceeds to give a shoddy, ill-informed talk, I'm not going to cut them slack. Conversely if someone with a BS gets up and does well, I don't give them less credit because "they only have a BS".

So I say to the OP that this may be important to you, but be aware how its going to be interpreted. I suspect the staff you work with are going to roll their eyes at it, and it may make your life harder. Everyone can complain about how its not fair or how people are entitled to things, but that doesn't change reality.

How can you keep missing the point? OP is, for the 3rd time, not trying to sell himself as a car (in your beautiful analogy). And no, the outside world hasn't, precisely because the creativity of medical student approaches zero, as evidenced by this thread. If you don't want to go to residency, don't, and find a use for your MD. Given what you have to go through to earn it, you're a dozen times more qualified than other degree holders for certain non clinical positions.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

How can you keep missing the point? OP is, for the 3rd time, not trying to sell himself as a car (in your beautiful analogy). And no, the outside world hasn't, precisely because the creativity of medical student approaches zero, as evidenced by this thread. If you don't want to go to residency, don't, and find a use for your MD. Given what you have to go through to earn it, you're a dozen times more qualified than other degree holders.

No. You're missing the point. You can't "creatively use" MD. It has a specific meaning that is fairly well-understood, and is therefore regulated in it's use. Your point, which is valid, is that the actual education component can be used/marketed creatively. But that's not impinged upon by whether or not MD is affixed to your name.

You want MD to simply mean "I graduated medical school". In common practice, that's not how it's interpreted.

Edit: How to you feel about DNP's being called Dr.? They earned their doctorate, so why shouldn't they get what they earned? Or is it that there is something beyond the simple educational component required to earn that title?

 

[Giovanotto]

No. You're missing the point. You can't "creatively use" MD. It has a specific meaning that is fairly well-understood, and is therefore regulated in it's use. Your point, which is valid, is that the actual education component can be used/marketed creatively. But that's not impinged upon by whether or not MD is affixed to your name.

You want MD to simply mean "I graduated medical school". In common practice, that's not how it's interpreted.

Edit: How to you feel about DNP's being called Dr.? They earned their doctorate, so why shouldn't they get what they earned? Or is it that there is something beyond the simple educational component required to earn that title?

Looks like you need to have a chat with the ACGME and the LCME because last time I checked they are still granting MD degrees after completion of medical school. One can do with that degree as they see fit.

2nd bolded: I've already addressed that in a prior post here, see above. It's also a very poor argument. A DNP can, should, and will list DNP after their name following completion of their program, otherwise....they wouldn't have done that program??????? That doesn't make them a physician or medical doctor.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Looks like you need to have a chat with the ACGME and the LCME because last time I checked they are still granting MD degrees after completion of medical school. One can do with that degree as they see fit.

2nd bolded: I've already addressed that in a prior post here, see above. It's also a very poor argument. A DNP can, should, and will list DNP after their name following completion of their program, otherwise....they wouldn't have done that program??????? That doesn't make them a physician or medical doctor.

I'm forced to agree with you on this. You are fully entitled to put MD after your name the hour after graduation. Each person can use, or not, as they see fit.

 

[rokshana]

I didn’t match because I didn’t apply. Ran out of money. it’s the reason I have this job. This is the bias and judgement that is unwarranted. It’s no ones business but mine and I am an MD officially as bestowed upon me by my med school.

Either way, this issue is resolved with my employer. The PD understands me perfectly but explaining myself isn’t something I should have to do constantly. So CPC suffices but I will use my education credentials when necessary and be careful not to promote myself as a treating physician.

It is important to be recognized properly. It is also important to recognize the limitations of recognition.

You put it in your 1st post that DID not match... so the presumption there is you participated in the match and failed to match...

 

[dpmd]

You put it in your 1st post that DID not match... so the presumption there is you participated in the match and failed to match...

Though the idea that a us md student would choose not to apply for residency because of money is something that I think most of us would judge even more than failing to match when you did apply so perhaps that is why they left that part out.

 

[rokshana]

Though the idea that a us md student would choose not to apply for residency because of money is something that I think most of us would judge even more than failing to match when you did apply so perhaps that is why they left that part out.

Did he say he was a USMD? I doubt it.

 

[Giovanotto]

Did he say he was a USMD? I doubt it.

What's wrong with him being a Non-US MD?

 

[dpmd]

Did he say he was a USMD? I doubt it.

True.

 

[JFangel]

Yes I am a USMD. Good grief.

 

[dpmd]

What's wrong with him being a Non-US MD?

Nothing but it would explain why money was an issue for applications (and would sort of explain the need for recognition since they have a harder time matching and thebones who did it because they couldn't get into a us school often do have insecurity about their education)

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Yes I am a USMD. Good grief.

Then not matching because of money is about the worst excuse I've seen. You can always get more loans if needed to be able to match. That should not be a barrier to matching, particularly as a USMD. There's definitely more to this story here.

 

[JFangel]

problem solved PD gave me permission to use MD in presentations but not on my door or lab coat. BS will not be used because it implies I don’t have an MD. Only my job title will be used. That make perfect sense.

Thank You everyone for your comments. God Bless.