Why is an MD more prestigious than a Ph.D?

[SpecterGT260]

---

Members do not see this ad.

yes, that was covered. People in this thread are having a hard time separating the term "prestigious" from the term "important". Prestige may very well be the perception of importance, but that doesn't really make it true. In other words, nobody is downtalking PhDs. However, anyone who thinks that the general public has more reverence for PhDs than they do for physicians has likely never talked to anyone You can call it unfair, if you wish, but to call it untrue is naive.

 

[Stacker]

MD's are heavily romanticized by the media and have far more face time with the public. It is the physicians who are at the front-lines of care delivery and provide a face for medicine while the PhD's are secluded within the labs supporting the MD's. If PhD's had as much face time as MD's then they wouldn't be doing their jobs.
Just being smart doesn't carry that much of a sex appeal. It's just nerdy. Unfortunately, PhD's will be under-appreciated. Imagine a guy (sexist I know) wearing a tweed jacket and corduroy pants with bifocal glasses sitting in an office writing grants all day.
Being smart, wealthy, and able to save lives is sexy. Imagine a relatively young guy (sexist again) wearing a Brook's Brothers suit and driving a Porsche to a Children's Hospital to save a couple lives and then coming home to his equally hot wife.

 

[Midifelder10]

MDs influence in your life is active whereas PHD's is passive. Society places more emphasis on that. What is more difficult is another topic.