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THREAD on "Dr": 1/x
the sudden rage on Twitter about the title of "Dr." is very interesting and revealing of the differences between countries/eras too.
When I arrived in the US 26 years ago, I thought all "Dr." were, like in France, medical doctors. I was in academia in France,
the sudden rage on Twitter about the title of "Dr." is very interesting and revealing of the differences between countries/eras too.
When I arrived in the US 26 years ago, I thought all "Dr." were, like in France, medical doctors. I was in academia in France,
2/x but not a single Ph.D., at least in my region (South West) in the 80s and 90s (I left France in 1995) would introduce themselves/ sign their letters with "Dr."
Because they were NOT medical doctors.
Even a pharmacist, "docteur en pharmacie" would NOT call him/herself Dr.
Because they were NOT medical doctors.
Even a pharmacist, "docteur en pharmacie" would NOT call him/herself Dr.
3/x Neither we, "docteurs en droit, docteurs en science politique, docteurs es lettres" would have dared to do so.
To us, it would have felt like intellectual dishonesty, like illegal exercise of medicine.
To us, it would have felt like intellectual dishonesty, like illegal exercise of medicine.
4/x In 2003, I was working here in DC in "corporate America". One of my clients was a Dr. So&so. He told me he was at Georgetown. I assumed he was at Georgetown University Hospital.
In France, esp. in the provinces, the best hospitals are university hospitals, the best doctors
In France, esp. in the provinces, the best hospitals are university hospitals, the best doctors
5/x work there & even those with a private practice have university hours/days. That is how they keep in the loop with all the new research.
I asked my client, which medical field are you in, what is your specialty?
I told him all my sisters were doctors in France in all fields.
I asked my client, which medical field are you in, what is your specialty?
I told him all my sisters were doctors in France in all fields.
6/x I told him I had all the doctors I needed no matter what would happen to me (lots of sister's, most also married to doctors...).
My client kept saying he was not an MD (the letters). "But you are a doctor, right?" I kept asking, not understanding at all why MD was different
My client kept saying he was not an MD (the letters). "But you are a doctor, right?" I kept asking, not understanding at all why MD was different
7/x..until his wife said: "He teaches political science. He is a doctor in political science."
"Oh, you mean you have a Ph.D. in Political Science?" I said.
And explained that in France we did not call those not in the medical fields doctors. Ph.D. are rare in France, not like in
"Oh, you mean you have a Ph.D. in Political Science?" I said.
And explained that in France we did not call those not in the medical fields doctors. Ph.D. are rare in France, not like in
8/x the US. Not all university professors have a Ph.D.
More important than the Ph.D. is passing the very difficult "agregation" after the Ph.D. if you want, or after a Master.
To this day, the French find it a bit pretentious to demand a "Dr." title if one is NOT a medical Dr.
More important than the Ph.D. is passing the very difficult "agregation" after the Ph.D. if you want, or after a Master.
To this day, the French find it a bit pretentious to demand a "Dr." title if one is NOT a medical Dr.
9/x One more argument are plane trips: I once came down with a kidney attack on a flight back from France to DC in March 2018.
The captain asked for a "doctor". Three people showed up who were Ph.D., one was a real Doctor without whom the plane would have had to go back to CDG..
The captain asked for a "doctor". Three people showed up who were Ph.D., one was a real Doctor without whom the plane would have had to go back to CDG..
10/x ... Internationally, besides the US, and the Germans I think, who uses the "Dr." title when they are NOT medical doctors when they introduce themselves to the ordinary, non academic, world?
I understand it at the academic level, when one is at a conference
I understand it at the academic level, when one is at a conference
11/x with one's peers in the field.
But that 3 Ph.D. showed up in reply to the French captain's request when I was so sick on that flight???
Only a "Medical DOCTOR" is allowed to open the emergency kit (which contains narcotics). A Ph.D. would not have been able to inject me...
But that 3 Ph.D. showed up in reply to the French captain's request when I was so sick on that flight???
Only a "Medical DOCTOR" is allowed to open the emergency kit (which contains narcotics). A Ph.D. would not have been able to inject me...
12/x My point is: I am fine with a Ph.D. wanting to be called Dr., but if you travel to France, please explain immediately what it is that makes you a "Dr.", so as to avoid unnecessary cultural embarrassment or a lengthy description of symptoms as always happens to my sisters
13/x whenever they go to a party and are being introduced as "Dr. Diligenti"....
They say that it happened every single time... before Covid-19... that is. When they had a social life.
Now it is reduced to the hospital's corridors and break rooms.
They do Ph.Ds as patients...
They say that it happened every single time... before Covid-19... that is. When they had a social life.
Now it is reduced to the hospital's corridors and break rooms.
They do Ph.Ds as patients...
