How Should Clinical Staff Address a Veterinarian
in Front of Clients?
       I am a Veterinary Management Consultant. One of my pet peeves when dealing with clinic staff nowadays is their lack of professionalism when addressing each other, especially in front of clients. The use of cutesy nick-names, addressing veterinarians by their first names and using self-proclaimed (and often, inappropriate) nicknames seems to give a very bad impression. I'm looking for some back up on my stance to show staffers who think I'm just being picky. Do you have anything on this subject? Your help would be appreciated.
        -- Talbot James

Dear Mr. James:
        My precedents are more medical than veterinary, but the issues are exactly the same.
        Regarding calling the veterinarian "Dr" ... At hospitals & in doctor's offices physicians are addressed as Dr. (Name) so patients will know which person in the room is the physician.
        It also informs the patient of how to address the doctor.
        So ... it's an issue of clarity rather than an issue of formality.
        Regarding use of formal names rather than first or nick names ... anytime one is on a first-name basis with someone who merits a special form of address (Doctor, Mayor, Senator, Dean, etc.), one should address him/her formally (e.g. as Dr. Surname) in front of others who are not on a first-name basis with him/her.  Thus, while the staff might call the veterinarian by first name back stage ... they should use Dr. (Name) in front of clients/patients, or in this case pet owners.
        Regarding other clinical staff ... nurses are often addressed by first name ... or first name and last initial.  I have a Q&A on the "Nurse" page on why first-name-only for nurses makes sense for security reasons. See Karen Hickman's on addressing a letter to a nurse whose name badge only had her first name on it.  Her comment is at the end of How to Address Someone In Writing When They Only Have Their First Name on Their Name Badge?
        While a pharmacist, hospital administrator, or nurse may also have a doctorate .... it is confusing to the patient to address them as "Dr." in the clinical environment. It's not because their degrees are not respected; they are.
        Regarding nick names .... a person's name is what they say it is. When it is their preference to be addressed as Cupcake, Snookie, or whatever, it does not set a formal tone. Some would say it makes the individual look childish ... but I don't think you can tell someone they can't use the name the prefer.
        -- Robert Hickey

Do I Introduce a Doctor as Dr. (Name) at a Party?    
   At an event where everyone is on a first name basis, does one introduce a doctor with the honorific “Dr.”?  Or should I introduce his just with his first name ... no "Dr."
        -- Amy K. in Montreal

Dear Amy K.:
    In a truly social introduction don't introduce a doctor as Dr. (Name).
    RE: First name basis. Normally only children are introduced with first-names-only.  For adults give first and last names in an introduction -- so both parties get complete information -- then let them switch to first-name-only.
    So saying something like one of the following in a social situation seems good to me ...
       1.   Michael Updike I would like to introduce Kevin Cox.  Michael is a radiologist here in Montreal. Kevin is my neighbor and teaches Canadian history at McGill.
    This gets them started using first names. 
    Or consider this option:
       2.   Michael Updike I would like to introduce to you Kevin Cox.  Dr. Updike is a radiologist here in Montreal. Dr. Cox is my neighbor and teaches Canadian history at McGill.
    This gives them a cue that you are not expecting them to be on a first name basis and gets them started with the more formal terms.
         -- Robert Hickey

Who Uses "Dr." In a Health Care Setting?
      We have been having great debate about the use honorifics and credentials in our health care setting.  The current practice is to only use honorifics and credentials when referring to physicians.  Therefore, announcements and communications (internal and external) read Dr. William Smith and Julie Brown.  In some instances, Julie Brown may have a doctorate, such as a PhD, DPT, PharmD.
     Physicians get an honorific but no one else get's an honorific (Dr., Mr., Mrs., and/or Ms.).  The same is true if you use MD at the end of the name -- physicians get post nominals ... others don't. Shouldn't all the degrees be acknowledged in the same fashion? Do you have any guidance?
     -- Cody Burnett, Holland Michigan

Dear Mr. Burnett:
    A couple of issues here:
   RE: Who Gets Their Post Nominals?
   Official correspondence often includes post-nominal for a degree that is a requirement for the position. So regarding your the hospital's newsletter, It seems reasonable that post nominals would be included when pertinent. E.g., in a story about a pharmacist and his professional activities -- it would seem reasonable to include post nominals: David Smith, PharmD.
RE: Who Get's to Be Addressed as "Dr."?
    At universities and research facilities holders of non-medical doctorates use Dr. as an honorific all the time. But there, there are no patients needing quite the same level of clarity as to who is and who is not a physician / doctor. 
    I'd say your rule that Dr. is only used for physicians is a benefit to customers/clients/patients.  It's functionally informative that while waiting to see the doctor -- physicians are the only ones around the hospital getting the honorific .... and being referred to as doctor.
    -- Robert Hickey

May I Use Both an Honorific & a Post Nominal?
      I am a practicing civil engineer, and the question has often arisen in our company about how to display a professional engineer’s name in a report or proposal letter.  The suffix P.E. (or PE) is used to signify that the individual is a Professional Engineer registered as such in a particular state.  Our local practice has been to only use the suffix -- James R. Bowden, PE.  Others in our company have used both a suffix and honorific -- Mr. James R. Bowden, PE.  I can’t seem to find any references for this situation, other than recommendations to avoid redundancy -- Dr. James R. Bowden, MD.  What is your opinion?
             -- James Bowden, Georgia

Dear Mr. Bowden:
     I have a chapter in my book just on Abbreviations & Post Nominals that covers this point, and I say your local practice is perfect:  "Our local practice has been to only use … James R. Bowden, PE"
    In the United States the tradition is you get either something before your name or something after, but not both.
    You get just one of the following:
             Honorific: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Judge, etc.
             Rank: Captain, Admiral, etc.
             Courtesy title:  The Honorable, The Reverend, His Excellency, etc.
    Or you get your post nominal abbreviations ... but not both at the same time.
    I mention in the US because the UK and Commonwealth Countries use everything one has to include. There you get names the can get long: His Excellency The Right Reverend Captain Dr. Lord James R. Bowden, Jr, PhD, OBE, PC
    The name becomes a resume.  In the US we include only the parts that are is pertinent to the situation.
             -- Robert Hickey

When Can I Start Using My Degree with My Name?
May I Use Post-Nominal Initials Before Graduation?
    I recently completed the requirements for an MBA.  Graduation is in December - but when can I use the letters MBA on my resume or when I speak at conferences?  Is it now that the program is done or do I have to wait until I have the diploma in hand?
      -- Proud About-to-be Grad

Dear Proud About-to-be Grad:
    There isn’t a police force hunting down advance post-nominal users, but wait until you receive your diploma.
    Until you have degree in hand, you are not entitled to the honors and courtesies that come with it.
    You should definitely state in your biography/resume/curriculum vitae you are a candidate for or will be receiving your Master of Business Administration from (name of university) in December, (year).
                     -- Robert Hickey

How to Use Academic Post-Nominals with a Noble Title?
        I have a question for you regarding how I should be properly addressed. I am of nobility and the last man in our family. I am the Count James Renninger, but also have two doctorates. I am trying to decide how to incorporate both titles and academic degrees into my name while remaining correct so that I do not make a fool of myself. My question is how should I be addressed being both a Count and a Doctor?
         Sincerely,
         Dr. J. Renninger?

Dear JL:
        The US form and British forms are the most common models used around the world for address in English.
        Since you are living in the US it follows you would follow the US Style in which you are both a "Count" and a "Dr." but perhaps not at the same time.  Here's what's done:
            1) Post-nominals are used professionally, not socially
            Traditional form would be to use your academic post-nominals with out reference to your hereditary title
                        An official letter is addressed with the academic post-nominal abbreviation:
                                    (Full Name), PhD
                        A social letter is addressed with the honorific:
                                    Dr. (Full Name)
            2) Hereditary titles from a former monarchy are used socially in the USA, not officially, and most typically not professionally.
        -- Robert Hickey

May I Use Professor Dr. (Name)?    
   Dear Mr. Hickey,
    In Europe, university professors use the honorific Prof., or Prof. Dr., in (semi-) formal social context.
    Is it ever acceptable for Americans to do so in the US? It might be valuable to distinguish oneself from a medical doctor.
    Thank you,
    David Uslan, PhD
    Associate Professor of Astronomy
    University of (State)

Dear Dr. Uslan,
    In the UK they have a tradition of using every honorific, courtesy title, and rank one is entitled to. Their name is their resume ... their curriculum vitae.
    So, you see names written ... as you note:
        Professor Dr. David Uslan
    You even see:
        His Excellency the Reverend Captain Sir David Uslan, PhD
    The Germans do it too: Ambassador Professor David Uslan, General Dr. David Uslan etc.
    In the US we have a simplified tradition of just using the one honorific, courtesy title, or rank -- usually choosing the one that is pertinent or is the preference of the bearer. For example the former US Senator from Tennessee, Bill Frist, was an MD and a US Senator. He preferred to be Dr. Frist to Senator Frist, but was never Senator Dr. Frist.
    In your case I'd say that traditionally you would be
        Professor Uslan -or- Dr. Uslan in the classroom.
        David Uslan, PhD on a letter mailed to your office (post-nominals with official correspondence)
            or
        Dr. David Uslan on a holiday card mailed to your home (honorific with social correspondence).
    I had another Q&A that was similar, FYI.
         -- Robert Hickey

Dear Kathy:
    If the professor holds a doctorate and has the personal rank of "Dr." ... he or she is formally addressed in writing as Dr. (Full Name) for the rest of his or her life.  If he or she holds a lower degree than doctorate, then he or she would be addressed as Mr./Ms. (Full Name).
    "Professor" is an honorific used with instructors in and around campus. Its use as an honorific is situational. Continuing to orally address a retired professor as Professor (Name) acknowledges your continued hierarchical / deferential relationship. There are graded ranks of professor .... "Professor"  "Associate Professor" "Assistant Professor" etc. Even though an individual may hold one of these "graded ranks" all can be addressed (as a courtesy) as ... "Professor (name)"  in conversation.
               -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Retired Officer Who Is Now A Professor?
     Would you by any chance know the proper form of address for a USN Captain who is now a university professor with a PhD?  I read the note on your website regarding context (Captain when he's my commanding officer, Doctor when he's bandaging my foot, or something to that effect), but I wonder what would be suitable with an academic doctor, and in a more formal usage.  I've encountered "Captain Doctor [name]" once or twice on the Internet, but it seems a bit of a mouthful.
             --- P. L. Scott


Dear Mr. Scott:
    I cover this on page 99 in my book.
    1) Re: "Captain Doctor": As a In the United States we only use just one honorific at a time. Orally on in a salutation he would be Dr. (name), Professor (name) or even Captain (name),  
    2) Retired officers are entitled to use their ranks socially. But usually when they take another job in retirement, they use forms of address that support the subsequent job -- like the form I provide for professor. So, ask him his preference. He may use both at various times, but he'll clarify what he prefers when in his professorial role.
           -- Robert Hickey

Can I Call Myself a "Dr." with my PhD?
    I hold a DMA, Doctorate in Music from a Boston university, and am a Church Music Director. Please could you advise me as to whether it is acceptable for the church where I work to list me in the service bulletins as: Dr. (first name) + (last name) ? 
                    -- CJ a Music Director at Church
 
Dear CJ:
    Academic doctorates are frequently used professionally: Faculty members with a PhD are usually "Dr. (name)" at the university or when speaking in the context of their degree. Scientists with a PhD are typically "Dr. (name)" at the research lab and at professional conferences.
    Socially? Usually academics and researchers use "Dr." socially. But ultimately whether a particular PhD holder is "Dr." socially ... especially outside of academia or research ... is at the preference of the bearer.
    List yourself in the bulletin using the professional form ... which is "(First name) + (Last name), DMA"  It specifically acknowledges your academic credential in your professional domain.
     It however doesn't specify if you prefer to be addressed orally as "Dr. (name)" or "Ms. (name)."  In my book (page 160) I show that outside academia or research in oral address "Ms. (name)" would be the default, but advises one check preference of the person you are addressing.
                       -- Robert Hickey

How Do I Know if a PhD Should Be Addressed as "Dr."?
   May I ask question regarding those with PhDs?  Would you please clarify for me -  if a person holds a PhD -  should Doctor be used in front of his name? I apologize if these questions are answered in your book! I'll try to get it.
     -- Mac Bozman, Council Bluffs

Dear Mr. Bozman:
    This 'doctor' question comes up often.
    Holders of medical doctorates (medical, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrist, vets...) use Dr. (Name) professionally and socially.
    Holders of academic doctorates in academia and research usually do too.
    Holders of academic doctorates outside of academia and research ... in corporate and business ... usually don't. E.g., every lawyer now-a-days is a JD ... doctor of jurisprudence, but none use Dr. ... and a holder of a doctorate in finance at a bank probably doesn't either.
    So the good news is that if it's a doctor and if he works at a college or in scientific research ... you can address  him as Dr. (Name) safely.
    And the bad news is with PhD's outside those arenas ... you will need to call to see what his or her preference is.
    The key is "the preference of the bearer" .... it's not up to me or you to decide when or if someone with a PhD is addressed as Dr.   If that's what he or she want's I will go along with it. A person's name belongs to them.
                     -- Robert Hickey

May I Use Dr. if my PhD is Not in the Field
In Which I Am Offering Professional Service?
     Please help me. I have a PhD. I have also a license in counseling.  Recently I sent out an announcement for a yoga class I will be teaching.  The state of Colorado says I should not be using my name -- Dr. Kevin Schoffner. 
     They cannot see that someone does more then one thing. I have worked in clinical behavioral counseling/integrative health counseling. I've worked at a hospital have many articles and PR on my work and it would be hard to change the fact that people call me Dr. Kevin though I am not presenting myself as a clinical psychologist. When I have looked up the legality of this they say that any advanced degree can say PhD. I need to address this situation immediately.  I greatly appreciate your help.
        -- Kevin Schoffner, PhD, LPC, CMT, IKYTA
           Counseling, Yoga Therapy, Integrative Health & Healing

Dear Dr. Schoffner,
    Interesting question! You mention a lot of things in your note, but let's focus on the yoga class for the moment.
    So you have a PhD, but it's not in something related to yoga?
    A couple of typical practices I observe in the USA come to mind:
    1) An academic on a scholarly paper might list every degree and certification ... e.g., ....  (Full Name), PhD, MBA, RN, BFA, Professional Certifications & Memberships, etc.
    2) Outside academia professionals use just the degrees pertinent to their professional practice ... to let the public evaluate their credentials to practice. I doubt a pastor would use The Reverend if he or she were teaching a course in income tax preparation (unless the class was just for pastors -- in which case it just might be pertinent.). That he or she is a pastor might be mentioned in a complete biography ... but probably not as a part of his or her name in the course description.
    So, I can see if you are using Dr. when offering a class in yoga, and your doctorate is not directly to the service you are offering, say a doctorate physical therapy or kinesthetics ... it would be confusing to me ... and the state official must think it is misleading to the public.
         -- Robert Hickey

How to Use “Dr.” or "PhD" on an Invitation?
      Would you please clarify for me, if a person holds a PhD, should his or her name be Doctor (name) a wedding invitation? Or (Name), PhD ?  Is this true for the father of the bride? The groom? Is the rule for names on wedding invitations and wedding envelopes different that the guidelines for social correspondence?
     -- Beverly Russell, Winchester, Virginia

Dear Ms. Russell:
     Wedding invitations and their envelopes are social correspondence, and follow the standard rules for social correspondence. One rule is ... post-nominals aren't used on social correspondence.
    Holders of academic doctorates working in academia and research usually prefer to be addressed as Dr. (name) socially.
    Holders of academic doctorates working outside of academia and research ... in corporate and business ... usually don't. E.g., holder of a doctorate in finance who works at a bank probably doesn't request to be addressed Dr. (name).  An attorney with a doctor in jurisprudence won’t insist on being addressed as Dr. (name).
    But guessing won’t get you the right answer.
    The key for PhD’s is to find the the preference of the bearer. It's not up to either of us to decide if someone with a PhD is or is not addressed as Dr. (name). If that's what he or she prefers I will go along with it. A person's name belongs to them.
                     -- Robert Hickey

Not Finding Your Question Answered?
Below are other topics covered in my blog.  If you don't see your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply and if I think It would be of interest to others, I will post the question and the answer with all the names and personal specifics removed.
                    -- Robert Hickey

USE OF NAMES & HONORIFICS   
Mr., Miss, Jr., III, & Names        
Married Women       
Deceased Persons         
People with Two Titles
Post-Nominal Abbreviations and Initials           
Joint Forms of Address    (How to address a couple?)   

USE OF SPECIFIC OFFICIAL TITLES        
Former Officials            
Professionals and Academics        

United States Federal Officials, Currently In Office             
United States State Officials, Currently In Office              
United States Municipal Officials, Currently In Office             
       All About The Honorable with U.S. Officials         
       Former United States Officials of all types             
United States Armed Services, Active Duty             
       Addressing Retired Personnel      
       Use of Rank by Retired Personnel      
       Use of Rank by Veterans      

Tribal Officials             
Clergy and Religious Officials           
Canadian Officials         
Australian Officials          
British Officials, Royalty, and Nobility        
Diplomats and International Representatives            
Foreign National Officials and Nobility        

SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
Etiquette             
Flags: Traditions and Protocol             
Introductions            
Invitations: Writing & Addressing         
Invitations: Just Armed Service Personnel        
Name Tags            
Names on Programs, Signs, & Lists            
Place Cards            
Precedence: Ordering Officials           
Thank You Notes             

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Robert Hickey is the author of Honor & Respect:
The Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address
Published by The Protocol School of Washington®
Foreword by Pamela Eyring

Copyright © 2011 Robert Hickey.     All Rights Reserved.
Book Photo: Marc Goodman.