How Do We Address a Doctor?

I address all doctors by “Dr” unless they are a personal friend! I think it just acknowledges their expertise. Then again—some doctors request a first name basis–and in that case, that’s what I will use.

When I’m wearing my “physician hat,” I usually introduce myself as “Dana Best,” unless I’m trying to get another physician on the phone. When I’m wearing my “advocate hat,” I intruduce myself as “Dana Best,” but wear a name tag that has all the initials after my name. Wearing either hat, I ALWAYS address other physicians as “Dr.,” and nurse practitioners and physician assistants as “Mr.” Or “Ms.”until told otherwise. My rationale is that some folks are sensitive to how they’re addressed, and the last thing I want to do is waste any good will on forms of address.

When I’m wearing my “physician hat,” and someone addresses me as “Ms./Miss/Mrs.” and I don’t think they know I’m the physician they came to see, I always tell them that I’m the doctor because I’ve had people leave and say they never saw a doctor. I don’t really care what they call me for any other reason – but I know I felt differently when I was right out of training. I know lots of older physicians who seem sensitive to forms of address, so it’s probably best to err on the side of more formal address.

As an advocate, I expect my clients to address me by my first name. Some older clients seem reluctant to address my that way, and I try to emphasize my role as an advocate, not as a physician. Most of them eventually come around.

Best regards!

Dana Best

I’m a physician, no longer practicing. I live in CA which is more relaxed than other parts of the US and even here, would not expect a patient (seeing me as a doctor) to call me by my first name and don’t call my own physicians by their first names unless requested by the physician. We work hard to earn the title “Doctor” and are surprised when patients choose first names. I’m in a Facebook group of 65K physician women and this is a not infrequent source of frustration and perceived disrespect amongst physicians. I’d recommend sticking to “doctor” professionally unless otherwise requested by the physician. I agree with Dana that as an advocate I should be called by first name only as I’m not working in a physician capacity.

• This reply was modified 4 months ago by  Kim Mcilnay.

I have never been able to call a doctor anything but doctor; I was raised to respect titles. It does pose a bit of a puzzle when there is a Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant, as there does not seem to be an accepted title when you address them in person and I am uncomfortable with first names in this setting.
I have a lot of title initials, most equally incomprehensible for vocal addressing (see below), so as far as my clients go, they can call me whatever they are comfortable with, as long as it is not disrespectful.
Dianne Walkup, RDMS, RDCS, HHP, Rev

I would not think of addressing my physician as anything other than Doctor… My opinion is the title “Doctor” comes with deserving and earned respect and trust… If a patient doesn’t feel that toward his/her doctor, then it would be time to move on to another doctor that is more deserving of that respect, and to be referred to accordingly..

Agreed on addressing a physician with the title “Doctor”. Only after many years of seeing two physicians, have I shortened this to a first name, and then only in a one-on-one situation.
Many Nurse Practitioners actually have a doctorate degree, and may also be addressed by the title doctor;however, so as not to confuse the titles, I always ask a N.P. how they would like to be addressed. Ditto for a P.A.

I agree that a good professional relationship with medical personnel begins with courtesy and respect. Many fields of higher learning have doctorates and physicians I know appreciate being called by their title. As this is a professional interchange, the title should be used. NP’s and PA’s have certifications usually, not an academic title. I would have to look at their nametag to see if they hold a doctorate. The wearing of a nametag can lessen the confusion of title and position, and can be viewed as a part of professional attire. In the end, it is tradition that we call a physician “Dr”, and as not to accidently disrespect, I feel it is safer to use their title. Also,I hesitate to call a doctor by their first name as well, unless invited to.

I address physicians as Doctor. When I worked in the hospital many times we were on a first name basis, but when with a patient, I would call them Doctor.