What's in a Name?
Should new DPT grads be called Doctor? Doctor Lisa. Hmmm, well, I didn't go into PT school simply for a nice title, but the fact remains that I am graduating from a Doctoral program. What do you think?
I think by calling ourselves doctors of physical therapy, we are promoting the PT profession and educating our patients about the progression of PT education from a bachelor degree, to a master's, and now a clinical doctorate degree. Personally, I'm a little too casual or relaxed to insist my patients call me doctor, and I'm afraid of the title interfering with my relationship with patients or coworkers. (My CI this summer seemed, I guess, almost offended when I brought up the DPT Title Conversation.)
And, while I hate blogs that do this, I must bring up the quote from Romeo and Juliet, where Shakespeare writes, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Regardless of what we are called, the bottom line is to help our patients. Giving educated, evidence-based PT interventions effectively and watching my patients progress to a pain-free life is much more important than any name.
Leave some input below in the comment section and let me know where you stand on the issue!