Do you know anyone who is a Ph.D. M.D. ? What is the highest title that one can get ?

Anyone who is an M.D. already holds a PhD (that’s where the title of “doctor” comes from).

Yes, I know a few people who have both a PhD and an MD. No, it is not the pinnacle of education. There are many ways to hold multiple top-level degrees. One of my professors holds two PhDs. Another holds a PhD and a JD. Strictly speaking, the professor who holds two PhDs has more education than the one who holds a PhD and a JD because she has two terminal degrees, whereas the other professor does not (since the terminal degree for law in the US is the DJS).

@Darth_Algar Nope. An MD and a PhD are separate qualifications. An MD is typically a first professional degree, though it varies by country (you can read more about the MD itself here). That’s why there are such things as PhD-MD programs in the first place.

Yes, an MD is a professional degree, but it is also a doctorate.

@Darth_Algar I didn’t say that it isn’t a doctorate. I said that it is not a PhD. Not all doctorates are PhDs.

Depends on the field of study. A PhD is the most common terminal degree, but in my field (graphic design), the MFA is considered the terminal degree (which I’m working on now).

I know a lot of PhDs as I work at a college. One lovely woman who works for me has two PhDs.

These are very big academic accomplishments, but they’re no guarantee of general intelligence or even common sense. Also, beware of any PhD that insists you call them “doctor” – probably a schmuck.

PhD is a doctorate of philosophy. It can be given in a number of disciplines. MD is doctorate of medicine. The PhD is the highest academic degree in most fields but in a number of European countries I guess the Doctor of Science (DSc) is higher than the PhD.

A PhD/MD is a specific degree that combines research and medical training for people who want to specialize in medical research. There’s not much point in discussing what the pinacle degree is; for my brother who is one of the top Bible scholars in the world, a PhD/MD degree would be useless.

Just to add the confusion in the UK MD is a doctor of medicine and is different to the degree needed to practice medicine (MBBS or sometime BMBS bachelor of medicine bachelor of surgery).

Yes, I know some PhD MD’s but not close friends or family. Funny, a surgeon and a mechanic I know were talking about PhD MD’s the other day. I happen to be hitching a ride in the car. The conversation started with them putting down PhD’s, which I found ridiculous. Ironically, I think many researchers think they are better than plain ol’ MD doctors.

@SavoirFaire ”
@Darth_Algar I didn’t say that it isn’t a doctorate. I said that it is not a PhD. Not all doctorates are PhDs.”

Yeah, well, that’s just like your opinion man.

In all seriousness you’re right. Not sure what I was thinking when I posted that. My brain wasn’t really working all that well (lack of sleep).

The MD is a professional designation. It is not an academic doctorate. It requires no research nor does it involve writing and defending a doctoral thesis. It is a Master’s level degree that in some countries allows the graduate to be called doctor. In others, they are called Ms., Mrs or Mr. unless they have an earned doctorate as well. Don’t be impressed with titles. It is what graduates do and how they contribute that is a more appropriate measure of their worthiness of esteem by others.

@Darth_Algar No worries. It happens to the best of us.

Nursing now has two terminal degrees, either the PhD or the DNP. The PhD focuses on research in nursing while the DNP focuses on nursing practice. I know nurses that have each of those, but none that have both. I do know some doctors that have PhDs.