Why I Plan to Refer to Myself as Dr. Bush
By: Dr. Matthew F. Bush
Tags: Equity, Science, Research, Jill Biden, Education

The Wall Street Journal recently published an essay by Joseph Epstein in which he states that:

the ‘Dr.’ before… ‘Dr. Jill Biden’ sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic

He goes on to question her credentials and disparage the subject of her thesis research, which focused on the retention of students at community colleges. His argument is toxic and poorly reasoned. For example, he states that:

A wise man once said that no one should call himself ‘Dr.’ unless he has delivered a child. Think about it, Dr. Jill, and forthwith drop the doc.

Ashley Biden is evidence that Dr. Jill Biden has delivered more children than the majority of doctors that I know, including those of the medical variety. I wish that I could dismiss Joseph Epstein’s perspectives with a simple “OK boomer”: (1) his views are dated and counterproductive, (2) he held a position for decades at Northwestern University that today would be inaccessible to those without a terminal degree, and (3) he is likely oblivious to the ways that he has benefited from the inaccurate assumption of others that he held a terminal degree in his field of study. Unfortunately, his perspectives are intertwined with broader misconceptions of race, gender, and subject-matter expertise.

Dr. Jill Biden earned her title through her Doctorate of Education from the University of Delaware. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a doctor is: “a learned or authoritative teacher” and “a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (such as a PhD) conferred by a university”. The title of “Dr.” is widely used by recipients of doctoral degrees, including Doctor of Education, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, and Doctor of Philosophy. Dr. Jill Biden has clearly surpassed the threshold of being a doctor. On a more personal level, my father, who was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, a veteran of the Vietnam War, and a Colonel in the United States Air Force, used the title of “Dr.”, which he earned through his Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern California. To the best of my knowledge, his use of “Dr.” was neither questioned nor described as “comic”.

I am an educator and a researcher. I was previously indifferent to the use of “Dr.” for myself — I did not feel that I needed my credentials to establish my subject-matter expertise. However, as a white, cis-gendered male, I am cognizant that my perspective came from from a place of privilege. It is important to me that others, including those from underrepresented groups, receive the respect and recognition that they have earned. It is all too common for male educators and researchers to be referred to using “Dr.” and “Prof.”, while female educators and researchers with the same credentials are referred to using “Mrs.” and “Ms.” I have observed these differences in the language of students in my classes as well as the articles that I read in newspapers. I have been especially disappointed in observing these differences during the pandemic — the contributors and voices in our response to COVID-19 (e.g., immunology, public health, and aerosol science researchers) deserve every accolade and title that can be used to convey the preparation, expertise, and track record that enabled their results and perspectives.

Towards the goal of broader recognition of the expertise and credentials of educators and researchers, I plan to:

When referring to other educators and researchers, I will use the titles and credentials that they have earned. When referring to myself, I will use the titles and credentials that I have earned to help normalize the use of titles and credentials. In my courses and in my research, I will highlight the contributions of scientists and select citations that more fully reflect the practitioners in the relevant fields.

Beyond the scope of what I can do as an individual, I implore style guides to revise their recommendations for referring to holders of doctoral degrees. Most style guides require medical doctors to be referred to using the “Dr.” title, but restrict the use of doctor for non-medical doctors (e.g., to individuals who request the use of that title). For those who want to learn more about this subject, I highly recommend Is There a Doctor in the House? and I Look Like A Professor.