['Although patients should know the level of training of the physician providing their care in teaching hospitals, many do not.', "The objective of this study is to determine whether the manner by which physicians introduce themselves to patients is associated with patients' misperception of the level of training of their physician.", 'This was an observational study of 100 patient-physician interactions in a teaching emergency department.', 'Residents introduced themselves as a doctor 82% of the time but identified themselves as a resident only 7% of the time. While attending physicians introduced themselves as a "doctor" 64% of the time, only 6% identified themselves as the supervising physician. Patients felt it was very important to know their physicians\' level of training, but most did not.'] Do patients know the level of training of their doctors because doctors do not tell them?