This is an interesting take, because I was reared to believe that the PhD (an academic degree), predates the MD (a technical/professional degree), by a long shot. Personally, I think we deserve the title Dr. more than the body mechanics.
Appealing as this take ight be, I don't think matters are quite this simple. As I understand it, in the medieval university there was the basic Master of Arts degree and then, with further study, one could become Doctor of Arts (or Doctor of Philosophy), Doctor of Laws, or Doctor of Medicine. The evolved into the current PhD, LLD and MD. (There were theological degrees as well.) The point is not that PhD importantly "predates" the MD (though it may by 100 years or so), but rather that the term "Doctor" indicates a certain duration of study and level of attainment, not a particular branch of knowledge.
In response to Mr./Dr./Prof. Dolan (to whom you were responding), try to acquire the habit of referring to medical professionals as "physicians" (which is their actual occupation) rather than "doctors." (You'll notice that the "real" doctors in the mdeical field (i.e., the researchers) have PhDs in medicine, not just MDs.)
Best, -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3
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