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Here’s a fun fact: “Doctor” was an academic degree. It was originally meant for theology, but expanded as the scope of academia expanded and natural philosophy became the sciences. We still call the degree “Doctor of Philosophy” as a result of that. Being a doctor of something meant that you were qualified to conduct research and teach at the university level. It eventually meant that you have made a contribution to your field - your dissertation - and the expectation was that you had and would continue to publish research papers in scientific journals.
The idea of a “medical doctor” was a new addition. MDs don’t do research, didn’t do a dissertation, and in general are not equipped to teach and advance the academic understanding of their field.
So I agree. Scientists should get the blue shirts, physicians and surgeons should just wear scrubs.
My favorite joke in Brooklyn Nine Nine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5QoYZuMILo
For folks who haven’t seen the show, the Captain is normally stoic to a near-fault. RIP André Braugher.
One of the best scenes from the best episode of the best show.
Oh damn! Oh damn! Oh damn!
Doctor comes from latin (from the verb docere - to teach) and basically means teacher, or someone with enough knowledge in a field to teach. The term is still used as an academic title, but in different way in different countries. For example, while in english speaking countries ot is used for someone who completed their PhD (phylosophæ doctorate), so someone with enough knowledge to do research and teach to an academic level, in Italy the title “dottore” is given to any who got a degree, even a Bachelor’s, so a physician is a doctor in medicine because they graduated in medicine.
Dumb question: what qualifications are needed to do medical research?
That’s not a dumb question at all.
There are MDs who do substantive research in medicine and surgery. However, basic science questions and a lot of the applied research are done by MD/PhDs. The dual degrees are a signal that the person holding them is not giving MMR vaccinations to kids or fixing broken arms, but who are committed to doing active research. It’s not an absolute requirement - I’ve worked with brilliant MDs at the VA and UC facilities who are gifted researchers. I’m painting with a very broad brush there.
Appreciate the info!
In Germany a doctor in medicine has to write a dissertation subject to a specific topic that deepens scientific understanding. Having a few articles in science magazines is also usual.
Where did you get that idea? In Germany the average medical student(!) writes a dissertation that’s at most comparable to a masters thesis in other natural sciences… And all of that within a time frame of 6 months. Many don’t even bother with that any more.
Of course, there are also medical students that go into research and really deepen scientific understanding. But that’s by far the exception.
I have quite a few friends that studied medicine and are now working as “Facharzt” in hospitals. All said they needed to have 4 published articles as author’s or co author’s plus a dissertation just to start the journey of becoming specialized doctors. Their degree was after they defended their dissertations.
Thats really interesting - thanks!
I agree 100%. Another design flaw is engineering and security having the same color.
Security has to have a thorough understanding of ships systems and computers to do their job. They’re half guard, half engineer.
I could see security being forced to do the manual labor that the engineers need done but don’t have the stamina to do efficiently. There should be more of that kind of cooperation between their teams. What the hell is security even doing 90% of the time when there’s no threat? Regular patrols and checks wouldn’t take even half of their man hours.
One has a medical degree, the other a Ph.D. Both are called doctor.
What was the reason newer series switched to white uniforms for medical?
It’s a welcome change but also SNW is before TOS?
M’Benga still wears blue. Chapel wears white, but she’s also a civilian contractor in SNW and hasn’t joined Starfleet yet, so how her uniform color interacts with everyone else is unclear.
Just whatever you do, do NOT run towards someone wearing red-shirt, in fact run AWAY, run away FAST, run away NOW!:-P
…unless you’re a horta.
