# Doctor, Dentist, Podiatrist, and ....others? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280 "2018-07-04T13:58:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/21 "2018-07-05T00:15:27Z")
Of course, there is the Proctologist, that specialize in people like me. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/22 "2018-07-05T00:46:28Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Of course, there is the Proctologist, that specialize in people like me. They usually are trained as general surgeons, and subspecialize. What’s your issue? Chronic draining fistula? Incompetent sphincter? Ulcerative proctitis? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/23 "2018-07-05T00:47:14Z")
Nope. Just An Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/24 "2018-07-05T00:48:48Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nope. Just An Asshole. Yeah, but what’s your _disease_? Nearly everyone has an asshole. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/25 "2018-07-05T02:15:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Maybe the question is more why are those in the OP separate degrees/education paths (MD, DO, DDS, DPM). With the specialists you mention, they all start out on the same track in med school and specialize later, so far as I understand it. Whereas if you want to be a dentist, you go to dental school. You want to be a podiatrist? You go to a podiatric college. Dermatologist? Cardiologist? You just go to medical school like every other physician, then specialize around year three or so. More like year 5. At least in the USA, all medical students, with the exception of a bunch of elective time in year 4, go through exactly the same curriculum. While most students use that year 4 elective time to gear themselves up for applying to the residencies of their choice, there is no such thing as a major or declaration of specialty in medical school. You effectively choose your specialty by deciding which residency programs to apply to during year 4. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/26 "2018-07-05T19:12:08Z")
Chiropractor… or did you mean actual medical professionals? Are there psychiatric professionals (psychologists?) who are not MD’s? There are whole layers of professionals who work on the body who do not have MD degrees - massage therapy, for example. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/27 "2018-07-05T20:50:33Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Chiropractor… or did you mean actual medical professionals? > > Are there psychiatric professionals (psychologists?) who are not MD’s? > > There are whole layers of professionals who work on the body who do not have MD degrees - massage therapy, for example. I don’t think the question was about people who simply “work on the body” without medical degrees- that could include all sorts of people. My understanding of the OP was that the question was specifically about those who were most similar to physicians (can prescribe medication/perform surgery,etc) where the division in the initial training is based on part of the body. Which is a kind of limited group - I can’t think of any other than dentists, podiatrists and possibly optometrists (in places where they can prescribe). There are other professions where the training is different from medical school - but the difference is not based on body parts. A physician’s assistant receives different training than a physician - but a PA who works in the ER received the same training in school as the one who works in the OB/GYN office or the primary care clinic. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/28 "2018-07-05T20:58:32Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nope. Just An Asshole. Dude, you tickle me:) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/29 "2018-07-05T21:01:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > For just about any part of the body, there are doctors that specialize in it. Cardiologists, dermatologists, opticians, urologists, gynecologists, neurologists, etc. > [@hajario](#): > > Of course. But they all go to medical school. Podiatrists and dentists go to totally different schooling which was the gist of the OP. Opticians don’t need a degree. They are the people who fit and sell glasses and contacts. Not doctors. Ophthalmologists go to med school and get a MD, with specialization treatment and surgery of the eye. Doctors. Optometrists go to optometry school, not med school, and get an OD. The most common ones encountered measure visual acuity and assess disorders of the eye (e.g. glaucoma). Others are researchers and may not see patients. Doctors. > [@Chronos](#): > > Are there psychiatric professionals (psychologists?) who are not MD’s? Psychiatrists are the only ones with an MD. Psychologists have PhD or PsyD. Social workers have MSW and possible DSW. Most others have MA/MS (normally zero distinction between these) with additional specific licensure or training. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/30 "2018-07-08T00:16:16Z")
One of my favorite: otolaryngologist - doctor of the ear, nose, and throat. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/31 "2018-07-08T00:31:29Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > One of my favorite: otolaryngologist - doctor of the ear, nose, and throat. They are all fully trained as MDs or DOs first before taking their specialty surgical training. At least in the US they are. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280/32 "2018-07-08T02:50:32Z")
One profession that has to be discussed is advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). APRNs can legally examine patients, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, and provide treatment. In the United States, 38 states require them to have a written agreement with a licensed doctor in practice; 22 states they have full practice authority. Aside for General care, they can also specialize in geriatrics, pediatrics, and psychiatry among others. I bring them up because a lot of medical care is being off-loaded onto them do to shortages of actual doctors in a lot of places. My current primary care provider is an APRN. (She’s a very nice lady and I really can’t complain about the quality of her work.) Also, the mental health clinic I go to has had in the past a psychiatric APRN be the only prescriber working for them due to their trouble in finding a licensed psychiatrist. The clinic is regional mental health center that provides care to anyone regardless of how much they can pay so I assume it’s probable not the most lucrative place for someone with A MD to work. It also pretty high turnover for its staff general, but that’s probably a rant for another thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dentist-podiatrist-and-others/817280.md?page=1)