WHAT DO THE LITTLE LETTERS AT THE END OF DOCTOR'S NAMES MEAN?
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What do the letters trailing the end of Doctor's name mean? Doctors over their careers can acquire more letters after their name than within it. Each new academic achievement appends another accolade to the tail end of their name from the issuing institution. The following list can assist you in decoding what the alphabet soup of abbreviations on your doctor's business card mean:
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ADSM Assistant Director Medical Services
AMI American Medical International
AMS Army Medical Service
ARRC Associate Royal Red Cross
BAO Bachelor of the Art of Obstetrics
BASc Bachelor of Applied Science
BC/BCh Bachelor of Surgery
BDS Bachelor Dental Surgery
BM Bachelor of Medicine
BMedSc Bachelor of Medical Science
BPharm Bachelor of Pharmacy
BSc Bachelor of Science
BSChB Bachelor of Surgery
CCFP Certificate of the College of Family Physicians
ChB Bachelor of Surgery
ChD Doctor of Surgery
CMChM Master of Surgery
CRCP Certificant of the Royal College of Physicians
CRCS Certificant of the Royal College of Surgeons
CPH Certificate in Public Health
DA Diploma in Anesthetics
DAP&E Diploma in Applied Parasitology and Entomology
DAvMed Diploma in Aviation Medicine
DCh Doctor of Surgery
DCH Diploma in Child Health
DChD Doctor of Dental Surgery
DCM Diploma in Community Medicine
DCMT Diploma in Clinical Medicine of Tropics
DCPath Diploma of the College of Pathologists
DCR Diploma of the College of Radiographers
DDM Diploma in Dermatological Medicine
DDMS Deputy Director Medical Services
DDR Diploma in Diagnostic Radiology
DGMS Director General Medical Services
DGO Diploma of Gynecology and Obstetrics
DHyg Doctor of Hygiene
DipPharmMed Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine
DLO Diploma in Laryngology and Otology
DMedRehab Diploma in Medical Rehabilitation
DMHS Director of Medical and Health Services
DMJ Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence
DMR Diploma in Medical Radiology
DMRD Diploma in Medical Radiodiagnosis
DMRT Diploma in Medical Radiotherapy
DMS Doctor of Medicine and Surgery
DO Diploma in Opthalmology
DOMS Diploma in Opthalmic Medicine and Surgery
DPA Diploma in Public Administration
DPH Diploma in Public Health
DPhysMed Diploma in Physical Medicine
DS Doctor of Surgery
FACA Fellow of the American College of Anesthetists
FACC Fellow of the American College of Cardiologists
FACD Fellow of the American College of Dental Surgeons
FACG Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology
FACO Fellow of the American College of Otolaryngology
FACOG Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
FACP Fellow of the American College of Physicians
FACR Fellow of the American College of Radiologists
FACS Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
FCAP Fellow of the American College of American Pathologists
FCCP Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians
FCMS Fellow of the College of Medicine and Surgery
FCPath Fellow of the College of Pathologists
FCPS Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons
FFARCS Fellow of the Faculty of Anesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons
FFR Fellow of the Faculty of Radiologists
FMC Fellow of the Medical Council
FRCOG Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
FRCP Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
FRCPC Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada
FRCPsych Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
FRCR Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists
FRCS Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
FRCSC Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
FRSM Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
GP General Practitioner
JP Justice of the Peace
LCPS Licentiate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons
LMCC Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada
LMS Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery
LRCP Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians
LRCS Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons
LSM Licentiate of the School of Medicine
MAO Master of the Art of Obstetrics
MB Bachelor of Medicine
MBBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
MBChB Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
MC/MCh Master of Surgery
MCFP Member of the College of Family Physicians
MChOrth Master of Orthopedic Surgery
MCommH Master of Community Health
MCPS Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons
MD Doctor of Medicine
MDD Doctor of Dental Medicine
MHyg Master of Hygiene
MO Master of Obstetrics or Medical Officer
MOH Medical Officer of Health
MPH Master of Public Health
MRad Master of Radiology
MRCGP Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners
MRCOP Member of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
MRCP Member of the Royal College of Physicians
MRCS Member of the Royal College of Surgeons
MRO Member of the Royal College of Osteopaths
MS Master of Surgery
MSc Master of Science
MSW Medical Social Worker
OT Occupational Therapist
PMO Principal Medical Officer
PT Physiotherapist
RAMC Royal Army Medical Corps
RCAMC Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
RMO Registered Medical Officer
SHO Senior House Officer
SMO Senior Medical Officer
Believe it or not, the above list is not exhaustive. There are other obscure medical titles and some designations that are country specific.
The current letters 'postceding' my name are MBBS and CCFP. Using our neat cheat sheet above, you can see that this means that I have a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree, and I am a graduate of the College of Family Physicians in my country. In a couple more years, another appendage of 'FRCPC' will be added signifying that I have become a tenured physician. I promise not to add any further letters after that :)
