Medical professionals are increasingly moving into diverse roles that include healthcare management, pharmaceutical marketing, medical technology, health insurance, corporate wellness programs and much more. But as they make these transitions, many doctors face an unexpected challenge: being advised to drop the "Dr." prefix from their professional identity.
A LinkedIn post by a dentist has ignited a powerful conversation about professional identity, judgment, and the true meaning behind the prefix "Dr."
When Dr. Kaviya Shri, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery graduate from Adhiparasakthi Dental College and Hospital, Tamil Nadu was advised to remove the "Dr." prefix from her resume while applying for a corporate position, she faced a dilemma that many healthcare professionals encounter when transitioning to non-clinical roles.
The well-meaning advice was straightforward: people can be judgmental, and since the role didn't require a healthcare background, dropping the title might improve her chances. But Dr. Shri's response was equally clear that she would never remove it.
"I worked hard for that prefix," Dr. Shri wrote in her widely-shared LinkedIn post. "And I'll continue to carry it no matter what role or industry I work in."
Her words struck a chord across the medical community, particularly among doctors working in non-clinical settings or corporate environments. The post gathered reactions from numerous healthcare professionals who had faced similar situations and similar advice.
Dr. Sreelatha Kanuri from SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Telangana shared her own experience: "Some people told me when I'm not practicing dentistry, I should not keep Dr. in front of my name.” She said ,"I have worked hard to get that in front of my name, I will never remove it even though I'm not practicing dentistry."
The reasoning behind such advice often centers on perception management. Recruiters and hiring managers in non-medical sectors might make assumptions about candidates with medical backgrounds.
But as Dr. Shri pointed out, removing the prefix doesn't eliminate judgment, it merely delays it. "Because the moment they scroll down to the Education section, they'll still see it," she noted. "So removing the prefix doesn't erase the judgment; it just delays it by a few seconds."
She further added ,”I’d rather face judgment for a few extra seconds than erase the years of hard work, sacrifice, and identity behind that title.”
For these professionals, "Dr." represents far more than professional qualification. It embodies years of rigorous education, sleepless nights, clinical training, and personal sacrifices.
Dr. Sreeja Sarpatwar from MNR Dental College and Hospital, who is now pursuing an MBA at Institute of Public Enterprise, shared that she too was advised to remove her clinical experience when applying outside healthcare. "My inner self couldn't accept hiding something that reflects my hard work and who I truly am," she explained.
Banda Khalifa MD, MPH, MBA resonated completely with the sentiment, noting that such advice, while not necessarily born of judgment, conflicts with one's authentic professional identity.
Dr. Raksha Prasad, who describes herself as a "Dentist turned Marketer," represents a growing cohort of medical professionals who successfully navigate both clinical training and business domains. She was "respectfully advised" to drop the prefix for better brand recall and reminded that she wasn't practicing anymore.
"I was never able to take that seriously," she admitted, thanking Dr. Shri for sharing her thoughts so openly.
Dr. Shri concluded her post with a declaration that has become a rallying cry for many in similar situations: "So no matter where life takes me, I'll always wear it with pride, not as a label, but as a piece of my heart that refuses to be forgotten."
Edited by M Subha Maheswari
