*rolls up sleeves* I feel particularly qualified to speak to Dr. Jill Biden’s (completely legitimate) use of her title. I have two doctorates (DVM - veterinarian and PhD - epidemiologist). Both programs are rigorous, accredited, and historically produce doctors. 1/4

Let’s start with the origin of the word. Doctor comes from docere, the Latin word meaning to instruct or teach. A doctorate was a license to teach, originally granted by the church then eventually by universities. There is nothing about doctor that is inherently medical. 2/4

In fact, for much of history those practicing the medical field were physicians, surgeons, or apothecaries. The Medical Act 1858 made it illegal for anyone not qualified in medicine to use a title that implied they were. How did they clarify who was qualified and who wasn’t? 3/4

By borrowing legitimacy from the already established title doctor & requiring a Doctor of Medicine. They used the widely understood authority that a doctorate indicates to elevate well-educated physicians above quacks. They were late to the party. tl;dr PhDs are doctors. 4/4