Professor of Medicine

[Mo-Zaki]

Hi,

I was just wondering, how does a Doctor become a Professor? I was reading articles on the internet about Doctors who had the title 'Professor ..... (name)'. I was just wondering how this works.

Thanks.

[jdr06]

think you have to be attached to a university and the title is bestowed by them, i think you have to be published aswell. thats the impression i have at any rate.

[agneishd]

yup, work in a hospital affiliated to uni, e.g. St. Thomas' in London to GKT

then do a lot of academic work (tis rare for a prof to be a practising surgeon), research, publish, and do lectures

once termed a senior lecturer, one can apply for a prof post, or if such a post doesn't exist, one can be appointed a prof, if very academic

[zhangyuzhi]

yup some work in academia is imperative. But surgeons can also become professors...coz there has journals regarding surgical techniques and procedures lol

[agneishd]

would be too much work being dedicated to academic studies and being a practising surgeon at the same time though...surely?

[doormat]

A Professor is essentially a senior lecturer,

You do not necessarily have to be associated with a University, as people can be honourary professors.

This is usually when a University gives them the title of Professor Emeritus, due to their contribution to medicine in general.

On the point of surgeons, it is not uncommon for them to be Professors as well.

You will find that a lot of Professors are also Honourary Consultants, i.e. do a ward round a couple times a week and consult on specialist cases, but do not have as much clinical time.

[McCarthy]

Originally Posted by zhangyuzhi

yup some work in academia is imperative. But surgeons can also become professors...coz there has journals regarding surgical techniques and procedures lol

That's because they also do university teaching.

You HAVE to be associated/linked to a university to be given the title professor. I.E. - you have to do some degree of teaching. You can't just randomly get the title.

Honoury professors don't actually go around calling themselves professor btw. (i.e. on say their credit card, it won't say Prof. XXX XXX).

[agneishd]

good i was right then

[Gizmo says -]

ow do you become an Emeritus Professor?

that sounds quite good to me hehe. Especially in a department where you do nuffing all day like Philosophy! luv to do that one day, when i'm in a wheelchair and smoking a pipe...

[doormat]

I think you have to be chosen, but to be perfectly honest, I don't have a clue