Maybe this is just a west coast thing, but here’s essentially the only times residents refer to themselves as “Dr. Suchandsuch:”

1. With patients. “Hey there, I’m Dr. Kim. Tell me what brings you to the Emergency Department today?”
2. On the phone, when asking/telling someone to do something. “This is Dr. Brenner, could you connect me to the Hematology lab, please?”
3. On the phone, returning a page, because often the person that paged you only knows your last name. “This is Dr. Serfass, returning a page?”
4. Resident to intern, implying that the intern is qualified as a doctor to make a decision. “I don’t know, Dr. Walker, what antibiotic would you like to give?”
5. Resident to resident, using the term friendly and jokingly because of its importance. “I’m good, how are you today, Doctor Kea?

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