Physicians Acronyms

What do all of these letters after a doctor’s name stand for? They might indicate the type of schooling or training they received so that they'd be qualified to specialize in a certain field; they could indicate professional associations to which they belong; or they could point out other kinds of education or designations that they have earned over the course of their career. Here are a few acronyms to get you started.

Medical and Dental Degrees

• AuD - Doctor of Audiology
• DC - Doctor of Chiropractic
• DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Dental Science
• DMD - Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Medical Dentistry
• DO or OD - Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• DPM - Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
• DPT - Doctor of Physical Therapy
• DScPT - Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy
• DSN - Doctor of Science in Nursing
• DVM - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
• ENT - Ear, nose and throat specialist
• GP - General Practitioner
• GYN - Gynecologist
• MD - Doctor of Medicine
• MS - Master of Surgery
• OB/GYN - Obstetrician and Gynecologist
• PharmD - Doctor of Pharmacy

Medical Associations

In addition to degrees, certificates and other certifications that doctors may receive, they may also have to belong to certain professional or medical associations in order to do their job.

• AAMC – Association of American Medical Colleges
• ACGME – Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
• AMA – American Medical Association
• AOA – American Osteopathic Association
• COCA – Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
• FAAEM - Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• FAAFP - Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians

• FACC – Fellow of American College of Cardiology
• FACP – Fellow of American College of Physicians
• FACS – Fellow of American College of Surgeons
• FAHA – Fellow of the American Heart Association
• FASPS - Fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons
• FHM - Fellow in Hospital Medicine
• FFR - Fellow Faculty of Radiologists
•  FICS - Fellow of the International College of Surgeons
• FRCPSC - Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• LCME – Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• MRCOG - Member Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• MRCS - Member Royal College of Surgeons