Evergreen State Sue Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I have been corresponding via e-mail to work out appointments with a family member with a doctor who has a PhD. I've never met her, but my dh has talked with her by phone and I have heard her on voice mail. She sounds professional and very friendly. When she has sent me an e-mail (3 times now), she starts it out Hi Sue, but signs it Jane S. Doe, PhD. Would you respond back with Hi Jane or Hi Dr. Doe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Dr. Doe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Dr. Doe :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen State Sue Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Well, that's what I did, but part of me is bothered that she "gets" to call me Sue, but I should call her Dr. Doe out of respect for her professional degree. I like that she is friendly and wants to call me Sue. I don't like that I don't get to be friendly and call her Jane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeanM Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Personally I would put Dr. Doe, too, but I think it is a little strange that she addresses you by your first name, but signs it with full title. Maybe she isn't typing her signature, but filling it in automatically? I have a PhD, and if I sent someone a "friendly" email using their first name, I would expect them to respond with my first name. However, many people are touchy on the subject of titles, therefore I personally tend to be formal unless totally certain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Is it possible that the Jane Doe, Ph.D is part of her email siggy, not something she actually types in herself? Maybe it automatically appears as part of her email stationery. I would think if someone's calling you Sue, you can call them Jane. When she leaves a voice mail, does she identify herself as Jane or Dr. Doe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole M Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Is it possible that the Jane Doe, Ph.D is part of her email siggy, not something she actually types in herself? Maybe it automatically appears as part of her email stationery. I would think if someone's calling you Sue, you can call them Jane. When she leaves a voice mail, does she identify herself as Jane or Dr. Doe? I'd betcha anything it's her signature, and she'd be fine with you calling her by her first name, since she's calling you by yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 (edited) Jane. Unless you are Mrs Evergreen State (and you're not). Mr Bill Edited February 5, 2009 by Spy Car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I agree that it's probably her signature, or her habit. Still, I'd call her Dr. Doe until she suggests otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Hi Jane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Jane. Unless you are Mrs Evergreen State (and you're not). Mr Bill Hey, my neighbor's name is Mr. Bill. Of course, to my children all adults are Mr or Mrs first name. But our neighbor is Mr. Bill to all of the adults as well, being as he is old enough to be all of our parents. We gave him a Mr. Bill doll for Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Hey, my neighbor's name is Mr. Bill. Of course, to my children all adults are Mr or Mrs first name. But our neighbor is Mr. Bill to all of the adults as well, being as he is old enough to be all of our parents. We gave him a Mr. Bill doll for Christmas. OH NO! MR BILL!!! ;) I guess Mr Bill is better than a doctor bill :D (Plain old) Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWSJ Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'd try: Dr. Jane Best of both... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Call her by first name. My email signature says Dr. Caroline Smith, AP Calculus Teacher. It gets me quicker responses from University Professors and publishing companies. I leave it off of most personal email, but sometimes forget. I don't want friends and family to call me Dr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 First name. Dr. is for a medical degree, unless you are in the professional setting where a PhD counts (like at my kid's IEP meeting at school where a PhD is "Dr. SoandSo" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 My medical doctor freaked me out last week - she got on the phone when I was expecting the receptionist back and said, "Hi, it's Valerie" and started going into my test results. It took me a second to realize who she was since she didn't say "doctor." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplain Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'd respond in kind. If she starts her emails with "Hi Sue," I don't think it is a problem for you to "Hi Jane" her. Most of the PhDs I know aren't picky about being addressed as Doctor, though it is an appropriate form of address for a PhD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2GirlsTX Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'd respond in kind. If she starts her emails with "Hi Sue," I don't think it is a problem for you to "Hi Jane" her. Most of the PhDs I know aren't picky about being addressed as Doctor, though it is an appropriate form of address for a PhD. :iagree: I have recently started corresponding with another relative who has her Phd and is a Professor. I do not refer to her as Dr. or as Professor...lol I just say Hi Kim! after all, she write to me as Hi L not Dear. Mrs. XXXXX Since it is not a professional setting, and a relative, I just go by first name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen State Sue Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 If your correspondence is in anyway related to her profession you address her as Dr. I send frequent emails to one of dd's doctors. She always addresses me as Christina but I always refer to her as Dr. *******. The email communications end up in dd's file so I want them to be "proper" even though this particular Dr. is very relaxed and I doubt she would care. I have an Aunt who has a PhD and while my salutation is "Dear Aunt L" I always address the envelope with her title. This is a good point - as the e-mail is related to her profession. I never thought, as many suggested, that her signature might be standard and offers credibility. I think it is possible to be friendly and still call someone by Mrs. xyz to give me respect, especially since we have never met in person. I do have my kids call adults Mrs. last name, or if they are really close family friend, Miss First name (kind of like Miss Elly from the tv show Dallas), but as an adult I would never title-first name. Thanks for your thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.