<p>Hi everyone, I have a question. My new office “neighbor” is a newly hired physician (I work for a health care organization but am in IT and we are going through some building renovations hence such an odd pairing) and the first thing she did was to hang no less than 5 different diplomas on the walls. Yes, I know, this is an accepted practice here in the US but I honestly don’t understand the purpose of it. The possible list I came up with includes:
everyone is doing it so she didn’t even think twice about it;
to show how proud she is of her accomplishments - ok, that’s a valid reason but why would her accomplishments be more celebrated than anyone else’s in other professions?
to prove to others that she actually did go to the school she said she went to;
to show people how smart she is - ok, that may be valid but doesn’t at all mean she is a good doctor or a decent person.</p>
<p>And I should mention that I wasn’t born here so all these things really stick out for me like a sore thumb and seem very snooty and presumptuous. I actually mentioned it to one of my Canadian-born colleague and she said she also doesn’t understand the logic. </p>
<p>Is there some history/tradition behind this? Please share your thoughts.</p>
<p>It’s certainly the case that everybody does it, so I don’t think it’s snooty or pretentious. It’s so common that people might wonder why they aren’t seeing the diploma. Every doctor (and dentist, for that matter) that I’ve ever visited had diplomas on the wall. Why it was originally done is probably not even relevant at this point.</p>
<p>I believe that a new doctor would want to display their diplomas as a way of reassuring their patients that they are qualified to treat them. I personally like to see them on the wall to know that my doctor didn’t do a by-mail doctoring course or something.
Pretty much every doctor I’ve been to does this, where are you from that this seems odd?</p>
<p>My H hung his without a second thought -It is kind of a “thats what you do” kind of thing.</p>
<p>Also patients like to know where you graduated etc … Pre internet there was not an easy way to find out about where your doc went to school and training this makes it easy for the patients to find out. </p>
<p>Another reason -It is cheaper than buying art. You already have them , you don’t want them at home , so you hang them at the office. </p>
<p>I teach Pilates and the owners of the Pilates studio have their certifications hung up on the walls. Again people like to know that you went to training and didn’t just watch a few DVDs </p>
<p>It’s just common practice in the US for doctors / dentists to do this. It’s not intended to be snooty or pretentious. It just is. Don’t overthink it. </p>
<p>Some states require that your credentials be displayed, or at least produced if asked, so professionals started displaying them. ‘Hang out my shingle’</p>
<p>I’ve known a lot of lawyers with them framed and stacked behind a door because they are too lazy to hang them up. I have a set. Used to be hung in my office, but now stored in a box in the garage.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s just physicians; other people hang their diplomas in their offices, too. I’m pretty sure H has his hanging in his office - the only difference being he doesn’t have patients coming in and out all day long to see them. I’m thinking of other professional offices we visit, and we see their diplomas, certificates - accountant, attorney, etc.</p>
<p>Not only for doctors - lawyers here often do it as well. The diplomas, admission to practice in front of various courts, honor societies, etc., may all be displayed. </p>
<p>You are free to post your sheepskin(s) too, whatever field you are in.</p>
<p>Perhaps in really well decorated high end offices the diplomas would clash with the decor, but otherwise what is wrong about it? Why bother to give diplomas if they are not to be displayed? When I finished school, my mom was so excited to frame all my diplomas for me. </p>
<p>FWIW, I went to a doctor who had his high school diploma on display in his office. Now it was from a very nice high school, but I have to say that that is the only time I have ever seen that.</p>
<p>Not all physicians display their diplomas. I surely don’t. Other than the electronic copy I have for my hospital credentials, I wouldn’t know where to find mine. It definitely isn’t showing off. I know some states require that you display your credentials in your office. Our hospital pharmacists display theirs.</p>
<p>Scientists typically do not display their PhD diplomas, so for me it would be weird to see one of those. For lawyers, doctors, dentists, it is a common practice. </p>
<p>I agree that the tradition derives from establishing credibility as a qualified practitioner. It’s about transparency, not showing off.</p>
<p>As an academic physician, who doesn’t see patients in my office (I work in ER), I have mine hanging where students or other folks I am meeting with can see them. I enjoy seeing where people went to med school, where they did residency etc. It can be a nice conversation starter. </p>
<p>Of all people, I would expect folks who frequent this website to appreciate the importance of pedigree. I want to know where my doctor went to med school, and where he (or she) did his residency. Preferably an Ivy League school. I think my doctor went to UVA, and Emory for his residency… that will have to do. </p>
<p>I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but I hang up my diplomas on my office wall. Why? Where else am I going to put them? FWIW, my “elite” diploma is small and in Latin, so it’s not immediately obvious what it is, while my “third-tier” diploma is about two or 2 1/2 times larger. I’m not sure why you’re seemingly taking offense/reacting so negatively by a piece of paper.</p>
<p>I like seeing where my doctors went to school and did their residency. It’s just another piece of their history to know.</p>
<p>I always assumed that it was just a tradition going to way back when, when a doctor or lawyer would want to show (prove) to patients and clients that he / she was the real deal.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner’s answer goes for me, too. None of my academic colleagues have any of their diplomas up. But I think that every physician I have ever visited has his/her diplomas up. It’s just what’s done around here.</p>
<p>I think that the lawyers I know who have been admitted to present cases before the U.S. Supreme Court may have some certificate to that effect in their offices, in addition to their diplomas.</p>
<p>Most doctors I’ve been to have a diploma hanging somewhere. I guess its as good as hanging up the Farrah Fawcet or Raquel Welch posters.</p>
<p>But it is true that some are “tone deaf” about certain things. There are more than a few whose waiting rooms have magazines like “Lamborghini Owner”,“SuperYachts”, and “SafariVacations” laying around with the address labels clipped out. </p>
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