RULES OF USAGE
Medical degrees and credentials
Our communications should ease the burden for readers . Listing several titles and credentials in a sentence only makes it more difficult for patients and families to find the information they need .
• Try to use as few titles , degrees and credentials as possible . Use only commonly understood credentials .
• In copy , do not include “ professor of pediatrics ,” chairs or other , less known titles where you can avoid it .
• In digital formats , always link back to the person ’ s doctor bio page . In all formats , it is the editor ’ s discretion to decide whether to use obscure credentials and degrees .
• Do not use periods between letters in credentials , such as MD , RN or PhD .
• For medical doctors or PhDs , list their first name and last name , and credentials on first reference . Use commas on either side of credentials to bracket them off from the rest of the sentence . For all following references , use “ Dr .” followed by their last name . For example , “ John Doe , MD , treated Katie . Dr . Doe helped Katie get better .”
• List credentials in the following order : highest academic degree earned , licensure , certification .
Note : In social media posts , we approach this differently . On first reference , do not include credentials and format the provider ’ s name as : Dr . John Doe . On second reference , write Dr . Doe .
Institutes , departments , centers , programs and clinics
We have an incredible variety of departments , centers , institutes , clinics and programs . Most , but not all , are listed on our website , where you can get their formal names .
• Always capitalize the formal names of departments , centers , institutes , clinics or programs . If you use a shortened or different version of the name on second reference , this should be lowercase .
• Do not capitalize units , floors , taskforces or team names . For example , neonatal intensive care unit , level 8 nurses and the video team should remain lowercase .
• Never capitalize emergency department or urgent care , as these are common nouns .
Examples :
• The Marketing and Communications Department developed new guidelines . If you have questions about them , contact the department .
• The Breathing Institute holds its Asthma Clinic every Wednesday and recruits patients from the emergency department .
Brand Guidelines 2024-08 29