Citing sources correctly is essential in academic writing, and the American Psychological Association (APA) style provides clear guidelines for referencing various types of authors. When working with medical professionals, such as doctors, it is important to understand how to cite their names properly in APA format.
This article explores the conventions and best practices for citing a doctor’s name, whether they are authors of journal articles, books, interviews, or other materials.
Understanding the Basics of APA Author Citation
In APA style, the author’s name is always presented with the last name first, followed by the initials of the first and middle names. This format remains consistent regardless of the author’s professional title.
For example, “Dr. John Smith” would be cited as “Smith, J.”
Professional titles such as “Dr.,” “MD,” or “PhD” are typically not included in the author element of the citation. APA focuses on the author’s name without titles or degrees to maintain consistency and simplicity across references.
“APA style emphasizes clarity and uniformity in citations, which is why titles like ‘Dr.’ or professional degrees are omitted from the author’s name.”
When to Include a Doctor’s Name in APA Citations
Doctors can be authors, editors, interviewees, or contributors in various types of sources. The citation format varies slightly depending on the source type:
- Journal articles authored by doctors
- Books or book chapters written or edited by doctors
- Interviews or personal communications with doctors
- Reports, guidelines, or official publications authored by medical professionals
Each source type follows APA citation rules, but the treatment of the doctor’s name remains consistent.
Citing a Doctor as an Author of a Journal Article
If a doctor has authored a journal article, the citation format is identical to that of any other author. Use the last name and initials, followed by the publication year, article title, journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Author | Smith, J. A. |
| Year | (2023). |
| Article Title | The impact of nutrition on cardiovascular health. |
| Journal Title | Journal of Medical Research, |
| Volume(Issue) | 12(4), |
| Page numbers | 234-245. |
The full reference would look like this:
Smith, J. A.
(2023). The impact of nutrition on cardiovascular health.
Journal of Medical Research, 12(4), 234-245.
Note: The doctor’s professional title “Dr.” is omitted.
Citing a Doctor as an Author of a Book or Book Chapter
When citing a book authored or edited by a doctor, the same rule applies: list the author’s last name and initials without the professional title. For book chapters, cite the chapter author(s) rather than the editor or book author unless you are referencing the entire book.
| Source Type | Example Format |
|---|---|
| Book by a Doctor | Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book. Publisher. |
| Book Chapter by a Doctor | Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In B. B. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher. |
Example of a book citation:
Jones, M. L.
(2020). Advances in pediatric care.
Health Press.
Example of a chapter citation:
Brown, S. K.
(2019). Pediatric nutrition and growth.
In R. T.
Harris (Ed.), Comprehensive pediatric health (pp. 45-67).
Medical Publishing.
Citing a Doctor in Personal Communication
Sometimes, you may want to cite information obtained directly from a doctor via an interview, email, or phone conversation. In APA style, personal communications are not included in the reference list because they do not provide recoverable data.
Instead, cite these in-text only.
The format for in-text citation is as follows:
(Initials Last Name, personal communication, Month Day, Year)
For example:
(J. A.
Smith, personal communication, March 15, 2024)
Since the communication is private and not accessible to readers, it is excluded from the reference list.
Including Degrees and Titles in APA Citations
APA style does not require including professional degrees (e.g., MD, PhD) or titles (e.g., Dr.) in the author element of a reference. These designations are considered irrelevant for citation purposes and omitted to maintain uniformity.
However, you may include a doctor’s title or credentials in the body text or narrative if it is relevant to the context of your writing. For example:
According to Dr. John Smith, a leading cardiologist, the study demonstrates significant findings related to heart health.
In this case, the honorific “Dr.” is part of the narrative but not the reference citation.
How to Cite Multiple Doctors as Authors
When multiple doctors co-author a work, list their names in the order they appear in the source, using last names and initials without titles. Separate the names with commas, and use an ampersand (&) before the final author’s name.
| Number of Authors | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Two authors | Last, F. M., & Last, F. M. | Smith, J. A., & Brown, S. K. |
| Three to 20 authors | List all authors separated by commas, with & before last | Smith, J. A., Brown, S. K., & Lee, R. T. |
| 21 or more authors | List first 19 authors, then ellipsis (…), then last author | Smith, J. A., Brown, S. K., Lee, R. T., … Jackson, M. P. |
Citing Doctors in Medical Guidelines or Reports
Medical guidelines or official reports often list doctors as contributors or authors. Cite these documents following APA format for reports and gray literature.
The doctor’s name appears as author(s) without titles.
Example:
American Heart Association. (2022).
Guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention. https://heart.org/guidelines
If individual doctors are credited as authors, follow the same author name rules:
Johnson, L. M., & Patel, R.
S. (2021).
Clinical recommendations for diabetes management. National Diabetes Foundation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Including titles or degrees in author names: Do not write “Dr. John Smith” or “John Smith, MD” in references.
- Misordering author names: Always list last names first, then initials.
- Omitting initials: Always include first and middle name initials if available.
- Including personal communications in the reference list: These belong only in in-text citations.
Summary of Key Points
| Aspect | APA Citation Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor’s name in references | Last name, Initials; no titles or degrees | Smith, J. A. |
| Multiple authors | List all authors; use & before last | Smith, J. A., & Brown, S. K. |
| Personal communication | In-text only, no reference list entry | (J. A. Smith, personal communication, 3/15/2024) |
| Books and articles | Cite as usual, last name and initials only | Jones, M. L. (2020). Advances in pediatric care. |
Additional Tips for Citing Doctors in APA
If the doctor’s name appears in the narrative of your paper, you can include their title or credentials for clarity or emphasis. This adds credibility and context but should remain separate from your formal citations.
When uncertain about how to format a reference that involves a medical professional, consult the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or trusted APA style resources online.
Remember, clarity and consistency are the goals of APA citation style. Following these guidelines ensures your work meets academic standards and properly attributes medical experts.
