Comments on: Tara Parker-Pope and Jonny Bowden

By: jonhw

jonhw — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:16:15 +0000

In the UK it’s also not uncommon for ‘Dr’ to be used for PhDs. However, this is generally people with accredited PhDs: it is less accepted to describe oneself as a Dr or PhD without a ‘proper’ doctorate; I gather that this is also the case in the US?

To be frank, I’m doubtful as to whether the PhD programme at Clayton College of Natural Health (CCNH) meets the usual standards for doctoral work. Jonny- I noticed that people on the NYT blog thread asked about a copy of your PhD thesis. Perhaps you could post a copy of the thesis online, to clear up any doubts as to the quality of work at CCNH?

By: pv

pv — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:47:42 +0000

In Italy too the term “Doctor”, along with “Professor”, is used as a form of address for anyone with a PhD. But it isn’t obligatory to use it and it is most certainly used by many when referring to themselves as a form of self-aggrandisement. In my experience people do think it means enough for it to demand some respect over and above the normal addresses of Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, and I would be surprised if that wasn’t Mr Bowden’s experience too. Otherwise, why use it?

By: jonny bowden

jonny bowden — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:22:56 +0000

one more thing- seems some of these criticisms have more to do with a general custom regarding the use of “Dr.”. In the US, anyway, we are much more accustomed to using Dr. for PhDs- see Dr. Phil, or Dr. Laura, etc. I have never tried to “pass” myself off as a medical doctor, but it is pretty customary here to use Dr. as a form of address for PhDs, NDs, dentists, etc.

If that disturbs you, I’m happy for you to just call me Jonny, which all my friends do.

By: clare

clare — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:35:20 +0000

Moved to off-topic.

By: clare

clare — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:25:20 +0000

Moved to off-topic.

By: When did Jonny Bowden become a Certified Nutritional Specialist « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:46:35 +0000

[...] the status of Certified Nutritional Specialist. Given that Mr Bowden has been kind enough to comment on a previous post on this blog, we would be grateful if he could clear up this confusion [...]

By: jonhw

jonhw — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:27:21 +0000

Jonny- thanks for the comment. While you're quite free to study what you choose, I would have real qualms about taking on the title of 'doctor' or claiming to have a 'PhD' following a Clayton course - given that this is at a college that is not accredited (at least not in the mainstream sense) and where the 'PhD' courses at least sometimes appear to fall well short of normal academic standards for doctoral work. So - yes - I do find it inappropriate for Tara to refer to you as 'Dr Bowden' and for your own website to refer to you as 'Dr Jonny'. While you're here, perhaps you could clear something up for us? As we note in this post, the Certification Board for Nutritional Specialists say that you passed the board exams in 2000; however, in this interview you say this was the late-90s - which of these is correct?

By: When did Jonny Board become a Certified Nutritional Specialist « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:27:14 +0000

[...] 8, 2008 · No Comments Jonny Bowden has what would – in most fields – be classed as a rather unusual CV. Mr Bowden (or ‘Dr Jonny’, as his website refers to him, has a ‘PhD’ from [...]

By: dvnutrix

dvnutrix — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:13:05 +0000

@Mary Parsons, I don't know if you have seen the discussion about the BDA's responsibility for allowing confusion about nutritionists and dietitians to stand unopposed. @Wulfstan as well. Too many professional bodies have stood aside and allowed this to happen. Credulous coverage in MSM and lack of willingness to defend their status has led to the wretched state of affairs that we now have in the UK. @Tony Wellcome and others - yes, that post about Jane Brody and similar ones are particularly unpleasant. And, yes, the parallels with Holford are striking.

By: dvnutrix

dvnutrix — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:05:17 +0000

Thanks for the link, jdc. I wasn’t sure how long those programmes stayed up; it’s good to know that they are still available for people who may have missed them.