Avoiding Acronym Acrimony

Ever wonder what the mysterious string of letters behind a sports professional's name is trying to tell you? Deciphering these codes can take the skills and patience of our government's top black operatives. The situation complicates when four or more acronyms find their way to the same (quite possibly overeducated) person. And so if after meeting Jane Smith, PhD, MTC, PT, OCS your best guess is that she is a professor of multistate tax compliance who lives in the Pacific Time zone and moonlights for an overseas courier service, the below breakdown may be of use:

 

The Generally Qualified

 

PhD

Technically, Doctor of Philosophy. It's used to distinguish an academic doctor from a Doctor of Medicine (MD).

 

EdD

Doctor of Education

 

MEd

Master of Education

 

MS

Master of Science

 

The Food People:

 

RD

Registered Dietitian

 

CDN

Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist 

 

CDE

Certified Diabetes Educator

 

Bones and Body:

 

FACSM

Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine

SCS
Sports Certified Specialist

 

OCS

Orthopedic Clinical Specialist 

 

PT

Physical Therapist

 

CSCS

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist 

 

ATC

Certified Athletic Trainer

 

DPE

Doctor of Physical Education

 

For Your Feet:

 

DPM

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 

 

FACFAS
Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Massage and Beyond:

 

MTC
Certified Massage Therapist

 

LMT

Licensed Massage Therapist 

 

LAc

Licensed Acupuncturist 

 

DC

Doctor of Chiropractic 

 

CCSP

Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner

 

Additional Fields:

 

MPH

Master of Public Health

 

MPH-CHE

Master of Public Health in Community Health Education

PC

Peer Counselor (and sometimes, Primary Care)

 

CNS

Clinical Nurse Specialist

 

MSN

Master of Science in Nursing

 

DDM

Doctor of Dental Medicine

 

PharmD

Doctor of Pharmacy

 

FACC

Fellow of the American College of Cardiology

 

FACE

Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology

 

Other Useful Acronyms:

 

ACE

American Council on Exercise

 

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

NIH

National Institutes of Health

 

IOM

The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine

 

FNS

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

 

(www.acronymfinder.com)

 

 

 

 

(RUNNING & FITNEWS^® September/October 2006 • Volume 24, Number 3)