MIT AgeLab

I have very fond memories of my days at MIT. So much has changed since those "stone ages." For instance, the MIT AgeLab (which was created in 1999) wasn't around when I was a student at MIT. Was it really that long ago?

The MIT AgeLab was created to invent new ideas and creatively translate technologies into practical solutions that improve people's health and enable them to "do things" throughout the lifespan. Based within MIT’s School of Engineering’s Engineering Systems Division, the AgeLab has assembled a multi-disciplinary and global team of researchers, business partners, universities, and the aging community to design, develop and deploy innovations to improve quality of life.

The lab uses these 3 principles:

1. Field Research
2. Theoretical Models
3. Laboratory Experiments

Today's MIT students have tremendous opportunities that we didn't have several decades ago. I envy them. If I could go back as a student again, I think I'd be spending so much time in the lab doing engineering research that I'd probably pursue a PhD and not an MD.

MD and not DM; PhD and not DPh

I've been wondering, who came up with the suffix "MD" or "PhD"? Sometimes the D that stands for "doctor" goes at the front, while other times it goes at the end. Of course, the roots go back to the Latin phrases:

M.D., from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning "Teacher of Medicine"
Ph.D. for the Latin Philosophiæ Doctor, meaning "teacher of philosophy"
or D.Phil., for the equivalent Doctor Philosophiæ

Here are some common doctorate degrees:

MD = Doctor of Medicine
PhD = Doctor of Philosophy (also written as DPhil)
DPH = Doctor of Public Health
PsyD = Doctor of Psychology
DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
OD = Doctor of Optometry
DSc or ScD = Doctor of Science
PharmD = Doctor of Pharmacy
DDS = Doctor of Dental Surgery
DMD = Doctor of Dental Medicine
DPM = Doctor of Podiatric Medicine