Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning "Teacher of Medicine,") is an academic degree for medical doctors.

How the term MD is applied varies between countries - it is a first professional degree (medical diploma) in some countries, for example in the USA and Canada, while in some countries it is a relatively rare higher doctoral academic research degree resembling a PhD, for example in the United Kingdom and Australia. CF Hawkins, "Write the MD Thesis" in "How To Do It" London: British Medical Association 2nd ed. 1985 ISBN 0-7279-0186-9 . In the UK and countries following the British model, the equivalent of the American MD degree is the MBChB or MBBS (meaning "Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery" - see later).