[RandallBrown]

As far as I understand, that means they went to medical school.

A quick google search shows that Dr. José M. Mejía Oneto went to the University of Minnesota and did their residency at UC Davis. All this was done after their PhD in Chemistry from Emory.

I don't know if there's any other way to get medical training that will give you any level of authority or respect other than medical school (or related profession like PA or Nurse)

[an_opabinia]

Maybe Dr Oneto can clarify but it does not appear he completed his surgery residency. This is not super material with respect to what he is doing now, but I believe this is why such unusual phrasing is used in the article. It is likely Dr Oneto still passed his medicine boards and is a licensed MD, he just is limited to taking care of post surgical patients (moonlighting) and is not able to perform surgeries in California.