The American (that is, USA) degrees didn't used to be viewed as being the same as (equivalent to) "ours". Back in my time in Desert locations, our (my) HNCs were classed an "Associates Degree" in American terms.
Yes, I have also worked with Italian biomeds; one of them had the temerity to mention the "doctor" thing, but apart from that (him) I don't recall anyone else ever bringing it up - probably to avoid the "mirth" it would have generated, I suspect!
What to call a biomed with a PhD? Ask John.
Actually, they seem to be quite common amongst American biomeds - many of whom are also CCE - who then seem to prefer to step away from "hands-on", to start telling everyone's Granny how to suck eggs!
I was around when RAMC male nurses with SRN started getting commissions. After all, the QARANC SRNs were commissioned as Nursing Sisters, so why not. It's called equality, I guess. Although I must admit that I prefer "tradition"* myself.
I knew a couple of REME tiffys who reckoned that transferring to the medics might improve their chances of gaining a commission. Not sure that any of them actually did it, though. Although back in those days I never came across an RAMC Stores Officer who wasn't an "ex-ranker". As an aside, there was also some talk at one time of getting the RAMC to take on the "electro-med" trade (and thereby offer a modicum of a structured career path through the ranks). I also recall an heretical proposal to transfer the whole trade to the RAF (MDSS, and all that); to be honest, at the time I could see the merit in that idea myself!
It seemed to me that ex-ranker officers rarely got placed in decent (interesting) jobs, anyway. Unless, of course, being Wines Member at Arborfield was your "thing". Back in the Day, the main REME medical equipment workshop in BAOR was in the charge of an ASM (WO1) - and it was far better for it, too (after that it became a Captain's post).
Meanwhile (although I'm pleased to report that I managed by and large to avoid them wherever possible), I don't remember ever coming across a REME officer who had transferred in from some other Corps (
etc.) - although during my time we did see the odd ex-RE Marine Engineer and what-have-you coming across as a Vehicles tiffy. We also suffered a few "direct entrant" tiffys (blokes coming straight "from industry", given sergeant rank and loaded straight away onto their tiffy courses) ; even in the Electronics trades - needless to say, however good (or perhaps, bad) they were, they weren't universally welcomed by the blokes.
*
Nursing Sisters were given officer status in order to "protect" them; as well as affording them whatever decent accommodation was available. Don't forget also that back in those days, Nursing Sisters were generally fine, "posh", ladies! That is, women of a "certain class".