Students trying to get their doctorate have to write a dissertation. After they present it, they must leave the room while a panel decides if they earned it. This man is saying that when he calls the person back into the room, he calls them "doctor" (instead of their name) which is a sweet way to give the news that they passed.
A PhD is what makes you a doctor. By calling them "Doctor" it's an indication that they passed without having to really explain it all. It's a one word answer, a simple yes or no instead of going through a long explanation and making them squirm the whole time.
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