I want to wish every physician who reads this a Happy Doctor’s Day! Those who are doing DPC can now truly appreciate the meaning of this day. Please understand that it is harder for our hospital-employed colleagues. On average, over 50% of hospitals do not recognize this day. This is from surveys done on my other website, Authentic Medicine, over the last 14 years. It’s the simple things in life that keep physicians engaged. But, unfortunately, people forget about us.
You may think this is a bogus holiday or occasion but it isn’t. For those who don’t know how it started, here goes:
On March 30th, 1933 Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Cha Almond, commemorated the anniversary of the first use of anesthesia back in 1842. From 1933 to 1958, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Southern Medical Association kept the tradition of Doctors’ Day alive by mailing cards to physicians and by placing flowers on the graves of the deceased doctors every March 30th. In 1958 the United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution to commemorate March 30th as Doctors’ Day. In 1991, President George Bush signed a resolution proclaiming March 30th as the first National Doctors’ Day.
Many hospitals disrespect us, and this day, so much so that they will lump you in with NPs and PAs and call it a “provider day”. It is not. THIS IS DOCTORS’ DAY!
If you are not a doctor, don’t hesitate to tell a physician that you appreciate him or her. If you are a DPC doctor then take a little extra time to thank your employed physician friends, many of whom are truly burning out.
For all of us, take a second for some introspection. You directly help people every day. You can brag about this to your friends, your family, and your community (even though you won’t). That is what this day is for. Do not forget yourselves!
Happy Doctors’ Day!