Happy Doctor’s Day!
Every year I try to make a point to wish every physician Happy Doctor’s Day! You may think this is a bogus holiday or occasion but it isn’t. While nurses get a week and other groups may get a month, we only get a day. One freaking day! And even then most hospital employers will forget or ignore it (and you). On average, this blog has found that over 50% of hospitals do not even recognize this day. This is from surveys on this site. How easy would it be to send an email or a simple token of appreciation? It’s the simple things in life that keep physicians engaged.
For those who don’t know how it started, here goes:
On March 30th, 1933 Eudora Brown Almond, wife of a 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 Doctor’s 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 Doctor’s Day. In 1991, President George Bush signed a resolution proclaiming March 30th as the first National Doctor’s Day.
THIS IS THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THIS OFFICIAL EVENT! I challenge you to even find a card in the stores to give to a doctor.
In 2010, surveys have found that 33% to 50% doctors want to quit or retire and 63 percent of doctors would not recommend this profession to others. How sad is that?
If you are not a doctor, don’t hesitate to tell a physician that you appreciate him or her.
If you are a doctor, 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. Don’t let your organization forget you, but if they do then do not forget yourselves!
Sincerely,
Douglas Farrago MD
I have to say Kudos to the Guthrie Clinic in Corning, who not only sends out cards to say “happy doctors day” but this year made us our own Doctors Lounge, complete with Keurig machine, couch, and big screen TV. The organization has been listening and seems to be showing doctors that they are valued. I finally have a manager who treats me like a Doctor and not a cog in the wheel.
Happy Dr’s Day to all the Dr’s I have encountered in my career.
Thank you and high-five!
Happy Doctor’s Day guys. You deserve a great thanks for a job well done!
Dave
Isn’t “Happy Doctors” an oxymoron?
Not unless one is a sub-specialist or a R. O. A. D’s . scholar. Radiology, Opthamology, Anesthesia,
Dermatology along with urology and ENT. (ROAD is Dougs anagram BTW that I like)
I’ve talked about quality life with some of those folks and they’re quite content.
Not easy to put a few kids through college doing custodial medicine.
When this job hits on all cylinders, when it’s on the straightaway and you’re pulling g’s, you’re doing what you trained to do for most of your life, it’s freaking awesome.
If I could trade one of my good days as a doctor for any other experience – launching into space, zipping off an aircraft carrier, anything – there’s no rush like saving someone’s life. I feel sorry for people who use cocaine to get something similar – that lasts fifteen minutes.
Maybe a few hours on a hundred-grand turbocharged motorcycle would be close – but I have a big Fear of Pavement. That’s why I don’t ride.
This job is awesome – and meritorious. The side effect of this rush is, you help someone.
All I ask is a little more time, a little more support, to get these joys more frequently – that’s all. You’d think that the Industry would give a damn about that.
But the industry is full of jerks who are jealous of awesome jobs. I’d take THIS job with its joys, over the “high life” of anyone rich or famous.
Say “HEY” if you get what I’m talking about today. Happy Doctor’s Day!