Every year on March 30th, the U.S. celebrates National Doctors’ Day. This holiday honors doctors for all the work they do. It’s the one day of the year when patients can finally put their doctors first.
National Doctors’ Day–How it all started
This holiday was first celebrated 90 years ago, on March 30, 1933 in Winder, Georgia.
Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of a prominent Georgia doctor of the time, decided to honor all physicians for their hard work on this day. She picked March 30th because on that same day in 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long used an ether anesthetic for the first time.
To commemorate this and celebrate all doctors’ hard work, Almond mailed greeting cards to the doctors she knew and placed red carnations on the graves of doctors who had already passed. She and the wives of other doctors also cooked a celebratory luncheon. Red carnations are still used to celebrate the holiday to this day.
National Doctors’ Day remained an informal holiday for several decades after 1933. On March 30th, 1958, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating this day. It was only on February 21, 1991 when George W. Bush proclaimed National Doctors’ Day an official holiday that things became–well–official!
Other countries have this tradition too. Though they celebrate their doctors on different days. Spain, Argentina, and Cuba picked December 3rd in remembrance of Dr. Carlos Juan Finaly (who identified mosquitoes as the culprit behind yellow fever). India picked July 1st to coincide with the birthday of Dr. B. C. Roy.
How do people celebrate National Doctors’ Day?
There’s no wrong way to celebrate!
If you have a lot of doctors you’d like to thank, consider a celebratory luncheon, in Eudora Almond’s true tradition. You can also send a “thank you” note to the important physicians in your life. Doctors themselves can celebrate by sharing their experiences and potentially inspiring people to contribute to healthcare or join the medical field. Posting #NationalDoctorsDay on social media is also a great way to spread awareness about doctors’ contributions and lift the spirits of those working on the front lines everyday.
So, on March 30th make sure to send a letter or text to tip your hat to the doctors in your life and the time and work they’ve put into becoming a master in their field!
Happy National Doctors’ Day everyone!
Want to give your doctors a dose of gratitude?
Want to give your doctors a dose of gratitude? Send them a text!
