On March 30th each year, National Doctors Day honors the professionals for their dedication and contributions to society and the community. Their dedication puts the patient first time and again. On National Doctors Day, we say “thank you” to our physicians for all that they do for us and our loved ones.
“We are blessed to have the level of healthcare we do in a smaller community,” said MMCCU President David Murphy. “We recognize the doctors who dedicate their lives caring for patients and leading us to healthier living.”
MMCCU members work in the healthcare field, so we are excited to recognize doctors in all fields during this special day – and serve them year-round! Our members come from a variety of healthcare fields and employers (we aren’t affiliated with any specific medical facility). Learn more on our membership page.
History of National Doctor Day
Winder, Georgia, observed the first Doctors Day on March 30, 1933. Dr. Charles B. Almond’s wife, Eudora Brown Almond, wanted to have a day to honor physicians. The community mailed greeting cards and placed flowers on the graves of deceased doctors on this first celebration in 1933. The red carnation is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctors Day.
The first ether anesthetic for surgery was administered by Crawford W. Long, M.D. on March 30, 1842, marking the date for Doctors Day. On that day, before Dr. Long operated to remove a tumor from a man’s neck, he administered ether anesthesia. Following surgery, the man would swear that he felt nothing during the surgery and was not aware of anything until he awoke.
On February 21, 1991, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed National Doctors Day to honor the Nation’s physicians for their dedication and leadership. Today, hundreds of thousands of doctors lead the fight against disease and illness in the United States. They specialize and continue to seek advanced treatments and cures for debilitating conditions.
(Information from National Day Calendar)
