Doctors work long hours to benefit their patients. In addition to their medical degree, they continually educate themselves so that those in their care receive the best that medicine has to offer. On March 30, the health care industry will pause to recognize the service of doctors everywhere for National Doctors’ Day.
The very first Doctors’ Day was held in 1933 in Winder, Georgia. The idea originated with Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles Almond. Originally, she chose May 9 as Doctors’ Day to celebrate the anniversary of the first time that anesthesia was used. Dr. Crawford Long used ether to anesthetize a patient before painlessly removing a tumor from a patient’s neck. The first observance included mailing cards and letters of appreciation to doctors and their wives. Flowers were placed on the graves of deceased doctors, including that of Dr. Long’s. Through the years, the red carnation has become a symbol of National Doctors’ Day.
This day of recognition evolved when the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the joint S.J. Resolution #366, in which President George H. W. Bush signed October 30, 1990 designating National Doctors’ Day as a national holiday to be celebrated March 30.
I would like to take a moment to make a special mention of the members of our active medical staff including Drs. Michelle Alepra, Benjamin Cady, Keith Cochran, Fran DeLaCruz, Jerome Epplin, Elaine Fisher, Timothy Ishmael, Phil Johnson, Paul Kay, Robert Osipov, Tracy Painter, Chris Poirot, Brian Quarton, Bruce Weber, Daniel Wujek, Roger Wujek, Vincent Zata and all other practitioners who support them in providing care to our community. These physicians provide healing throughout our community every single day.
HSHS St. Francis Hospital also relies on specialists who serve our patients in the surgery center, the cancer care center, the visiting specialists’ clinic, radiology department and emergency department. I would be remiss in not mentioning the medicine they contribute as well.
Please join me in recognizing our local healers as they work so diligently to eradicate pain and elevate wellness in our community.
Aaron Puchbauer
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
HSHS St. Francis Hospital
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