National Doctors' Day

March 30th is National Doctors' Day, and with all the medical issues we're facing today, this is a good time to recognize the doctors we turn to in such times. These heath-care professionals are dedicated to serving their communities and society. They put much time, training, and effort into keeping their patients as healthy as possible and providing the best available health care.

A Doctors' Day was first observed on March 30, 1933, in Winder, Georgia, by Eudora Brown Almond, a doctor's wife. She felt the need to have a day to honor doctors and chose this day to mail out thank you cards and place flowers on the graves of doctors who had died. Red carnations are often used to honor doctors on this day. Earlier, on March 30, 1842, Dr, Crawford W. Long successfully removed a tumor from a man's neck while using ether as an anesthetic.  So, on February 21, 1991, when President George Bush decided to proclaim a National Doctors' Day, March 30th seemed to be a logical choice.

Today, more doctors than ever fight against illnesses and diseases across the world. The United States alone has hundreds of thousands of doctors treating patients and conducting research to provide the best possible care. Some are general practitioners and some specialize, but all seek to diagnose, treat, and cure the health issues that plague us. At the very least, they deserve a special thanks, especially on this designated day.

_________________________________