Celebrate National Doctors Day by honoring physicians

Life-saver. Expert. Reassuring. Patients and families at Children's Medical Center use these words to describe the doctors who make life better for them. Patients sent letters of gratitude to their doctors to serve as a token of appreciation on National Doctors Day, Sunday, March 30. To celebrate the day, Children's will host an event for the hospital's medical/dental staff on Friday, March 28.

Historic significance

The first observance of Doctors Day was on March 30, 1933, in Winder, Ga. The date is the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery by Dr. Crawford Long of Barrow County, Ga. It was declared a special day by the Barrow County Medical Society Auxiliary and people commemorated it by giving cards to physicians and by adorning the graves of deceased doctors with flowers.

On March 30, 1958, a resolution was implemented by the U.S. House of Representatives to observe Doctors Day. More than 30 years later, in 1991, the entire Congress agreed on a resolution authorizing March 30 as National Doctors Day.

Healing hands

Hundreds of physicians serve at Children's, focusing on providing quality, cutting-edge care for more than 360,000 patients each year. Their commitment to make life better for all children played an important role in the hospital being named one of the top 30 pediatric hospitals in the country by U.S.News & World Report.

Children's patients expressed their sentiments for the doctors who have made a difference in their lives.

"After I severely injured my hand, my doctor reattached the nerves and tendons in my fingers," said 17-year-old Jacob Cooper. "If she did not do such a great job, I would not be able to do all the things I have enjoyed for years."

"My doctors are great because they help me deal with my cancer and they help me understand what's going on during my treatments," said 8-year-old Tanner Flippen.

In an effort to treat more children like Jacob and Tanner and meet the needs of the rapidly growing pediatric population, Children's continues to recruit world-class pediatric specialists.

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Tags: cardiology , health , heart