Today, March 30, marks the annual observation of National Doctors’ Day. This day was established to recognize physicians, their work, and their contributions to society and the community. On National Doctors’ Day, we say “thank you” to our physician partners for all that they do.

March 30, 1933, was the first observance of Doctors’ Day in Winder, Georgia. Dr Charles B. Almond’s wife, Eudora Brown Almond, had the idea to have a day to honor physicians. On this first day in 1933, greeting cards were mailed and flowers placed on the graves of deceased doctors. The red carnation is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctors’ Day.

The date chosen was for the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery. The first ether anesthetic for surgery was administered by Crawford W. Long, MD 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. National Doctors’ Day was officially proclaimed by President George Bush in 1990.

Today and every day, we celebrate the opportunity to recognize physicians for their tireless commitment to providing excellent patient care. At a time when physician burnout continues to be on the rise, it is more critical than ever to salute those working on the frontlines.

At Quest Diagnostics, we celebrate the work done by our physician partners and extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude for your dedication to the patients in your communities. Annually, Quest serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and we are committed to empowering them with diagnostics and technology when they need it most. For more information, contact us via email.