Tuesday is National Doctors’ Day, an annual commemoration set aside to honor the physicians who care for Americans every day of the year.
Doctors’ Day was first established on March 30 in 1934. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed National Doctors’ Day as a time for the nation to celebrate the dedication and leadership of physicians.
In Alabama, the date is an occasion to formally recognize our state’s nearly 17,000 licensed physicians serving millions of residents through private practice, in hospitals, in research and in other health care facilities.
Dr. John S. Meigs, Jr., president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, and Dr. Don Williamson, Alabama Hospital Association president, released respective written statements marking Doctors’ Day 2021. They outlined that the day is especially important given the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique challenges of the past year.
“Physicians often lead their patients and communities through some of life’s most challenging moments and the past year has proved to be even more demanding,” stated Meigs. “On behalf of the Medical Association, I wanted to express my appreciation for the thousands of physicians throughout Alabama who have sacrificed so much during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“A simple ‘thank you’ cannot convey the gratitude that we feel towards Alabama’s healthcare providers,” he continued. “Physicians have been and continue to be on the front lines and have demonstrated unparalleled selflessness, dedication, and courage. This pandemic has exposed shortcomings in our healthcare system but has also highlighted many opportunities for growth. I am confident that as we enter a new year, we can work together to reach a new normal. If you want to know how you can thank your physician, continue to wear your mask, socially distance, and use other precautionary measures.”
Williamson remarked, “Healthcare today is more complex than ever. Even without the disruption of a global pandemic, physicians are faced with more challenges and pressure than ever before.”
“What our healthcare professionals have endured over the past year has been monumental, and we could never adequately express how thankful we are for them,” he concluded. “Physicians have faced a giant this year, and countless Alabamians are still with us today because of the dedication, selflessness, and expertise of a local physician. While we can end the month of March 2021 with a much more positive outlook than March 2020, let’s not forget that there is still much risk for our healthcare workers. Please continue to wear a mask and use precautions. It’s the right and responsible thing to do.”
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Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
