A Brief History Of National Doctor’s Day
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The first Doctor's Day observance was on March 30, 1933, in Winder, Georgia Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B Almond decided to set aside a day to honor physicians This first observance included mailing greeting cards and placing flowers on the graves of the deceased doctors The red carnation is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctor's Day.
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On October 30 1990 President George Bush signed S J RES 366 (which became Public Law 101 473 designating March 30th as "National Doctor's Day.
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The Beginning of National Physicians Week
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National Physicians Week, celebrated from March 25-31, was established by Dr. Kimberly Funches Jackson and was officially added to the National Day Calendar in 2016 through her organization, Physicians Working Together (PWT). This observance pays tribute to physicians' unwavering commitment to health care, their significant contributions to society, and their achievements beyond their medical practices. It highlights the importance of unity, respect, and camaraderie in the medical profession, fostering a supportive community among doctors and medical students.
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In 2016, Dr. Kimberly Jackson pioneered a significant expansion of the traditional Doctors Day observance with the introduction of PWT's online festivities. This innovative move extended the celebration from its original single-day format on March 30 to an entire week. The initiative gained nationwide recognition and was officially incorporated into the National Day Calendar in December of the same year as National Physicians Week, observed from March 25 to 31. For more details, visit https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-physicians-week-march-25-31/.
As a result, National Physicians Week is now annually commemorated from March 25 to 31. During this week, the red carnation, traditionally recognized as the symbolic flower for National Doctor's Day is presented to physicians either virtually or in person. This gesture, among other acts of gratitude, serves to honor the dedication, sacrifices, and invaluable services provided by medical professionals.
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Envisioning Future Celebrations
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As we move forward, we've seen a notable growth in celebratory initiatives, with various organizations, hospitals, patients, and professional peers extending recognition and appreciation towards physicians. This encompasses not only current medical professionals but also future ones through our medical student scholarship program, underlining our commitment to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders.
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PWT is eager to further this momentum by encouraging broader participation from physicians, businesses, and other organizations. We aim to ignite a creative spark, utilizing NPW-themed hashtags, products, and sales incentive campaigns as innovative avenues for celebration and recognition.
NATIONAL PHYSICIANS WEEK 2023
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In the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, the world collaborated to celebrate physicians and healthcare workers by naming them Heroes. Many doctors like, Physicians Working Together Founder, Dr. Kimberly F. Jackson went beyond the front-lines to news headlines to help educate the public on safety protocols. Like most viral news headlines, the topic has died down. With or without the recognition, physicians are saving lives everyday.
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Dr. Kimberly F. Jackson has been instrumental in highlighting the annual recognition of Doctors Day and extending the celebration from one day to a week (March 25 -31). Dr. Jackson would like to remind doctors and patients nationwide that National Physicians Week is the perfect time to reflect on the tremendous impact that physicians have on the well-being of our society. Throughout the week, take the opportunity to show your support and appreciation for your physician or a fellow professional.
NATIONAL PHYSICIANS WEEK 2022
To physicians, medical students and patients everywhere, we're here for you in 2022 and beyond!
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​We're #Best2Gether!
While our world faced a global pandemic, healthcare workers and patients depended on science and the collective leadership of physicians to help us get through it. The sudden appearance of COVID-19 did not come with an instruction manual for a cure. However, we give our gratitude to the brave and hard-working healthcare leaders who not only prevailed through COVID-19, but also found new and innovative ways to care for our country. From the bottom of our hearts, we are thankful!
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As we approach National Physicians Week 2022 (March 25–31), Physicians Working Together (PWT) extends an invitation to the community to share stories about a physician hero via video or article. This would also be a great opportunity for physicians to submit their own stories, as we would love to hear directly from the heroes who risk their own health to care for their patients. During National Physicians Week, PWT will share the videos and articles on best2gether.org and Physician Outlook. Look forward to a virtual celebration of our courageous physicians on Doctors’ Day on March 31, where they will be honored for their poise and excellence in leadership in the midst of a global pandemic.
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For a video submission, please create a 60-second MP4 video that is in good taste and without profanity. If you wish, you could either record solo or with a group to tell your story, but please be sure to record in a well-lit area. We want to see those pretty smiles! If you will be using a mobile device to record, please turn your phone horizontally (landscape mode) for the best quality. After making your perfect video or article, please send it to pwtbesttogether@gmail.com and we will be sure to view it as soon as we can.
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NATIONAL PHYSICIANS WEEK 2021
Please join Physicians Working Together as we commemorate our 6th annual National Physicians Week during the week of March 25-31, 2021.
As our nation faced the cumbersome threat of COVID 19, the world recognized the sacrifice, dedication, and honor of healthcare workers. The sentiment helped us work through perils on the frontlines.
In 2015, Family Medicine Physician Dr. Kimberly Jackson founded Physicians Working Together (PWT) and in 2016 launched National Physicians Week (NPW) held from March 25-31. Each year NPW is dedicated to celebrating physicians across the country. We gather in celebration this year to encourage physicians, healthcare workers, and communities to get on one accord to help us end the coronavirus pandemic. PWT provides a platform where doctors can combine efforts and foster healthy physician relationships through collaboration and genuine camaraderie. Physicians Working Together members sending a message during National Physicians Week 2021 to lead by example and educate our communities on the safety and importance of getting vaccinated.
The development of the COVID-19 vaccine has given us hope, but we cannot heal from the pandemic if we fail to get shots in the arms of Americans. We understand the fear and reluctance of many about the newly developed serum. As healthcare professionals, we trust the science and the empirical data that supports the COVID-19 vaccine. Increased insights into immunology and modern technology have helped us get here in record time.
According to Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, about 70% to 85% of the US population should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before the country can begin to return to a sense of normalcy.
Physicians Working Together is a non-profit organization focused on CONNECTING, COLLABORATING, and CARING for physicians, medical students, and the communities served.
#ThisIsOurShot to educate, become stronger healthcare leaders in our communities, and work together to heal our nation. Together we can find a path to living in our new normal. Please join us in sharing this message of hope. Physicians, please share your vaccination social media posts with us on Instagram or Facebook. (@physiciansworkingtogether) We will include your photos in our National Physicians Week campaign. Visit us at best2gether.org.
#ThisIsOurShotPWT #NationalPhysiciansWeek2021 #BackToLife2021
#PhysiciansWorkingTogether #Best2gether #DrKimberlyJackson
NATIONAL PHYSICIANS WEEK 2020
Physicians Working Together celebrated the 5th anniversary of it's annual National Physicians Week during the week of March 25-31, 2020!
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As physicians, we dedicate our lives to taking care of others. Our #Best2Together campaign is a call to action for all physicians and medical students to gather in unity to uplift and celebrate each other as brothers and sisters in medicine. When we work together, we stand to have a greater impact on the livelihood of medicine.
Physicians Working Together is poised to eliminate the isolating issues that we face as physicians. Our mutual support for each member will strengthen our ability to provide quality patient care. Click the link below to learn more about our current initiatives.
NPW 2019
We'd like to thank Dr. Maiysha Clairborne for her partnership during NPW in Atlanta, Georgia. PWT and Stress-Free Mom Md invited fellow physicians to step from beyond the white coat to take a moment to fellowship, network, share ideas, and celebrate their milestones. We connected with our old friends and we made a few new ones too!
NPW 2018
National Physicians Week was not always a week. Rather, this celebration merely lasted a day. Here and gone within 24 hours. But physicians are on the clock longer than that. And, during that time, it’s not your typical romanticized Grey’s Anatomy love and happiness with action in between. This action is constant. This action is in the emergency room, the private room of a private practice or free clinic, even in the office. It’s long nights and long days that seem everlasting – sacrificing personal time to help those in need every part of the day.
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And so, National Physicians Week was created to extend the time to acknowledge and appreciate those in the line of duty for just a little longer. 2018 marks the third year of the extended celebration.
