Celebrating National Doctors’ Day

National Doctors’ Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the professional healthcare workers in your life. You can support the work and research of St. Jude doctors today by donating. 

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Drawing of a doctor in a hospital setting by St. Jude patient Ty.

Artwork by St. Jude patient Ty

 
 
Colorful patient room within St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Inpatient room at St. Jude
 

What is National Doctors’ Day? 

National Doctors’ Day is a day that recognizes the incredible hard work, dedication and contributions of physicians across the country. In an ever-evolving and demanding world, these individuals have continued to put their work and their patients first.

When is National Doctors’ Day? 

National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on different dates depending on where you are in the world (and the date your country commemorated the event). Here in the United States, National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on March 30 of each year. 

 
 

The history of Doctors’ Day in the U.S.

The first officially recognized National Doctors’ Day celebrated in the U.S. was on March 30, 1933, in Winder, Georgia. Today, National Doctors’ Day is most commonly celebrated by healthcare employers and within healthcare facilities, but the original concept was for patients, their families and other beneficiaries to honor the hard work and dedication of their physicians. In fact, it was Eudora Brown Almond, wife of physician Charles Almond, MD, who thought to create a day dedicated to honor doctors in a more significant way.

What is now a nationally recognized day of appreciation started as a simple tribute to physicians and their families that included mailing cards. Flowers were also placed on the graves of doctors to honor their contributions. In 1958, the U.S. House of Representatives passed what was then known as a Resolution Commemorating Doctors' Day. In 1991, the House and Senate established March 30 as National Doctor's Day.

 
 

How we celebrate National Doctors’ Day at St. Jude:

Each year at St. Jude, we celebrate National Doctors’ Day a little differently in order to surprise our physicians and show just how much we appreciate the amazing work they do for St. Jude children and their families. In the past, we’ve even celebrated with ice cream socials!

 
St. Jude patient Eri'elle plays outside using a stethoscope on her mom.

St. Jude patient Eri'elle and her mom
 
 

How can I celebrate the physicians in my life? 

Whether you're the employer of a healthcare facility, or a patient, family member or friend of someone who works at one, there are countless ways you can show appreciation to the doctors in your life. Below we’ve shared a few ideas for inspiration.

 
 
Colorful sequin wall on the St. Jude campus.
 

Ways to celebrate National Doctors’ Day as an employer

  • Create personalized awards for each of your physicians
  • Hand out red carnations (the day's symbolic flower, representing love, charity, sacrifice, bravery and courage)
  • Host a Doctors’ Day appreciation meal
  • Highlight your physicians on social media (with permission)
  • Provide appreciation cards from patients and other staff
 
 

Meaningful Doctors’ Day gift ideas

  • Bouquet of red carnations
  • Gift card to a favorite restaurant or coffee house
  • Gourmet snacks or care basket
  • Spa or massage voucher
  • Personalized cards detailing your positive experience and/or appreciation 
 
Patient Ava wears a sparkly dress and shows off a picture she drew of flowers.

St. Jude patient Ava
 
 
Illustration of a patient with a doctor.
 

Help empower St. Jude doctors in our lifesaving mission 

Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors. Your donation not only helps support our incredible doctors and researchers, it also helps us continue to lead the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer. Together, we can save more lives.

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