by Christopher Cornue

"The physician must be able to tell the antecedents, know the present, and foretell the future--must mediate these things, and have two special objects in view with regard to disease, namely, to do good or to do no harm." – Hippocrates

Today we celebrate our trusted colleagues, friends and medical leaders. Each March 30, our country recognizes the significant accomplishments of our physicians...from the simple prevention of a disease to the saving of a human life. Their accomplishments and daily acts are to be praised and thanked.

Some quick facts and information about this day of recognition:

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• Doctors' Day observances date back to March 30, 1933. It was started by Eudora Brown Almond of Winder, GA. The day marks the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery. The first National Doctors’ Day was celebrated in 1991.

• On March 30, 1958, the United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors' Day. In 1990, the Congress and the Senate approved legislation establishing National Doctors’ Day. The resolution designating March 30 as National Doctors' Day was signed by President George H.W. Bush.

• AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD wrote "By choice or by chance, each of us may find that because of a caring physician, our lives have been profoundly improved...National Doctors' Day is an opportunity to recognize these physicians--the ones who have helped us when we were sick, the ones who have delivered our children, and the ones who have helped us remain healthy through immunizations, screenings and other means."

• An AMA study shows that two-thirds of U.S. physicians provide some form of charity care each year in their communities, and doctors were ranked the nation's most trusted occupation in a 2006 Harris Poll.

Some significant achievements, credited in large part to physicians nationally (taken from the AMA website):

• Ninety percent of patients say they are very satisfied with their physician.

• There has been a seven-year increase in life expectancy since 1960.

• There has been a 45 percent decrease in the overall death rate since 1950.

• There has been a 77 percent decrease in the infant mortality rate since 1950.

• There has been a 63 percent decrease in the overall death rate for heart disease since 1950.

• There has been a 72 percent decrease in the overall death rate for stroke since 1950.

• There has been a 14 percent decrease in overall death rates for cancer since 1990.

So, to all our physician readers out there...thank you for everything you do for our industry, keep up the wonderful work you do, and have a wonderful Doctors' Day today!