Each year the Community Health Center of Branch County (CHC) honors its physicians during the week of National Doctors Day, March 30.  This year as part of the festivities, CHC invites everyone to help celebrate this national day of recognition by telling local physicians how valuable they are to our community.

Recognition cards will be available in the main lobby and at the Chicago Street entrance of the hospital the weeks of March 11 through March 22 for community members to fill out and share why CHC doctors are so special.  Completed cards will be displayed during the week of Doctors Day and the comments will be sent to the doctors.  These cars and comments are greatly appreciated by the physicians.

This year CHC’s theme for Doctors Day is, “Our Docs are Souper”.  The week long celebration will commemorate the countless hours and dedication doctors provide; CHC will display its appreciation through many different ways.  CHC will host an evening social for the physicians and their guests, send thank you cards, run ads thanking the doctors, and provide displays of appreciation in the hospital to honor the physicians.

The employees of CHC will also put their talent on display to recognize the importance of doctors by performing in a “CHC Has Talent” contest.  Each act will take lyrics to an original song and change the words to make lyrics about CHC doctors, perform a skit or monologue, or dance.  After each act is performed and taped, the doctors will get the opportunity to watch the acts in their lounge area.  The doctors and staff will vote on which acts they like and employees will vote by donating cans of soup to the food pantry with the winning act receiving a prize.  This is a popular event with CHC physicians and staff.  CHC employees will also participate in the CHC Soup Cook Off at the end of the week with doctors as the judges.  On Friday, an awards ceremony will be held with winners of the “CHC Has Talent” contest, the Soup Cook Off, and trivia winners announced.  Staff and physicians will enjoy cake at the ceremony as well.   

National Doctors Day began in 1933 to commemorate the discovery of ether for painless surgery by Crawford W. Long, M.D., of Jefferson, Georgia.  The first Doctors Day observance was 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 the mailing of greeting cards and placing flowers on graves of deceased doctors.  The red carnation is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctors Day.