Gov. Ivey Declares March 30 “Doctors Day” in Alabama, Doctors Share Stories of Why They Became Physicians

Gov. Kay Ivey has proclaimed March 30 as “Doctors Day” in Alabama and doctors are celebrating the occasion by sharing personal stories about why they chose medicine for their profession.

In a video released by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, several doctors say as they were growing up it was their own doctors who inspired them.

Dr. Hernando Carter, a doctor of internal medicine in Birmingham: “I was a preemie when I was born and spent a lot of time at the doctor with asthma and bronchitis. I know when I went to the doctor she would give me a breathing treatment, help me feel better and she’d give me a lollipop. So when I was 4 years old I said, ‘That’s a cool job. You get to help people feel better and give them candy’…I give my patients a lollipop at the end of every visit just as kind of an homage to her.”

Dr. Tonya Bradley, a primary care doctor in Auburn: “I grew up in a rural area of Alabama where our family doctor is the person who took care of us. When I was around five my dad was diagnosed with cancer and spent a whole summer in the hospital and I was there a lot, and I was really just touched by the physicians and the way they cared for our family.”

Dr. Brittney Anderson, a family medicine physician in Demopolis: “My parents say that I’ve been saying I wanted to be a doctor since I was six years old and I never changed my mind…Really the desire to help people and to make people feel well and be well is at the core of why I practice medicine and I think why I’ve always wanted to practice medicine.”

For these and other Alabama physicians, caring for patients is at their core. Physicians entered the practice of medicine to care for patients, to be their patients’ strongest ally, and to give personal attention to those they are honored to treat. 

Doctors Day is observed annually as a time to honor and recognize the physicians who care for Alabamians every day of the year.

Gov. Ivey’s proclamation notes that about 17,000 physicians are licensed to practice medicine in the state, and “those who have chosen the medical profession serve their communities with reverence for human life and individual dignity.” 

To read the Governor’s proclamation, click here.

To watch the video, click here.

Partnering with ALAHA to Celebrate 2021 Doctors’ Day

Today is a day set aside nationwide to honor the physicians who care for us every day of the year.  Doctors’ Day was established on March 30 in 1934, and later 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, today is a time 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.

“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,” said John S. Meigs, Jr., MD, President of the Medical Association. “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. 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.”

“Healthcare today is more complex than ever,” said Alabama Hospital Association President, Dr. Don Williamson, MD. “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. 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.”

We all understand the critical role our doctors and other health professionals have played in leading us through this past year. Help us thank our doctors today for what they do for the health of all Alabamians!