Today, March 30th, is the day we celebrate all of our physicians on National Doctor’s Day. This year, more than any year I expect, we are thinking very differently about what it means to be a physician - indeed, what it means to be a health care worker - in our communities, our cities, our country, and or world. For today, all across the world, physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals are literally putting their lives on the line to take care of their patients. They are heroes, in every sense of the word.
A few years ago, I wrote a post on National Doctor's Day that I re-read this morning. The words that I wrote then are even more profound today, so I'd like to share them with you again today, though slightly edited for brevity's sake:
My first faculty appointment following fellowship was at the Children's Medical Center at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia (the hospital and university have since gone through a number of name changes and are now called Children's Hospital of Georgia and Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, respectively). One of the things that I remember most about my time at MCG was a plaque in the old library building dedicated to one of the school's early founders, Dr. Milton Antony. Dr. Antony is buried at the historic "Old Medical College of Georgia" site (which is now on the National Register - see here), and I believe the plaque was originally at his burial site. The plaque recognized Dr. Antony's contributions to medicine in the city of Augusta, the state of Georgia, and the Southeast region. Notably, Dr. Antony founded the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal, which is still published today by the Southern Medical Association as the Southern Medical Journal. The plaque contains the following inscription:
In memory of Milton Anthony, M.D., Founder of this College. A martyr to humanity and to the duties of his profession, during the fatal epidemic of 1839. Cheered by Religious Faith through the Griefs and Trials of this life, he passed from the cure of the sick to the sleep of the just, amid the tears and blessings of the poor. True to his own favorite maxim that a virtuous will is almost omnipotent, he overcame by study the defects of education and, patiently toiling to eminence, bequeathed to posterity a noble example of genius and industry, animated and directed by Patriotism and benevolence.
What impressed me then, and why I remember the plaque to this day, was the fact that Dr. Antony gave his life in service to his poor patients during a Yellow Fever epidemic in the year 1839. How many other physicians have died, doing their duty in providing care to the sick? How many physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals are putting their lives on the line today in this global COVID-19 pandemic?
For many of us in health care, we were called to our respective professions because we wished to serve. Caring for patients is one of the most ancient of callings. Today, that calling goes beyond merely caring for our patients. So many of our physicians today are, without even a second thought, stepping up to care for patients with COVID-19. Some physicians have even lost their lives as a result.
Today, of all days, celebrate what these individuals are doing. They are heroes. Happy National Doctor's Day! Stay safe and be well.
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