TODAY, MARCH 30, our community, along with hundreds of communities across the United States, will celebrate National Doctor’s Day.

This is the 79th year of this special day of recognition for physicians that actually has its origin in our own state of Georgia. In 1933, Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond of Barrow County, Ga., conceived the idea to honor physicians in the community for their tireless work in caring for patients. Luncheons were held and cards were sent to practicing physicians while red carnations were placed on the graves of deceased physicians.

The date of March 30 was chosen in honor of Dr. Crawford W. Long, another native son, who first administered anesthesia to a surgical patient on March 30, 1842 thus changing the course of medical care forever. The United States House of Representatives adopted a Resolution officially recognizing Doctor’s Day in 1958. In 1990, legislation was introduced into both the House and Senate with overwhelming support.

Later that year, President George H. W. Bush officially proclaimed March 30 as National Doctor’s Day in recognition of the physicians who serve our country by tirelessly caring for its citizens.

In special recognition of National Doctor’s Day, the Floyd-Polk-Chattooga Medical Alliance would like to call attention to and salute the many outstanding physicians in our communities. We have chosen, as an organization, to make a charitable contribution in honor of these physicians to CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocate Association. CASA is a non-profit network of 955 programs dedicated to providing a voice to abused and neglected children through court appointed volunteers. At the heart of the CASA Program are thousands of volunteers, appointed by judges, who serve as advocates in the courtroom, foster care, and other settings for these children. As we all know, improving the health and well-being of a child improves the health and well-being of a community.

We hope you will find a way of thanking your favorite doctor by sending a note of appreciation or making a donation to the charity of your choice in his or her name. The Medical Alliance feels these well-trained, dedicated, caring women and men deserve a big thank you from us. They certainly have given us a better place in which to live, love, thrive and have peace of mind.