On March 30th, Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua, HI, will be celebrating National Doctors’ Day. The local Kona hospital will take the time to say “mahalo” to the staff of 73 active practitioners representing 23 specialties that serve the health needs of the community. The hospital is proud of all the hard work their doctors do to provide health care and services to West Hawaii, and they invite you to celebrate with them on National Doctors’ Day.

National Doctors’ Day commemorates the day that Crawford W. Long, MD, successfully used ether as an anesthetic during surgery. The day was first observed in Winder, Georgia, in 1933 when Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, wanted to thank and pay tribute to physicians for their lifesaving work. The first commemoration included sending letters and cards to doctors, as well as placing flowers on the graves of deceased doctors. The practice of sending cards as a thank you is still the tradition on National Doctors’ Day, as well as sending red carnations, which are the symbolic flowers of the day.

National Doctors’ Day officially became a day of celebration when a resolution was passed in 1990. President George H.W. Bush signed the resolution into law decreeing March 30th as National Doctors’ Day. Since then, it has been the official day to give thanks and appreciation to all the doctors who have helped you through your most joyous and trying times. This year, Kona Community Hospital asks you to take the time to pay tribute to all the physicians who have served and cared for you throughout your lifetime.

If you want to learn more about the amazing physicians on staff at Kona Community Hospital, visit their website. You can also find information on their health care and services, including cancer care, weight loss programs, and surgical services. Don’t forget to find the Kona hospital on Facebook as well.