The Doctors

Doctors make a difference and while I think we should recognize them all the time, today is a day especially for that, National Doctors' Day. We can all celebrate as we recognize the contributions of physicians to our own lives, to our families and friends, and to our communities.

My mother was a nurse, so I learned at a very young age about the wonderful things doctors do. Most of us though take doctors for granted, or we become frustrated when we are stuck in a waiting room waiting for our appointment. Think beyond that for a moment. Think about the long hours they work and think about the lives they save. Think about the times they help make your pains disappear.  Think about the doctor who saved your life when you were in that accident, or who successfully removed the cancer from your body, or the doctor who helped you adjust to diabetes.  Think about the doctor who treated your child's chicken pox, or the physician who operated on your heart, or the doctor who stood by your bed listening to your litany of pains and aches.  

Doctors complete a four-year undergraduate program, four years in medical school, and three to seven years in a residency program to learn the specialty they wish to pursue. The learning doesn't stop there. A good physician is always keeping up with advances in medicine.  How many people have the patience for so many years of education.

In recent years I have volunteered at a hospital and have had the marvelous opportunity to see a lot of physicians up close. Oh my! Such really kind and skilled people. I can't really mention names here. There isn't room.  Instead, I will simply say thank you to them all.