NOTE: This message was emailed on Sunday, March 30, to all Ballad Health team members from Alan Levine, CEO and President of Ballad Health.
Dear colleague,
I want to take a moment to recognize and express my deepest gratitude for the dedication, compassion and expertise of our physicians across the Ballad Health service area, whether they are a part of Ballad Health or practicing independently. Thousands of people each day benefit from their education, expertise, compassion and caring. In ways large and small, physicians, and those who support them, make an indelible difference in their communities.
Observed annually on March 30, Doctors’ Day is a time to honor the physicians who dedicate their lives to healing others. This tradition dates back to 1933, when the first Doctors’ Day was celebrated in Winder, Georgia, recognizing the anniversary of the first administration of anesthesia by Dr. Crawford W. Long. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush officially designated March 30 as National Doctors’ Day, highlighting the vital contributions of physicians to society.
At Ballad Health, we are privileged to partner with an exceptional team of physicians who work tirelessly to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Whether in emergency rooms, surgical suites, family clinics, specialty practices or trauma centers, physicians bring expertise, empathy and unwavering dedication to their patients every day. The hard work of physicians not only saves lives but also improves the quality of life for countless individuals and families in our region.
As we honor physicians today, I would like to acknowledge the immense challenges facing the medical profession. Across the country, doctors are grappling with physician shortages, rising patient demands and increasing financial pressures due to Medicare and insurer pay cuts and practices that are not keeping up with the cost of keeping their doors open. These obstacles add complexity to an already demanding field, yet physicians continue to rise to the occasion with resilience and determination.
As we celebrate Doctors’ Day, and each day, let us recognize the hard work it takes to become a doctor, and let us celebrate the role we play in helping to train tomorrow’s doctors. Physicians are the foundation of healthcare delivery, and we must ensure their perspectives are central to how we collaborate to provide the best possible care to our mutual patients.
Please, take a moment this week, as we celebrate our physicians, to say thank you.
And to all the physicians in our region, I say “thank you.”
With gratitude,
Alan
