In the busy world of healthcare, it’s essential to generously celebrate, appreciate, and recognize the dedication and hard work of doctors across the globe. As we approach National Doctors Day on March 30th, it’s the perfect time to give thanks to our favorite doctors and show how much we appreciate them for everything they do. So, whether you’re a large healthcare system or just looking to recognize your favorite MD, if you want for Doctors Day ideas to make the occasion a special one, we have some unique options.
While a gift basket is always appreciated, let’s explore some more exciting and heartfelt ways to celebrate these healthcare heroes and make the occasion truly special. From a group greeting card with Kudoboard to a treat to break up their day, there’s something for everyone. Here are 30 unique Doctors Day ideas that doctors and the healthcare community will love.
Celebrate your entire staff
Create a Doctors Day card, invite doctors and patients to contribute, and recognize the team.
30 Ideas to Celebrate Doctors Day
1. Outdoor Picnic
Host an outdoor picnic or luncheon in a hospital courtyard or nearby park to honor your doctors with nature and good food. Decorate the area with colorful balloons and banners showcasing heartfelt messages from colleagues and patients.
2. Group Card
Create a group card for staff and encourage their patients and colleagues to write messages expressing their gratitude for their favorite doctor. They can include photos, GIFs, or even Doctor’s Day memes to personalize their posts. To create a physical keepsake, print the cards as a poster or bound book and leave in a common area.
3. Mindfulness Workshop
Host a health and wellness workshop where doctors and other healthcare professionals can participate in rejuvenating activities like yoga, meditation, and stress-busting exercises. From improving mental health to reducing fatigue and anxiety, there’s something for every physician.
4. Garden Planting
Set up planter boxes or refurbish unused outdoor space and plant a garden in honor of doctors. This zone could provide a calming place to spend brief downtime while also symbolizing growth, life, and the nurturing care they provide to patients.
5. Pet Therapy Session
Work with a local animal shelter to organize a pet therapy session where doctors can spend time with therapy animals to relax and unwind from their hectic schedules. Consider any allergies or restrictions on animals in hospital guidelines.
6. On-Site Massage Sessions
Book a few massage therapists to come on-site and open up their schedules so doctors can book 15-minute time blocks for a session. Encourage physician walk-ins to increase engagement.
7. Coffee, Tea, or Snack Update
Evaluate the beverage and snack options in break areas and dip into the budget for an upgrade. Purchase top-of-the line coffee or espresso machines for each staff area, or make a yearly commitment to include certain snacks in designated areas.
8. Doctors’ Day Awards
Host an awards ceremony to recognize doctors for various attributes such as compassion, leadership, innovation, and mentorship. If your company culture allows, include some funny employee awards to bring a little laugher and lightheartedness to the occasion.
9. Appreciation Video Wall
Collaborate with patients and staff to create a special video montage expressing their appreciation for the doctors’ dedication and care. Create a Kudoboard to provide space for people to post their appreciation videos for all to see.
10. Art Exhibit
Solicit submissions and showcase the artistic talents of doctors and other healthcare staff with an art exhibition, featuring paintings, sculptures, and other artworks created by the medical community. Emphasize that it requires no artistic skill to keep the exhibit open and inclusive.
11. Professional Development Opportunities
Use National Doctors Day as an opportunity to announce a new professional development program for staff. If the hospital doesn’t already have a program, provide doctors with an annual stipend to use on conferences, classes, or certifications. If you have an existing program, consider expanding it to include development for hobbies or extracurricular activities.
12. Charity Event
Sponsor or host in a philanthropic activity like a charity run, walk, or fundraiser in support of a healthcare-related cause dear to the doctors.
13. Shout Out Wall
Create a physical or virtual recognition wall for hospital staff to write kind messages, recognize hard work, and create meaningful connections. Not only does a recognition wall provide a space for appreciation, it can also build culture and improve happiness and retention.
14. Live Music Performance
Arrange a live music performance in the hospital or healthcare facility to create a soothing and pleasant environment for both physicians and patients. While a rock show might be a little much for a wholesome and healing atmosphere, research local musicians that specialize in a genre that will appeal to all.
15. Guest Speaking Session
Hire a guest speaker and host a seminar focused on a topic relevant to their lives. Whether that’s achieving a healthy work-life balance, succeeding in their personal life, or getting more out of their career, this session could equip doctors with valuable insights and strategies.
16. Spa Day
Treat doctors to a spa day, providing a well-deserved opportunity for relaxation and rejuvenation with facials and other spa treatments. If space or time doesn’t allow, consider purchasing spa gift cards in bulk so staff can use them whenever fits their schedule best.
17. Professional Photo Sessions
Book a photographer to come on-site and hold professional photo sessions with doctors. Staff can use this time to take updated headshots, get new lifestyle shots for features, or simply update their photo library.
18. Local Food Tasting
Host a food tasting event with one or more local businesses featuring nutritious and interesting foods. Doctors can finally try one of those community eateries they’ve always been hearing about—and get a free lunch in the process.
19. Random Acts of Kindness Day
Dedicate Doctors Day at your site to spreading random acts of kindness throughout the hospital, uplifting spirits and fostering a culture of compassion and positivity. Use a group board as a place for others to record these acts, and encourage participation with prizes and incentives.
20. Letterbox Poetry or Art
Place poetry boxes around the hospital where doctors, patients, and staff can drop anonymous poems and drawings relating to a specific theme, encouraging creativity and emotional expression. After Doctors Day, create a collage of all the art for staff and patients to see.
21. Healthy Recipe Exchange
Organize a healthy recipe exchange with colleagues and create a personalized doctors’ recipe book filled with nutritious and easy-to-prepare meals. To make the exchange inclusive, create a virtual wall for doctors all over the healthcare system to post their favorites.
22. Peer-to-Peer Recognition Program
Start a peer-to-peer recognition program where doctors can nominate and celebrate each other’s achievements, fostering a culture of support and acknowledgment within the medical team. Take time during meetings or all-hands to shout out these 1-1 recognitions for all to hear.
23. Paid Volunteer Time Off
Use Doctor’s Day to announce a new type of PTO specifically for volunteer work or community service. A physician can give their time to a cause near and dear to their heart while enjoying a little time away from the office.
24. Social Media Shout-Outs
During the month leading up to Doctors Day, post shout-outs for doctors with unique or inspiring stories to increase visibility into your team. These recognition messages bring staff closer together, and give a much needed thank you to those going above and beyond.
25. Personalized Gifts
Present doctors with personalized gifts like custom name badges, healthcare system branded SWAG, or other meaningful items that reflect their commitment to healthcare. While an appreciation gift not the most unique idea, it’s easily scalable and simple.
26. Fitness Program
Use the occasion to launch a new system sponsored fitness program for all staff members. You could unveil a new on-site gym area, provide a stipend for wellness related activities, or introduce healthcare options for team members.
27. Community Health Initiatives
Support physician involvement in community health initiatives, health fairs, or wellness workshops to promote health education and disease prevention among local residents. By using Doctors Day to give back, your team demonstrates their commitment to public good and the larger community.
28. Artistic Works
Take the opportunity to update older art on hospital walls by commissioning one or multiple paintings, sculptures, or photos for Doctors Day. To get direct participation, invite doctors to submit their favorite local artists and have the staff vote for their favorites.
29. Landscaping Projects
Contract a local landscaper to redesign a highly visible area in front of the hospital to commemorate this year. Include a plaque with a thank you to the doctors as a visual reminder of their hard work and dedication.
30. Gift Cards
Send every doctor on staff a Doctors Day gift card redeemable at hundreds of businesses in a 1-1 eCard with a short, personalized message from a leader or admin. While not one of the most original Doctors Day ideas, who doesn’t love a gift card?
Why We Celebrate Doctors Day
National Doctors Day holds immense significance as it serves as a reminder of the dedication, contributions, and sacrifices made by doctors in providing exceptional healthcare. It holds a special place in our hearts as it offers an opportunity to express our profound gratitude and recognize the invaluable role that doctors play. Celebrating Doctors Day:
Offers an opportunity for focused gratitude
While everyone in the healthcare industry deserves gratitude, Doctors day provides an opportunity to focus solely on MD’s in the building. These professionals selflessly serve their community and should have individual recognition for their work.
Creates a culture of appreciation
By celebrating staff members, healthcare systems can build bonds that encourage larger scale appreciation internally. Both giving and receiving recognition normalizes that behavior in organizations, leading to increased positivity overall.
Elevates morale
Doctors Day serves as a valuable booster of morale for doctors, nurses, and patients alike. According to our Employee Happiness Trends Report, over 90% of employees feel that both spreading and receiving gratitude makes them feel happier at work.
Strengthens doctor-patient relationships
Celebrating the occasion with one of these doctors day ideas helps nurture strong doctor-patient relationships by boosting feelings of trust, respect, and gratitude. By calling attention to the hard work and dedication of healthcare providers, the celebration nurtures closer connections between patients and these professionals.
Choosing the Doctors Day Idea for Your Team
While selecting the right Doctors Day idea is a matter of personal opinion, celebrating the day is an important part of recognizing the healthcare heroes that help our community. Gather your thoughts, sentiments, and well-wishes for your favorite doctors and create a heartwarming celebration to shower them with love and gratitude on this special occasion.
But, occasions are always better as a group. With Kudoboard’s group cards, you can unite the team with heartfelt messages and gestures that truly capture the essence of appreciation. Whether you choose a simple recognition board or a creative nontraditional use-case, let’s make this Doctors Day a remarkable and memorable occasion by recognizing the remarkable contributions of your team. Happy Doctors Day!
Create a group card for Doctors Day
Use custom branding, invite patients and staff to post, and create a memorable keepsake.
Frequently Asked Questions about Doctors Day Ideas
What is National Doctor’s Day?
National Doctors Day is a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating the contributions of physicians, surgeons, and other medical professionals in the United States. It serves as an opportunity to appreciate the invaluable services provided by doctors.
When is National Doctor’s Day?
National Doctors Day is observed annually on March 30th, commemorating the first use of general anesthesia in surgery by Dr. Crawford W. Long.
Who Celebrates Doctor’s Day?
National Doctors Day is celebrated by patients, healthcare systems, hospitals, medical schools, and individuals who wish to express their gratitude and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of doctors.
How do I know which Doctor’s Day idea is the best?
The best Doctors Day idea is one that resonates with the preferences and interests of the doctors you wish to appreciate. Whether one of our unique gift ideas or an event and initiative, consider their personalities, hobbies, and the impact they have made, then choose the idea that would appeal to everyone and reflects your genuine appreciation for their work. It could be gift hamper or an extra day of PTO, but make sure that you also evaluate how it was received so you can prepare for next year.
About the author:
