A celebration of our doctors

Make a contribution in honour of your MD

Doctors’ Day is celebrated across the province each May 1 to recognize Ontario’s 29,000 doctors and their commitment to improving the health of all patients. Doctor’s Day was founded in 2011, after Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation and MPP for Richmond Hill, introduced a motion in the Ontario Legislature to create a special day that would recognize the work of the province’s doctors. The special day was chosen as the official day of appreciation for Ontario’s medical profession and to mark the birthday of Dr. Emily Stowe, Canada’s first female doctor and founder of the women’s movement in Canada.

The Ontario Medical Association’s (OMA) website has astounding statistics on Ontario’s 29,000 doctors. There are more than 15,000 specialists and 13,000 general practitioners, with 37 specialty areas of medicine from medical oncology to public health. There are 1,000 first-year students enrolled in medical schools in Ontario and it will take them 8-12 years on average to complete their medical education plus ongoing, mandatory continuing professional development courses. The average hours of work (excluding on-call) is 50 hours per week for an Ontario doctor.

Every day, more than 320,000 patients across the province are treated and cared for by doctors. Whether it’s in a hospital, a longterm care home, a clinic or at a patient’s home, our doctors are making a positive difference in the lives of patients by providing high-quality care in our communities. Doctors work hard every day to save lives and put patients first. They are leaders in evolving the health-care system to improve access to care and ensure that our system is effective, efficient and sustainable for the future. It is important for patients to have a positive health-care experience and find ways to express their gratitude for the care received.

In 2012, to celebrate Doctors’ Day in Ontario, and help the Ontario Medical Association drive positive discussion about doctors, Edelman, a leading global communications marketing firm launched Thanks Doc!, a Facebook campaign that asked Ontarians, “What does your doctor do to help improve the health and well-being of you and your family?”

Edelman’s research led to the following insights:

People connect with doctors on a personal level, not as a collective.

Despite Ontarians being more engaged in their health care than ever before, conversations are almost always about the personal impact of interactions with doctors.

Those interactions are often positive in nature, but people aren’t naturally inclined to go online to proactively share when things go smoothly.

Throughout the campaign, Edelman received stories — over 98 per cent of which were positive. Doctors’ Day is a great opportunity for patients and families to take a minute to celebrate and make a donation in their honour! Locally, at Niagara Health, our more than 600 doctors make a significant difference every day in the lives of our patients and their families.

Our doctors demonstrate our purpose; extraordinary caring, every person, every time. You can recognize a doctor via social media by tweeting using the hashtags #LoveMyMD or #PatientsFirst. Visit ontariosdoctors.com/doctorsday for more information. Patients or their families can donate to express their thanks toward a doctor who contributed to the patients’ health and wellbeing to their local hospital foundation. Your gift will not only be a way to say thank you and acknowledge the difference that a doctor made, but it will help ensure that future patients continue to receive the high level of care you experienced during your time the hospital.

I am inviting you to join me as I honour Dr. Epstein, my doctor for taking care of me for the past 20+ years. Celebrate your doctor today!