A time to celebrate our doctors
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.
Ontario Medical Association’s 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 firstyear students enrolled in medical school in Ontario and it will take eight to 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 a 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 OMA 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 — more than 98 per cent of which were positive — from more than 450 people across Ontario. Nearly 2,000 people also “liked” the stories submitted by others, creating an engine to drive positive online discussions that reflected Ontarians’ gratefulness towards their doctors. By the end of the program more than 22,000 Ontarians were exposed to positive stories about Ontario’s doctors (www.edelman.com/misc/ontario-medical-association-giving-doctors-just-whatthey-ordered).
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 this Doctors’ Day by tweeting using the hashtag #DocsRock2017. Patients, or their families, can also make a donation to OneFoundation to express their thanks towards a doctor at Niagara Health who contributed to their health and well-being. 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 at Niagara Health.
OneFoundation for Niagara Health System proudly supports all sites of Niagara Health. OneFoundation has created a special Doctors’ Day site to facilitate donations and leave a note to express your thanks for the care you received by a doctor at Niagara Health. Visit https://ofnhs.akaraisin.com/DoctorsDay2017 or call 905-323-3863 to make your donation.
I am inviting you to join me as I honour my special doctor for taking care of me and my family. Celebrate your doctor today.
— Roger D. Ali is president and CEO of OneFoundation, Niagara Health System and chair-elect (volunteer) for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Foundation for Philanthropy Canada.