Dr. Crawford W. Long first administered ether as an anesthetic for surgical purposes in Barrow County, Georgia, in 1842. A medical auxiliary in that state marked this historic event by honoring all local physicians in the inaugural Doctor’s Day celebration in 1933. As a national observance, Doctor’s Day was signed into law in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush with March 30 designated as the official day of physician recognition.
The Roanoke Valley Academy of Medical Alliance (RAMA) is celebrating National Doctor’s Day this year with a campaign to raise funds while honoring worthy physicians by personal recognition. Proceeds collected during this campaign will be directed to Project Access of the Roanoke Valley, whose mission is to be a “physician driven, community supported, patient-centered program which exists to arrange and coordinate comprehensive healthcare services for the low-income uninsured in our area.”
This nonprofit, local referral service has been able to coordinate close to $16 of care for each $1 donated to its programs. There are 502 local participating physicians and 59 dentists who are involved in offering free-of-charge care to more than 1,600 qualified, eligible persons in the valley between the ages of 19 – 64. Residents of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem, Botetourt and Craig County who are working, in school or job training and who are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance may apply to become a client as long as income guidelines are not exceeded.
This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the doctors in our lives. Do you have a family member or neighbor who is a physician and would appreciate being honored on National Doctor’s Day? Have you been assisted in making better and healthier choices in your lifestyle by an attentive physician? Was an emergency room, urgent care, or surgical experience made more pleasant not only by the talents but also by the attitude of the physician? Is your doctor retiring and you’d like to mark a career of excellence and dedication by saying “Thank You?”
Roanoke Valley residents can participate in RAMA’s fundraiser for Project Access of the Roanoke Valley while paying tribute to the exceptional health care practiced by the physicians in their lives by donating to the campaign.
For each contribution, RAMA will send a “Certificate of Acknowledgment” for Doctor’s Day to the honored designee(s) as a notification of the donation in his or her name. Or if desired, the donor’s name can remain anonymous to the doctor receiving the honor.
Send your tax deductible checks made payable to “Project Access” to Karen Johnson, 5814 Cavalier Drive, Roanoke, VA 24018, by March 22nd. Note in the memo section the name(s) of the physician(s) you are honoring; also include the mailing address of your honoree(s).
For more information contact Karen Johnson at [email protected].
For more information about Project Access of the Roanoke Valley visit www.projectaccessroanoke.org