Gratitude on Doctors’ Day

By Roberto Colón, MD, system chief medical officer, Premier Health

As we celebrate National Doctors’ Day, I want to take a moment to say thank you! Not just for what you do, but for how you do it. With skill, compassion, and the ability to function on far less coffee than should be humanly possible, you continue to make a difference in the lives of our patients and our community.

This year, we have again faced an unprecedented demand for care, with flu cases reaching a 15-year high and driving volumes across our hospitals and clinics. Despite long hours and complex cases, you continue to provide exceptional care with professionalism and empathy. Your resilience and teamwork have made a tremendous difference for our patients and their families, and I am deeply grateful for your unwavering dedication.

Beyond patient care demands, we also navigate exciting changes with our expanding academic affiliation. As we embrace new opportunities in teaching and research, your leadership and mentorship will help shape the future of medicine. Your willingness to guide and inspire the next generation of physicians and caregivers strengthens our mission, ensuring our legacy of excellence continues.

For our hospitalist group, geographic rounding means leading care on one or two units instead of being spread thin across eight or nine. This approach strengthens provider engagement in daily huddles, expedites discharges, and enables quicker intervention in emergent situations—all critical components of high-quality care.

At the same time, we recognize the current uncertainties in health care, shifting policies, economic pressures, and an evolving landscape that challenges us all. Yet, you remain steadfast, committed, and compassionate through it all. That dedication is what makes our institution not only strong but truly exceptional.

So, in honor of Doctors’ Day, I encourage you to do two things: first, take a moment to recognize the impact you make. Your work is lifesaving, life-changing, and deeply appreciated. Secondly, share that gratitude with a colleague, nurse, therapist, technician, or any of the countless partners who make our work possible. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in reinforcing the sense of teamwork and shared purpose that defines us.

As physicians, I want you all to know that your impact does not go unnoticed, that your contributions to care are valued, and that you are valued.  I am so grateful to each and every one of you —not just on Doctors’ Day, but every day.

Back to the March 2025 issue of Premier Pulse