ach year the February issue of the ASA NEWSLETTER is dedicated to communications. The Committee on Communications (COC) is responsible for providing three to four articles on the topic of communications or on COC activities and programs. The timing of the NEWSLETTER issue coincides with Doctors Day. You may not be aware that one of the responsibilities of the COC is to determine the theme for Doctors Day.

Yearly Theme
Members of the COC, working in conjunction with the ASA Communications Department, help to prepare a Doctors Day media packet. This packet has traditionally highlighted the origins of Doctors Day and advances in our specialty. A Doctors Day poster is included in the packet. Remember the teddy bears?

In addition a video new release (VNR) is produced and made available to the media at the time of Doctors Day. The VNR correlates with our Doctors Day theme and relates important information to the public about a timely health care issue. Recent VNRs have included the topics of morbid obesity and bariatric surgery, abuse of over-the-counter drugs and robotripping with dextromethorphan, obstructive sleep apnea and the use of herbal medications. While the VNR typically reaches a wide target audience, its airing depends on media coverage of other important events going on at the same time such as the war in Iraq or the death of the Pope.

Bears Come Out of Hibernation
In last year’s communications issue of the NEWSLETTER, I reviewed the origins of Doctors Day and presented my thoughts on why we, as physicians and anesthesiologists, should make a fuss over March 30 each year. Last year the teddy bears went into hibernation as the Doctors Day poster was dedicated to the celebration of ASA’s centennial. Many of ASA’s activities that year were to culminate in a gala celebration of our 100th anniversary to be held at the ASA Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Then Hurricane Katrina struck. There have been several recent tragedies, such as the tsunami and the earthquake in Pakistan, where the impact on life was far greater than Katrina. Yet Katrina hit us in the gut. It struck home not only literally but also exposed our vulnerability and our lack of preparedness for such devastating events.

Like the tsunami and the earthquake, physicians, including many ASA members, responded with not only monetary contributions but also dedicated time and effort to relief efforts, whether by direct personal involvement in disaster relief or by supporting a colleague in those efforts. As we approach Doctors Day 2006, let us not forget the efforts of our service men and women involved with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially our ASA members who are providing anesthesia, critical care and pain management services to our troops and to the citizens of those countries, both here and abroad. The ASA Committee on Communications overwhelmingly voted to make disaster preparedness and relief the theme for our 2006 Doctors Day poster and VNR. We dedicate these to all those impacted by or involved with the tragedy of any disaster. The teddy bears have come out of hibernation for this effort. It is especially important to make a fuss about this year’s Doctors Day as its theme is so timely. Display the poster in your operating room, your ICUs, your clinics. Ask your hospitals to post them. Ask your physician colleagues to post them in their offices. My children have posted them in their classrooms and even in their bedrooms.

A Little History
The United States Congress passed a resolution in 1990 stating:

“Whereas society owes a great debt of gratitude to physicians for the contributions of physicians in enlarging the reservoir of scientific knowledge, increasing the number of scientific tools, and expanding the ability of health professionals to use the knowledge and tools effectively in the never ending fight against disease and

Whereas society owes a debt of gratitude to physicians for their sympathy and compassion of physicians in ministering to the sick and in alleviating human suffering: Now, therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:

March 30, 1991, is designated as “National Doctors’ Day,” and

The President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities."

March 30th is the anniversary of the first use of ether anesthesia in surgery by Dr. Crawford W. Long.

Eudora Brown Almond and the Barrow County Medical Society in Georgia recognized this accomplishment and celebrated the first Doctors Day on March 30, 1933. Seventy-three years later, we continue to recognize and celebrate the effort of all physicians, especially in the area of disaster relief.

We must continue to make the public, our patients, our physician colleagues and our elected officials more informed of our role in their safety and health. ASA has a host of materials available to assist you in communicating this message, including:

• Patient education brochures;

• Patient education videos;

• Web-based anesthesia fact sheets/FAQs;

• Educational slide shows in PowerPoint format;

• Resources to assist component societies in developing a communication plan;

• Media spokesperson and communication training programs;

• Presentations and exhibits for general usage;

• Presentations and exhibits for use at specialty society meetings;

• Speaking points on various issues;

• VNRs on public health issues; and, of course,

• The Doctors Day Media Kit.

I encourage you to utilize these resources and to give us feedback on their usefulness. The COC and the ASA Communications Department are always striving to provide updated, accurate and useful resources for all those seeking information about our specialty and to provide our members with effective communication tools.

Happy Doctors Day 2006! We look forward to your feedback.

Michael H. Entrup, M.D., is Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts.