On Wednesday, doctors at Vaughan Regional Medical Center (VRMC) were greeted by large banners, colorful gift bags, and VRMC personnel bearing red carnations.

“Today is the nationally recognized Doctors’ Day,” said Martha Micallef, VRMC Chief Nursing Officer. “We want our physicians to know that the nursing staff appreciates them, and we want this (carnation) to be a visible symbol of that.”

The first Doctors’ Day observance was held on March 30, 1933 in Winder, Ga.

The idea came from the wife of a local doctor who wanted to show the gratitude and respect that the community held for its doctors. She picked March 30, because on that day in 1842, general anesthesia was first used during surgery.

The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors’ Day on March 30, 1958, and in 1991, former President George Bush signed a resolution designating March 30 as National Doctors’ Day.

“Many of the different departments did their own appreciation, or gave their own gift,” said Zaneta Lowe, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for VRMC. “There will be a luncheon (for the doctors) today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and they each will get a gift.”