As Doctors’ Day on March 30 approaches, we are reminded of the incredible impact physicians have on our lives. But there is something often overlooked—the emotional toll the profession takes. Physicians give so much of themselves, yet their emotional needs often go unrecognized. What if there were a simple, powerful way to remind them that their efforts matter?
Imagine the impact a heartfelt, handwritten note could have on a weary physician.
I recently spoke with Dr. Erin Hurley, a physician coach and wellness advocate, and Dawn Veselka, creator of the Cards2Warriors Happy Mail program. We discussed how small acts of kindness, like sending a note of appreciation, can support those who give so much of themselves to others.
Dawn’s Cards2Warriors program sends cards to patients and caregivers, and now she is expanding it to include doctors. This is not just about sending cards—it is about sending hope.
When we compare the words physicians use now to how they used to describe practicing medicine, it is clear that hope and inspiration are much needed in 2025.
Consider this:
A decade ago, physicians described working in medicine as fulfilling, collaborative, challenging, meaningful, and even predictable.
Those words have shifted to unstable, exhausting, frustrating, isolating, and even demoralizing.
It is no wonder burnout rates continue to be near 50 percent, and physician suicide rates are significantly higher than in other professions.
We have a simple idea to show support that can make a lasting impact.
Dr. Hurley shared how much she valued the colorful cards and drawings she received from patients throughout her 25-year pediatric career. “On tough days, when I questioned my impact, those cards reminded me that I was making a difference.”
She also vividly remembers a moment near the end of her second year of medical school: “I was studying for the USMLE Boards Part I, exhausted from weeks of intense preparation for this high-stakes exam. Then, a package arrived in the mail. Inside were more than twenty handmade cards from my sister’s third-grade students—children I had never met. Each card was filled with colorful crayon messages and bright drawings, all offering me encouragement and wishing me good luck.
“As I read each note aloud, waves of support, peace, and joy pierced through the fatigue and overwhelm that had consumed me. These children did not know me, yet because their teacher made a simple request to send her sister a card, their act of kindness lifted me in a way I will never forget and had a lasting impact on my medical career.”
Decades later, she still thinks about that package. Although she no longer practices medicine, the memory remains a powerful reminder of how small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact. In a profession filled with challenges, knowing that others believe in you—that your work matters—can make all the difference.
The challenge: one note, one doctor
Here is the good news: It is simple, small, and can make a big difference.
We challenge you to write just one handwritten note to a doctor by March 30. This small gesture could:
- Refuel a doctor running on empty.
- Rekindle hope in a doctor questioning the meaning of their work.
- Be a tangible reminder of their impact on the toughest days.
When one doctor feels appreciated, they are more likely to carry a ripple of positivity into their next patient interaction, fostering a greater sense of compassion. Research, like Cameron et al. (2011), has explored the contagious nature of positive emotions in teams, leading to greater job satisfaction and improved performance.
Could a simple note be the catalyst for a larger movement of positivity? Like the butterfly effect, a handwritten note of appreciation can uplift one doctor, then another, until waves of encouragement surge through the health care community.
Start your own movement of kindness.
Feeling inspired? Invite a friend or colleague to join you in writing notes together. Think of the joy you will feel knowing you are positively impacting each recipient’s well-being.
Dr. Hurley and Kim Downey are organizing card-writing events in their communities and amplifying Dawn’s mission by sharing this campaign on their podcasts and social media. We know that together, we can multiply the impact of a simple note.
The power of small gestures
Dr. Tamara Beckford and Dr. Brittne Halford noted that small gestures, like notes, can make a big difference, with another physician agreeing that “a simple handwritten note can mean so much to those who dedicate their lives to helping others!”
Dr. Michael Hersh shared, “I have saved every card, letter, and kind word a patient has ever written to me. Those heartfelt notes can be a huge source of encouragement on tough days!”
Let’s thank our health care heroes.
Doctors are not just there for us when we are sick. They support us when we are vulnerable, afraid, and in need of guidance. They often give so much of themselves that they forget to take care of their own emotional needs. That is why meaningful appreciation, like a handwritten note, can have such a profound effect on their well-being.
We challenge you to take a moment today to send a heartfelt thank-you to a doctor who has made a difference in your life. Think about a doctor who has made a lasting impact. What stands out? Maybe it is the way they truly listened when you were scared or their steady presence during a difficult moment. Let them know by sharing a specific memory in your thank-you.
Doctors: You can share appreciation too
First, sign up for the Cards2Warriors Happy Mail program to receive random cards of support.
Second, you can participate in this challenge and share appreciation. Imagine how your own doctor or a colleague would feel receiving your card.
Together, we can create a culture of kindness and positivity in health care, one card at a time.
Why wait? Grab a card and get started with the doctor you want to thank first!
Kim Downey is a physician advocate and physical therapist. Erin Hurley is a physician coach. Dawn Veselka is a patient advocate.
