Showing their appreciation

Annapolis Valley students, youth organizations take part in Doctors’ Day project

Handmade cards fashioned into banners displayed at the Valley Regional Hospital were a show of appreciation for area doctors.

In honour of the recent Doctors’ Day on May 1, Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce physician community navigator Breanna Hall and Nova Scotia Health Medical Learner and Physician Advisor

Amanda Smith organized the thank-you card project. Doctors’ Day has been recognized in Nova Scotia since 2013.

“It’s a day that we show appreciation to the doctors and health-care workers in our province for serving our citizens and communities,” Hall said.

Seven elementary schools and community youth organizations from across the Valley region took part, making 32 thank-you cards that were fashioned into five banners. The banners were on display in the hallways at the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville from April 29 to May 4.

Hall said the banners certainly brightened up the

hallways and were greatly appreciated by Valley medical professionals.

Other Doctors’ Day initiatives included a public service announcement on the radio and a draw for a summer airplane ride. Hall said physicians can enter their names in the prize draw for a chance to win a fly-over of the Annapolis Valley.

Hall said these initiatives were supported by Gates Insurance; Doctors Nova Scotia, the Valley Regional Hospital Foundation and Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce physician community navigation.

The Mid Valley Region Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee recently celebrated Doctors’ Day and Nurses Appreciation Day at four medical clinics in the region.

The doctors and staff members received a pizza lunch, gifts and thank-you cards written by community members, while the nursing staff received fruit trays, gifts and thank-you cards from the committee. The administrative teams from each clinic were included in the celebration, as it takes a team effort to provide health care to the community.

Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation chair Kelly Hutton joined committee members, Annapolis MLA Carman Kerr and representatives from Doctors Nova Scotia at the Middleton & Area Family Health Centre and Primary Care

Clinic at Soldiers Memorial Hospital. Community navigator Don Hyslop was joined by two committee members to celebrate the Kingston Family Health Centre, representatives of 14 Wing Greenwood helped with the celebration at the Greenwood Family Health Centre and a special celebration was given to Dr. Peter Goddard in his private family practice in Aylesford.

The Annapolis Collaborative Practice and Annapolis Family Practice received a surprise visit, gifts and pizza lunch from the committee.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the committee by volunteering or providing support, can contact it by emailing at recruitment@midvalleyprr. com.