National Doctor’s Day highlights work done by MDS providers

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – March 30 marks the observance of National Doctor’s Day, an annual day to recognize military and civilian physicians here and throughout the United States.

This year, the 66th Medical Squadron is highlighting the efforts of its longest-tenured physician, Dr. Courtney Arrington, a civilian family practice physician.

“I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful people, and together we’ve been able to provide outstanding patient care,” she said. “I love working with the clinic’s nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, med techs, medical management personnel, as well as so many others at this health care facility.”

Arrington, who grew up in Boston, has been a physician at Hanscom since 2007.

After graduating from medical school, she began practicing medicine at Veteran’s Administration facilities across the country, including in Manchester, New Hampshire.

“Working at the VA allowed me to work with World War II veterans and hear their stories,” she said. “It was such an honor and a privilege to get to know them.”

At Hanscom, Arrington sees the full-spectrum of the military community in her patient load, including retirees, dependents and active duty service members.

“It’s not always the healthy active duty member,” she said. “We see the diabetics, the hypertensive, some cancer patients; it’s a true family practice here.”

She also spoke about what she enjoys most about working at the 66 MDS clinic.

“My patients; I like getting to know my patients,” Arrington said. “I think that it makes me a better physician. It helps me understand what’s going on with them medically.”

As a civilian physician, and having never worn the uniform, Arrington appreciates the opportunity to work with the Hanscom community.

“I’m thankful to all our military members who wear a uniform and to the families who serve alongside them,” she said. “Today all service members voluntarily serve. I am incredibly grateful for that dedicated service to our country.”

Arrington, who can see up to 20 patients a day, provides continuity to military physicians when they arrive at Hanscom.

“Dr. Arrington is our most senior and experienced physician at the 66th Medical Squadron,” said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Paul Bostrom, chief of Medical Staff. “She expertly helps our military physicians when they transition to Hanscom and is a great sounding board when needed.”

The 66th Medical Squadron is part of Air Force Medical Service, which supports the U.S. Air Force through health care to more than 2 million patients at clinics around the world.

National Doctor’s Day began when Eudora Brown Almond, whose husband was a doctor, sought to have a day to honor physicians. Almond and others mailed greeting cards and placed flowers on the graves of deceased doctors in 1933.

Among those who had flowers placed on his grave was Dr. Crawford W. Long, who performed the first ether anesthetic for surgery March 30, 1842, in Georgia.

National Doctor’s Day is observed on March 30 to mark that occasion.

In 1991, then-President George H.W. Bush signed the first proclamation to observe National Doctor’s Day.