Aetna Honors Physicians With Doctors’ Day Card Campaign

HARTFORD, Conn. — Aetna (NYSE: AET) is celebrating National Doctors’ Day on March 30, 2009 by enabling its employees and members to send cards to their doctors thanking them for a job well done. To make it easy to participate, Aetna had its own design team create a variety of cards for download directly from its website at www.aetna.com. There are even special cards for children to send to their pediatricians. Aetna invites the public to join in the fun and share the cards with their doctors as well.

The idea to set aside a day to honor physicians was conceived by Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond of Winder, Georgia. For the first observance on March 30, 1933, people sent cards to local physicians and put flowers on the graves of doctors who had passed away. Over the years, a red carnation came to symbolize the observance.

“We felt that physicians might appreciate cards that let them know how much the care they provide is valued by their patients,” said Lonny Reisman, MD, Aetna’s chief medical officer. “We know our own employees are enthusiastic; more than 3,800 employees have already visited the website to view the cards. There are many challenges facing our health care system, but one of its enduring strengths is the talent and dedication of our physicians. We want each of them to know how much we appreciate their work.”