Editor’s Message: Appreciation Spreads Far in the Workplace

National Doctor’s Day was first celebrated in 1933. The day was created by Ms. Eudora Brown-Almond, the wife of a prominent Georgia doctor, to honor physicians who were often underappreciated. In 1990, it was made an official day of recognition by the federal government to celebrate doctors, surgeons, nurses, and all allied staff. Over the last four years, the value of this day — March 30 — has become more and more clear. Our overburdened medical community is experiencing burnout in record numbers. One cause of this burnout is feeling a lack of appreciation for the time and efforts devoted to patient care.

Workplace appreciation is the act of recognizing individual contributions, achievements, and efforts. The culture of appreciation in the medical community not only improves workplace morale but also patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. It has been my experience that the benefits of organizational appreciation can include:

1. Staff engagement. Team members who feel appreciated are more engaged.
2. Improved loyalty. The feeling of appreciation not only improves staff loyalty to the organization but fuels patient loyalty.
3. Better treatment outcomes. Patients who feel appreciated are more committed to treatment and are more compliant with post-surgical care.
4. Improved productivity. Employees who feel their work is valued are more motivated to improve daily performance.

So, how can we create an environment of appreciation?

First, the appreciation of our medical community should not be restricted to one day. Daily gestures of appreciation are essential. The simple act of saying thank you goes a long way. Thanking our staff for their daily efforts, whether large or small, is vitally important. Providing positive feedback encourages motivation and improved work performance with all team members. When our staff feel appreciated, this trickles down to enhanced patient care and creates an overall optimistic work environment. We must also thank our patients for choosing our services, for being compliant, and for referring their family and friends. This builds strong, steadfast relationships in the communities within which we work. Enjoying the patients that we see makes even the most difficult days much more joyful and rewarding.

As surgeons, we don’t always feel appreciated by our patients or staff. That is why it is also crucial for us all to share our appreciation for each other within our surgical networks. Tell your colleagues frequently how much you value their mentorship and friendship. Offer opportunities to help them advance and excel. The feeling of appreciation amongst our peers is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. Working within a supportive surgical community helps raise surgeon morale even during the most difficult of days.

Involvement on our part fosters appreciation. Participation in our professional organizations provides us the opportunity to develop our supportive networks. I am personally so appreciative of my ACOMS community where I have fostered many wonderful and support friendships. It is through these relationships that I have developed a true appreciation of how special this career really is.

To say that I am appreciative of my career in surgery is an understatement. As one of only nine residents selected in all of Canada to complete an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a member of this amazing profession. I believe that appreciation of not only of our current position, but our roots, is essential to building a positive culture of today within all our institutions.

Robin Gallardi, DDS, MS, FRCDC, Dip ABOMS

Robin Gallardi, DDS, MS, FRCDC, Dip ABOMS