Here is the list of healthcare recognition dates for 2023! With your help, it has become much more comprehensive. It includes dates for employee recognition as well as dates for recognition and awareness of medical conditions/diseases.
Why are medical conditions included since this blog is directed at HR professionals? I am glad you asked. Medical awareness dates have been included because: (1) several HR leaders shared that they try to tailor employee wellness communications around these dates, (2) many non-HR departments (marketing, nursing) were using our list.
The information is organized by month as follows:
- Monthly – alpha
- Weekly – Chronological
- Day – Chronological
Dates that involve recognition of people or healthcare functions are listed in bold.
January
- Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
- Glaucoma Awareness Month
- National Birth Defects Awareness Month
- National Blood Donor Month
- Thyroid Awareness Month
- National Activity Professionals Week – Jan. 22-28
- World Leprosy Week – Jan. 29 – Feb. 4
- World Braille Day – Jan. 4
- National Marketing Day – Jan. 11
- National Pharmacist Day – Jan. 12
- National IV Nurse Day – Jan. 25
- National Activity Professionals Day – Jan. 27
- World Leprosy Day – Jan. 29
February
- AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
- American Heart Month
- National Children’s Dental Health Month
- Wise Health Care Consumer Month
- Patient Recognition Week – Feb. 1 – 7
- Pride in Foodservice Week – Feb. 6 -10
- Peri-Anesthesia Nurse Week – Feb. 6 – 12
- Phlebotomist Recognition Week – Feb. 13-17
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week – Feb. 13-19
- Cardiovascular Professionals Week. Feb . 14 – 20
- National Eating Disorders Awareness Week – Feb. 23- Mar. 1
- Wear Red Day – Feb. 3
- National Women Physician Day – Feb. 3
- International Epilepsy Day – Feb. 13
- National Caregivers Day – Feb. 17
March
- American Red Cross Month
- Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
- Brain Injury Awareness Month
- Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
- Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
- National Athletic Training Month
- National Nutrition Month
- National Social Work Month
- National Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Week – Mar. 1 – 6
- Endometriosis Awareness Week – Mar. 3 – 9
- Dental Assistant Recognition Week – Mar. 5 – 11
- National School Social Work Week – Mar. 5 – 11
- MS Awareness Week – Mar. 12 – 18
- Patient Safety Awareness Week – Mar. 12 – 18
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week – Mar. 12 – 18
- Healthcare HR Professionals Week – Mar. 15 – 19
- National Poison Prevention Week – Mar. 19 – 25
- Baby Sleep Day – Mar. 1
- Employee Appreciation Day – Mar. 3
- Brain Injury Awareness Day – Mar. 4
- National Dentist Day – Mar. 6
- Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered Day – Mar. 9
- Certified Nurses Day – Mar. 19
- World Social Work Day – Mar. 21
- World Tuberculosis Day – Mar. 24
- National Doctors Day – Mar. 30
- Nataional Medical Billers Day – Mar. 30
- Anesthesia Tech Day – Mar. 31
April
- Autism Awareness Month
- Cesarean Awareness Month
- Child Abuse Awareness Month
- Defeat Diabetes Month
- IBS Awareness Month
- National Alcohol Awareness Month
- National Donate Life Month
- National Volunteer Month
- Occupational Therapy Month
- Parkinson’s Awareness Month
- Primary Immunodeficiency Awareness Month
- Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
- National Cancer Registrars Week – Apr. 3 – 7
- National Public Health Week – Apr. 3 – 9
- Patient Access Week – Apr. 3 – 9
- National Volunteer Week – Apr. 16-22
- National Osteopathic Medicine Week – Apr. 17 – 23
- Health Information Professionals Week – Apr. 18-24
- Administrative Professionals Week – Apr. 22 – 28
- Medical Laboratory Professionals Week – Apr. 23 – 29
- Transplant Nurses Week – Apr. 24 – May 1
- National Infant Immunization Week – Apr. 24 – May 1
- Autism Awareness Day – Apr. 2
- National Employee Benefits Day – Apr. 6
- World Health Day – Apr. 7
- National Alcohol Screening Day – Apr. 7
- World Parkinson’s Day – Apr. 11
- World Hemophilia Day – Apr. 17
- Administrative Professionals Day – Apr. 26
- Sarcoidosis Awareness Day – Apr. 30
May
- Arthritis Awareness Month
- Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
- Better Sleep Month
- Better Speech and Hearing Month
- Celiac Disease Awareness Month
- Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
- Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
- Healthy Vision Month
- Hepatitis Awareness Month
- High Blood Pressure Education Month
- Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month
- Lupus Awareness Month
- Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- Melanoma Skin Cancer Month
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Neurofibromatosis Month
- National Cancer Research Month
- National Critical Care Awareness Month
- National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
- National Stroke Awareness Month
- Oncology Nursing Month
- National Nurses Week – May 6 – 12
- National Hospital Week – May 7 – 13
- North American Occupational Safety and Health Week – May 7 – 13
- Healthcare Technology Management Week – May 14 – 20
- Healthcare Documentation Integrity Week – May 14 – 20
- National Skilled Nursing Care Week – May 14 – 20
- National Women’s Health Week – May 14 – 20
- Neuroscience Nurses Week – May 14 – 20
- National EMS Week – May 21 – 27
- Melanoma Monday – May 1
- World Hand Hygiene Day – May 5
- National Nurses Day – May 6
- World Lupus Day – May 10
- National Employee Health and Fitness Day – May 17
- Neurofibromatosis Day – May 17
- National Speech Pathologist Day – May 18
- Critical Care Wear Blue Day – May 19
- National Accounts Receivable Appreciation Day – May 19
- International Human Resources Day – May 20
- Emergency Medical Services Day – May 21
- National Medical Coders Day – May 23
- World No Tobacco Day – May 31
June
- Cataract Awareness Month
- Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
- National Aphasia Awareness Month
- National Men’s Health Month
- National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
- National PTSD Awareness Month
- National Safety Month
- National Scleroderma Awareness Month
- National Scoliosis Awareness Month
- Men’s Health Week – June 12-18
- National Nursing Assistant Week – June 15 – 21
- Healthcare Risk Management Week – June 19-23
- Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week – June 25 – July 1
- National Cancer Survivors Day – June 4
- National Career Nursing Assistant Day – June 14
- World Blood Donor Day – June 14
- World Sickle Cell Awareness Day – June 19
- National HIV Testing Day – June 27
- National PTSD Awareness Day – June 27
July
- Cord Blood Awareness Month
- UV Safety Awareness Month
- National Therapeutic Recreation Week – July 9 – 15
- World Plastic Surgery Day – July 15
- National Intern Day – July 27
- System Administrator Appreciation Day – July 28
- World Hepatitis Day – July 28
August
- Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
- MedicAlert Awareness Month
- National Eye Exam Month
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- Psoriasis Awareness Month
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
- World Breastfeeding Week – Aug. 1 – 7
- National Health Center Week – Aug. 6 – 12
- National Minority Donor Awareness Day – Aug. 1
- Health Unit Coordinator Day – Aug. 23
September
- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
- Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month
- National Cholesterol Education Month
- National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
- National Recovery Month
- National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month
- Pain Awareness Month
- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month
- Reye’s Syndrome Awareness Month
- Sepsis Awareness Month
- Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
- Vascular Nurses Week – Sept. 3 -9
- Environmental Services Week – Sept. 10 -16
- National Assisted Living Week – Sept. 10 – 16
- Nursing Professional Development Week – Sept. 10 -16
- Neonatal Nurses Week – Sept. 11 – 17
- International Clean Hands Week – Sept. 17 – 23
- National Surgical Technologists Week – Sept. 17 – 23
- World Physical Therapy Day – Sept. 8
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day – Sept. 9
- World Suicide Prevention Day – Sept. 10
- Programmers Day – Sept. 13
- Neonatal Nurses Day – Sept. 15
- National Working Parents Day – Sept. 16
- IT Professionals Day – Sept. 19
- National Addiction Professionals Day – Sept. 20
- World Alzheimer’s Day – Sept. 21
- Business Women’s Day – Sept. 22
- International Ataxia Awareness Day – Sept. 25
- National Food Service Employees Day – Sept. 25
- World Pharmacist Day – Sept. 25
- Human Resource Professional Day – Sept. 26
- World Heart Day – Sept. 29
October
- American Pharmacists Month
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Clergy Appreciation Month
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month
- Health Literacy Month
- Healthy Lung Month
- Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- National Chiropractic Health Month
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- National Liver Awareness Month
- National Orthodontic Health Month
- National Physical Therapy Month
- National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
- Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
- SIDS Awareness Month
- Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week – Oct. 1 – 7
- Healthcare Supply Chain Week – Oct. 1 – 7
- Mental Illness Awareness Week – Oct. 1 – 7
- Customer Service Week – Oct. 2 – 6
- National Physician Assistant Week – Oct. 6 – 12
- Emergency Nurses Week – Oct. 8 – 14
- Sterile Processing Professionals Week – Oct. 8 – 14
- Dialysis Technician Recognition Week – Oct. 9 – 13
- International Infection Prevention Week – Oct, 15 – 21
- National Pharmacy Week – Oct. 15 – 21
- National Healthcare Facilities & Engineering Week – Oct. 22 – 28
- National Respiratory Care Week – Oct. 22 – 28
- Red Ribbon Week – Oct. 23 – 31
- National Depression Screening Day – Oct. 5
- World Cerebral Palsy Day – Oct. 6
- World Mental Health Day – Oct. 10
- National Emergency Nurses Day – Oct. 11
- Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day – Oct. 13
- Boss’s Day – Oct. 16
- World Spine Day – Oct. 16
- National Pharmacy Technician Day – Oct. 17
- National Medical Assistants Day – Oct. 18
- National Mammography Day – Oct. 20
- World Osteoporosis Day – Oct. 20
- International Stuttering Awareness Day – Oct. 22
- World Occupational Therapy Day – Oct. 27
November
- American Diabetes Month
- COPD Awareness Month
- Diabetic Eye Disease Month
- Lung Cancer Awareness Month
- Mouth Cancer Action Month
- National Adoption Awareness Month
- National Epilepsy Month
- National Family Caregivers Month
- National Healthy Skin Month
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Month
- National Marrow Awareness Month
- Prematurity Awareness Month
- Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month
- Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
- National Allied Health Week – Nov. 5 – 11
- National Diabetes Education Week – Nov. 5 – 11
- National Patient Transport Week – Nov. 5 – 11
- National Radiologic Technology Week – Nov. 5 – 11
- Nurse Practitioner Week – Nov. 12 – 18
- Perioperative Nurse Week – Nov. 12 – 18
- GERD Awareness Week – Nov. 19 – 25
- World Radiography Day – Nov. 8
- International Accounting Day – Nov. 10
- World Pneumonia Day – Nov. 12
- Operating Room Nurse Day – Nov. 14
- World Diabetes Day – Nov. 14
- National Education Support Professionals Day – Nov. 15
- Great American Smokeout – Nov. 16
- World COPD Day – Nov. 17
- Computer Security Day – Nov. 30
December
- Give the Gift of Sight Month
- National Hand Washing Awareness Week – Dec. 3 – 9
- National Influenza Vaccination Week – Dec. 3 – 9
- World AIDS Day – Dec. 1
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities – Dec. 3
- International Volunteer Day – Dec. 5
There seems to be a recognition date for every employee group. I am sure that some have been missed. Please feel free to contact me with additions or corrections. That is how this list has grown to this size!
16 thoughts on “2023 Healthcare Recognition Dates: Don’t be Caught by Surprise!”
I can’t seem to find the National Scribe Week for 2023. In years past it’s been in May (I believe). I haven’t been able to find it anywhere online. Any ideas?
Sorry about the delay in responding. I also cannot find it listed anywhere. I have contacted Scribe America (yes, it is a private company) to see if they have this information. I will post the info when it is received either from them or another verifiable source. Could it be the same as Healthcare Documentation Integrity Week -May 14-20?
FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE, BUT I CAN NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO PRINT THIS LIST.
Sandra: You probably could highlight the text, right click the mouse and choose the print function.
I just right click and print from there.
How do I print these from month to month?
Highlight the text you want, right click and print.
If this is about Healthcare recognition – how come nothing is on here about Medical Billers Day, Week, Month – something? Don’t we get a chance to get recognized for all the claims we bill out and get paid for so the company can keep running?
I guess because I was unaware of the day. It has now been added.
Hi HR Banana Team – first thanks for such a comprehensive list.
Would it be possible for you to link the various dates you have listed above to the governing bodies/sponsors of these days’ websites? Or provide a reference to where these days are made official by the government, etc.?
National days/weeks/months seem like the wild west and it would be nice to be able to verify, for those of us responsible in our organizations for being comprehensive about them. Thanks!
Andrew: Thanks for your question which is logical and one I have considered. I was considering a searchable database for 2024 since the current list is chronological. In order to find the date for a desired recognition, the user must read the whole list. If I do that, I could add our source for the listing. Not sure I can always track down who sponsors/governs/originates as some seem to have moved into “general acceptance”. Unfortunately, these recognition dates really are the wild west as anyone can create them and there is no process for making them official. Some are by government proclamation, but others are simply created by professional organizations. Answering your question as to the governing bodies/sponsors and how they become official or widely recognized may be quite lengthy. I have taken a hiatus from posting for 4 months, and I think my next post will address how these recognition events come about and how we compile/verify our list–at least, that some organization out there is claiming it.
I should also point out that Medical Assistants also claim a full week – listed above as October 18, but according to AAMA it is also MARweek from Oct 16-20, per https://www.aama-ntl.org/news/marweek,
Thanks!
Andrew: Thanks for the update. We started with a very small list several years ago, and it has grown due to these tips as there is no central repository of recognition dates “out there”. (I guess that is what we are becoming!) I will check it out. I’ve run across this with several other occupations –where there is both a week and a specific day listed sometimes by different sources.
why is there no Emergency Room Tech day ????? everyone else has a day !!!!!!!
I don’t know. Perhaps the thinking is that all ER should be recognized during Emergency Medical Services Week in May. You could start a move to create one.