Here in Iowa City, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics employs 1,428 physicians and dentists, more than 180 of whom also appear on the Best Doctors® list. Dan Fick, MD, senior assistant director, talks about Doctors Day at UI Hospitals and Clinics.

How did Doctors Day begin?

In the early 1930s, one of the general surgeons in an area of Georgia provided their patient with general anesthetic for surgery. So instead of using ether, they actually used, back then, one of the first anesthetic gases, which is much better for the patients, and the wife of the patient was so happy that she actually started a local Doctors Day celebration. This celebration caught on locally in Georgia in the county and the state and spread throughout the country. In 1990, officially, the U.S. House and Senate signed a resolution designating March 30 as National Doctors Day.

How many specialty and subspecialty services are offered at UI Hospitals and Clinics?

We have 20 medical departments and within those 20 departments, there are about 150 specialized divisions. Here at the hospital, we have most every specialized type of medical care that can be provided. In addition, we have 41 accredited fellowship programs. A fellowship program is the educational program that after a resident has finished the medical specialty training and want to go on for more specialized training.

From where do UI Hospitals and Clinics recruit their doctors/specialists?

We actually recruit from all over the country and all over the world. In our faculty ranks, we have many that have trained abroad, at this point I think, well over 20. And if you look at where our faculty trained here in the United States, at this point we have over 30 different states represented, so a large mix from many different areas.

Our residents and fellows have even a broader mix from both outside and inside the states. We have at last count, I think, over 45 states represented for our residents, and abroad, almost 50 countries. We have a large background for both our residents in training and our faculty. While they come from many different areas, the one thing they have in common is they've all chosen the University of Iowa for their home, whether it's for providing healing care or teaching or helping with leading the way with new knowledge for our research, they've all come from many areas, but are here at the University of Iowa Hospitals.

What makes UI Hospitals and Clinics so special to be able to recruit doctors from all over the world to come to Iowa City to work ?

I touched on it earlier, but we have a very unique blend in that for an academic center, we're very strong in all areas. We focus on health care, we have great teaching and education programs, and we're also a top 10 research institution and there aren't very many academic centers where they can say they do a great job in all three. Many focus on one area and here at the University of Iowa, it's really our mission to be excellent in all three.

In addition, this is a great university in general. We have a wonderful community, and Johnson county is a great place for family. Many academic centers are located in large metropolitan areas and that is at times not where young faculty want to start out, so we have, in some sense, the best of both worlds, a great academic center located in a great community.

Are patients often referred from other parts of the United States and the world to UI Hospitals and Clinics because of a certain specialist who practices there?

Yes, we've always prided ourselves on providing any care that is needed for Iowans. We have a strong clinical program and we're able to provide the care that's needed. As we do that and develop our special areas, we also provide this care for patients outside the state and around the country. We are very well known with many of our pediatric services related to ear, nose and throat, and our cochlear implants; we have world renowned pediatric orthopaedic services; and, also, with neurosurgery. For adults, for example, we have the nation's best burn center and you put all these together with all the other care we provide and many people around the Midwest chose University of Iowa Hospitals as their destination hospital.

What special plans are there for today to celebrate National Doctors Day at UI Hospitals and Clinics?

We have a staff luncheon and reception for our residents and fellows and faculty. It's a great lunch and a time for the administration in both the hospital and the college here at UI Health Care to personally thank the thousand doctors for their work and dedication.

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