Happy National Doctors’ Day!
In 1933, the first Doctors’ Day observance occurred in Winder, GA, where the wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond proposed setting aside a day that included mailing greeting cards and placing flowers on the graves of deceased doctors. In 1958, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors’ Day. Finally in 1990, following overwhelming approval by Congress; President George H.W. Bush turned the commemoration into a national holiday.
The Arthritis Foundation is proud to honor all of our physicians that give their tireless support to their patients, families and community, and partner with the Arthritis Foundation on events like the Walk to Cure Arthritis , Jingle Bell Run , JA Days and more.
Dr. Susan Lemon and her husband, Dr. Kyle Lemon of Santa Ynez, California, are active supporters of the Arthritis Foundation; participating in local events like the California Coast Classic Bike Tour , Walk to Cure Arthritis and Taste of the Town Santa Barbara. Dr. Susan Lemon has been a valued board member of the Central Coast Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation since 2008. Last year, both doctors served as Medical Honorees on the 2016 California Coast Classic Bike Tour, and Dr. Kyle Lemon rode 525 miles down the California coast – his 8th consecutive bike tour!
“Both doctors are so humble, gracious and seek to provide the best care to their patients. They are very engaged with the Central Coast community and enthusiastic supporters of Arthritis Foundation local events. We are very grateful to them – not only on National Doctors’ Day, but every day!” says Shannon Marang-Cox, California Coast Classic Bike Tour development director.
Dr. Susan Lemon is a board-certified rheumatologist with almost 10 years of experience practicing at the Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California. She has offices in both Santa Barbara and Solvang. Her busy practice focuses on the treatment of all types of degenerative and autoimmune arthritis conditions. Dr. Lemon is a member of the medical staff of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where she provides inpatient consultation to patients suffering from life threatening autoimmune conditions.
She is also a member of the faculty teaching staff for the internal medicine residency program at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and frequently has physicians in training performing elective rotations in her clinic. In 2016, Dr. Lemon was selected by the hospital’s medical residents to receive the Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Kyle Lemon is an internal medicine hospitalist with 15 years of experience working for Sansum Clinic and Division Chief of Hospital Medicine at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He cares for critically ill patients hospitalized with a wide variety of medical conditions such as sepsis, heart attacks and strokes and provides internal medicine consultation to many surgical specialists. Dr. Lemon is an active member of the Cottage Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program faculty staff, providing both didactic and hands-on clinical teaching to medical students and residents working at his side. He was selected as a Physician Leader during Cottage Hospital’s upgrade of its health information records and has served as an expert witness in numerous legal cases.
When not working, the doctors are parents to two young children and active in their school.
On this National Doctors’ Day, we express our deep gratitude to Dr. Susan Lemon, Dr. Kyle Lemon, and all physicians across the country treating over 50 million Americans and 300,000 children who battle arthritis pain and disability.
We encourage you to thank your doctor today!