National Doctors’ Day is a chance to pause and thank the physicians who show up for us day in and day out. They hold space for our questions, calm our fears, and guide us through some of life’s most challenging moments. 

At the same time, it’s no secret that many doctors are struggling. The pipeline is thinning. Burnout is high. The emotional weight of the job is real. Long hours, administrative overload, and the pressure to do more with less have taken a toll. For many, the joy of practicing medicine feels out of reach. 

This isn’t something we can ignore—and it’s something we can do something about. 

I’ve been encouraged by the growing role of digital health tools that are designed to support physicians, not replace them. AI scribes are helping reduce time spent on administrative burdens like documentation, giving providers breathing room. In radiology, clinical decision-support tools are improving how doctors interpret scans and possibly enable earlier diagnoses and interventions. And platforms like Lilly Direct are cutting through red tape by providing patients with direct access to healthcare professionals via convenient telehealth channels and simplifying steps like prior authorizations. 

These innovations are making small but meaningful shifts in how doctors work and manage their practices and patient care. They create space for what drew so many into medicine in the first place—connection, clarity, and care with the ability to practice medicine at the top of their license. 

To every doctor out there: thank you. Today, we see you. We’re grateful for all you do, and we’re committed to helping create a healthcare system that takes better care of you, too. 

Happy National Doctors’ Day.