Created by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Gold Humanism Honor Society, Thank a Resident Day is a special day that takes place each year on the last Friday of February to collectively show gratitude and appreciation for resident physicians and fellows, and how integral they are to the healthcare team.
Thank a Resident Day will be Friday, February 26, 2027.
Residency is a key component of graduate medical training, offering an in-depth exposure to medical practice. It can often mean long working hours matched with many responsibilities. Resident physicians serve as the hospital’s “house staff” and are an integral part of the healthcare team. They often serve as indispensable resources for medical students, especially during a clinical clerkship.
In 2018, the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a program of the nonprofit Arnold P. Gold Foundation, decided to bring to light the importance of resident physicians and fellows, and encourage medical students at GHHS chapters throughout the nation to show their gratitude and appreciation. Thank a Resident Day has since expanded to hundreds of residency programs around the country. Any healthcare site with resident physicians or fellows is welcome to participate.
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is a national nonprofit that champions the human connection in healthcare, which we define as clinically excellent care that is kind, safe, and trustworthy. If you would like to support our mission, we invite you to get more involved by signing up for our News & Notes monthly email, attending our Gold Humanism Summit, or making a donation. Any and all support is appreciated!
Nearly 1,000 residency sites participated in the 2026 celebration—explore the full list of 2026 sites.
Share your celebration moments by uploading photos & videos to the 2026 Thank a Resident Day album, and don’t forget to browse the album to see highlights from across the country.
Before uploading, please rename your files to include your institution’s name (for example: ECU_Rural_Family_Medicine_Residents.jpg).
By submitting photos, you grant the Gold Foundation permission to share them publicly. Please ensure that everyone pictured has agreed to have their image featured on social media, our website, newsletters, and other communications channels.
Many thanks to the following organizations for joining us in celebrating 2026 Thank a Resident Day and supporting resident physicians and fellows!
Here is a sampling of ideas for celebrating resident physicians and fellows on Feb. 27, 2026 — or anytime during the year. We encourage you to be creative and think of what your particular residents and fellows would appreciate and find meaningful.
Download a PDF file of a banner to hang during Thank a Resident Day. Print the banner at your institution’s print shop or any other printing business, such as VistaPrint.
All banners are sized to print at 8 feet long and 2.5 feet high, or an equivalent smaller ratio.
For questions or help with the banners, please email balcala@gold-foundation.org.
Thank a Resident Day stickers are a nice way to add an extra touch to your celebration.
Each year, the Gold Humanism Honor Society offers free stickers to participating sites for Thank a Resident Day. The deadline to request stickers by Feb. 6 has passed.
You can print stickers yourself at a print shop, such as a local university print shop, Next Day Flyers, or VistaPrint.
The files here can be used for 2-inch-by-2-inch circles, or for up to 4 inches by 4 inches in squares or circles or other fun shapes.
Full bleed means the orange is extended to the edge of the file, so that even if the sh
ape trimming is off a bit, it still looks good.
Best option, generally, to print your own stickers:
Alternate version: white circle with an orange border:
If you are printing on square stickers or another option that doesn’t need a border:
For help or questions, please email Brianne Alcala, Chief Communications Officer, at balcala@gold-foundation.org.
Help spread the word about Thank a Resident Day! Institutions can access images and text for social media, logos, and more to join us in the buzz. One school even asked their mayor to proclaim Thank a Resident Day in their city! Access the media kit.
