National Surgical Oncologist Day2026 · Date · History
National Day Calendar’s proclamation record identifies the founders and establishes August 22 as the annual observance date; the Society of Surgical Oncology has also recognized the day.
About National Surgical Oncologist Day
National Surgical Oncologist Day is observed on August 22 and recognizes physicians who specialize in surgical treatment of cancer.
National Day Calendar attributes the observance to Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network in March 2019.
Why National Surgical Oncologist Day matters
The day is a professional-appreciation observance, not a clinical guideline or substitute for medical advice.
It recognizes surgical oncology as one part of multidisciplinary cancer care and gives patients and communities a way to thank clinicians.
History of National Surgical Oncologist Day
National Day Calendar says Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network founded the day in March 2019.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed August 22 as the annual date.
The proclamation says August 22 was chosen to honor Dr. Dwight Carlton De Risi, whose birthday is August 22, 1947.
The Society of Surgical Oncology later publicly recognized the observance; the exact first completed August 22 edition is not explicitly established.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network
National Day Calendar says they founded the observance in March 2019.
National Day Calendar Registrar
National Day Calendar proclamation for National Surgical Oncologist Day
The professional society publicly recognized National Surgical Oncologist Day, corroborating later use within the surgical-oncology community.
Society of Surgical Oncology · Public National Surgical Oncologist Day recognition
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe National Surgical Oncologist Day
Thank a surgical oncologist or care team member whose work made a difference.
Learn about surgical oncology from a cancer center or professional society.
Support a reputable cancer-support or research organization if you choose to donate.
Keep treatment decisions with your qualified medical team rather than relying on an awareness-day article.
National Surgical Oncologist Day Facts
The annual date is August 22.
Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network are identified as founders in March 2019.
The date honors Dr. Dwight Carlton De Risi’s birthday.
The Society of Surgical Oncology has publicly recognized the observance.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
National Day Calendar — National Surgical Oncologists Day proclamation (opens in a new tab)
Observance Registry
Society of Surgical Oncology — National Surgical Oncologist Day recognition (opens in a new tab)
Professional Society Publication
National Day Calendar observance page (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Surgical Oncologist Day?
22 August The documented recurrence rule is: 22 August.
Does National Surgical Oncologist Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Surgical Oncologist Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / professional-appreciation observance founded in 2019 by Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Surgical Oncologist Day?
The reviewed sources identify National Day Calendar Registrar as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network.
Is National Surgical Oncologist Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / professional-appreciation observance founded in 2019 by Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is National Surgical Oncologist Day?
It is observed annually on August 22.
Who founded it?
National Day Calendar identifies Jenni Cherlin and Lean On Me Breast Cancer Network as founders in March 2019.
Why August 22?
The proclamation says the date honors surgical oncologist Dr. Dwight Carlton De Risi, whose birthday is August 22.
When was the first observance?
The founding month and annual date are established, but the reviewed sources do not explicitly identify the first completed observance.
Other observances on August 22
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A/RES/73/296
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