Employee Recognition & Employee Engagement | C.A. Short Company

2026 Healthcare Awareness Days & Recognition Calendar | C.A. Short Company

Written by C.A. Short Company | Feb 17, 2026 1:00:00 PM

Throughout 2026, there are meaningful days, weeks, and months dedicated to raising awareness for important health topics and honoring healthcare professionals.

These observances create built-in opportunities to recognize your healthcare staff and reinforce appreciation through your engagement and recognition programs.

Whether you’re a healthcare leader, HR professional, employer, or educator, consider adding these dates to your calendar to proactively plan recognition moments and awareness initiatives. If you’d like support bringing these campaigns to life, we’re here to help.

*Dates are subject to change. 

2026 Healthcare Awareness Months

January 

Awareness Days:

  • 12: National Pharmacist Day
  • 23: Maternal Health Awareness Day

Awareness Weeks:

  • 18-24: National Healthy Weight Week
  • 18-24: National CRNA Week

All Month:  

  • Cervical Health Awareness Month
  • National Birth Defects Awareness Month
  • National Blood Donor Month
  • National Glaucoma Awareness Month

February 

Awareness Days: 

  • 3: National Women Physicians Day
  • 7: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • 9-15: Cardiovascular Professionals Week

Awareness Weeks: 

  • 1-7: National Patient Recognition Week
  • 11-17: National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week
  • February 26 - March 3: National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

All Month:  

  • American Heart Month
  • Black History Month
  • National Cancer Prevention Month
  • Wise Health Care Consumer Month

 

March 

Awareness Days: 

  • 6: National Dentist’s Day
  • 10: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • 11: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day
  • 15: Long COVID Awareness Day
  • 16-22: Healthcare HR Week
  • 30: Doctors’ Day

Months:

  • National Nutrition Month
  • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
  • Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
  • Brain Injury Awareness Month
  • Long COVID Awareness Month

April 

Awareness Days:  

  • 7: World Health Day
  • 8: National Healthy Schools Day
  • 22: Earth Day

Awareness Weeks: 

  • 7-13: National Public Health Week
  • 20-26: Medical Lab Professionals Week

All Month:  

  • National Minority Health Month
  • Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
  • Alcohol Awareness Month

 

May 

Awareness Days: 

  • 19: Personal Support Worker Day
  • 23: Medical Coder Day

Awareness Weeks: 

  • 4-10: National Hospital Week
  • 6-12: National Nurses Week
  • 18-24: EMS Week

All Month: 

  • Women’s Health Month
  • Mental Health Awareness Month
  • Arthritis Awareness Month

June 

Awareness Days: 

  • 19: World Sickle Cell Day
  • 27: National HIV Testing Day

All Month:  

  • Men’s Health Month
  • Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
  • Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
  • PTSD Awareness Month

July 

Awareness Days:

  • 8: International Paramedics Day
  • 28: World Hepatitis Day

All Month:  

  • Juvenile Arthritis Month
  • National Park & Recreation Month
  • UV Awareness Month

August

Awareness Days:  

  • 23: Health Unit Coordinator Day
  • 30: National Grief Awareness Day

Awareness Weeks:  

  • 4-10: National Health Center Week

All Month:  

  • National Immunization Awareness Month
  • National Breastfeeding Month
  • Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

September 

Awareness Days:

  • 17: World Patient Safety Day
  • 18: National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day
  • 27: National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

All Month: 

  • National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
  • National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
  • Blood Cancer Awareness Month

October 

Awareness Days: 

  • 15: Medical Assistants Recognition Day
  • 15: National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day

Awareness Weeks:  

  • 6-12: National Physician Assistant Week
  • 6-12: Healthcare Supply Chain Week
  • 21-25: National Health Education Week

All Month: 

  • Health Literacy Month
  • National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  • National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month
  • National Bullying Prevention Month

November 

Awareness Weeks: 

  • 3-9: National Allied Health Professions Week

All Month:

  • National Diabetes Month
  • Native American Heritage Month
  • National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

December 

Awareness Days: 

  • 1: World AIDS Day

Awareness Weeks: 

  • 4-8: National Influenza Vaccination Week

Ready to build your 2026 recognition calendar? Let’s create a plan that keeps appreciation visible all year long.