Health observances offer a dedicated time to raise awareness about important health topics. Some health observances are sponsored by the federal government, while others are sponsored by specific health associations or other organizations. Most notably, health observances offer a great way to engage patients or members when a certain health condition may be more top of mind – whether through a marketing campaign to acquire new patients or through clinical patient education to improve outcomes.
Wherever your patients or members are in their care journey, WebMD Ignite can help you build deeper, enduring relationships with them. Specifically, our content solutions and KramesStore.com print education promote positive patient experiences and outcomes as they engage with trusted education and your organization. Additionally, our marketing solutions can help you jumpstart your content marketing campaigns.
To help you plan your 2024 outreach initiatives, here’s a list of known health observances with links for more information.
January 2024
Thyroid Awareness Month
National Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
National Blood Donor Month
Days to Note:
World Braille Day Jan. 4 (annually)
National Pharmacists Day Jan. 12 (annually)
National IV Nurse Day Jan. 25 (annually)
World Leprosy Day 2023 Jan. 28
February 2024
American Heart Month
International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
Wise Health Care Consumer Month
Weeks to Note:
National Patient Recognition Week: Feb. 1-7 (annually)
Perianesthesia Nurse Week: Feb. 4-10
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; Feb. 7-14 (annually)
Cardiac Rehabilitation Week: Feb. 11-17
Phlebotomist Recognition Week: Feb. 12-16
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week; Feb. 26-March 1
Days to Note:
National Wear Red Day Feb. 2
Give Kids A Smile ® Day Feb. 2 (annually)
World Cancer Day Feb. 4 (annually)
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Feb. 7 (annually)
Toothache Day Feb. 9 (annually)
International Epilepsy Day Feb. 12
National Donor Day Feb. 14 (annually)
National Caregivers Day Feb. 16
National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day Feb. 22 (annually)
Rare Disease Day 2023 Feb. 29
March 2024
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month
Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
National Kidney Month
National Nutrition Month
National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
Save Your Vision Month
Trisomy Awareness Month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week March 10-16
Patient Safety Awareness Week March 10-16
National Sleep Awareness Week March 11-17
Brain Awareness Week March 11-17
National Poison Prevention Week March 17-23
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week March 18-24
Days to Note:
World Birth Defects Day March 3 (annually)
Multiple Personality Day March 5 (annually)
National Dentist Day March 6 (annually)
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 10 (annually)
World Kidney Day March 14
Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered Day March 14
World Sleep Day March 15
Certified Nurses Day March 19 (annually)
National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 20 (annually)
World Oral Health Day March 20 (annually)
World Down Syndrome Day March 21 (annually)
World Tuberculosis Day March 24 (annually)
American Diabetes Alert Day March 26
Epilepsy Awareness - Purple Day March 26 (annually)
National Doctors’ Day March 30 (annually)
Anesthesia Tech Day Mar. 31 (annually)
April 2024
Alcohol Awareness Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
National Autism Awareness Month
National Cancer Control Month
National Donate Life Month
National Facial Protection Month
National Interprofessional Healthcare Month
National Minority Health Month
National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Oral Cancer Awareness Month
Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
STI Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Cesarean Awareness Month
Defeat Diabetes Month
Primary Immunodeficiency Awareness Month
Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Public Health Week April 1-7
Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week April 16-22
National Infertility Awareness Week April 21-27
National Pediatric Transplant Week April 21-27
Every Kid Healthy Week April 22-26
National Infant Immunization Week April 24-30
World Immunization Week April 24-30
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week Apr. 24-30
Patient Experience Week April 29 - May 3
Air Quality Awareness Week Apr. 29 - May 5
Days to Note:
World Autism Awareness Day April 2 (annually)
World Health Day April 7 (annually)
National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day April 10 (annually)
Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day April 16 (annually)
World Hemophilia Day 2023 April 17 (annually)
DNA Day 2023 April 25 (annually)
World Malaria Day 2023 April 25 (annually)
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 27
World Day for Safety and Health at Work April 28 (annually)
May 2024
Arthritis Awareness Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Mental Health Month
National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Osteoporosis Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month
Melanoma Skin Cancer Month
National Cancer Research Month
National Critical Care Awareness Month
Older Americans Month
Preeclampsia Awareness Month
Oncology Nursing Month
Skin Cancer Prevention Month
Weeks to Note:
North American Occupational Safety and Health Week May 5-11
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week May 5-11
National Nurses Week May 6-12 (annually)
National Hospital Week May 12-18
Food Allergy Awareness Week May 12-18
National Women's Health Week May 12-18
National Skilled Nursing Care Week May May 12-18
Neuroscience Nurses Week May May 12-18
Healthcare Technology Management Week May 19-25
National EMS Week May 19-25
Days to Note:
World Hand Hygiene Day May 5 (annually)
Melanoma Monday May 6
International No Diet Day May 6 (annually)
National School Nurses Day May 6 (annually)
World Asthma Day May 7
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day May 8
National Student Nurses Day May 8 (annually)
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day May 9
National Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness May 11
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day May 12 (annually)
International Nurses Day May 12 (annually)
Critical Care Wear Blue Day May 17
World AIDS Vaccine Day May 18 (annually)
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day May 18 (annually)
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day May 19 (annually)
World Autoimmune/Auto-inflammatory Arthritis Day May 20 (annually)
Don't Fry Day May 24
National Senior Health & Fitness Day May 29
World No Tobacco Day May 31 (annually)
June 2024
Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month
Cataract Awareness Month
Men's Health Month
Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
National Aphasia Awareness Month
National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month
National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
National Scleroderma Awareness Month
PTSD Awareness Month
Scoliosis Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
Men's Health Week June 10-16
National Nursing Assistant Week June 13-19
Healthcare Risk Management Week June 17-21
Helen Keller Def-Blind Awareness Week June 25-July 1
Days to Note:
National Cancer Survivors Day June 2
World Brain Tumor Day June 8 (annually)
World Blood Donor Day June 14 (annually)
Autistic Pride Day June 18 (annually)
World Sickle Cell Day June 19 (annually)
World Vitiligo Day June 25 (annually)
National HIV Testing Day June 27 (annually)
July 2024
Cord Blood Awareness Month
Group B Strep Awareness Month
Healthy Vision Month
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month
Sarcoma Awareness Month
UV Safety Month
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Therapeutic Recreation Week July 7-13
Days to Note:
World Hepatitis Day July 7-13
August 2024
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
Digestive Tract Paralysis Awareness Month
Gastroparesis Awareness Month
National Breastfeeding Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Psoriasis Action Month
Summer Sun Safety Month
National ACS Month
National eye exam month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
World Breastfeeding Week Aug. 1-7 (annually)
National Health Center Week Aug. 4-10
Contact Lens Health Week Aug. 19-23
Days to Note:
World Lung Cancer Day Aug. 1 (annually)
National Minority Donor Awareness Day Aug. 1 (annually)
International Overdose Awareness Day Aug. 31 (annually)
September 2024
Blood Cancer Awareness Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Healthy Aging ® Month
NICU Awareness Month
National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National ITP (Platelet Disorder) Awareness Month
National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month
National Recovery Month
National Sickle Cell Month
National Yoga Awareness Month
Newborn Screening Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Pain Awareness Month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Sepsis Awareness Month
Sexual Health Awareness Month
Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month
World Alzheimer's Month
Weeks to Note:
National Clinical Nurse Specialist Recognition Week Sept. 1-7 (annually)
Vascular Nurses Week Sept. 8
Folic Acid Awareness Week Sept. 8-14
National Assisted Living Week Sept. 8-14
National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 8-14
Neonatal Nurses Week Sept. 14-20
Nursing Professional Development Week Sept. 15-21
National Surgical Technologists Week Sept. 15-21
Global ITP Awareness Week Sept. 15-22
ASPEN Malnutrition Awareness Week Sept. 16-20
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week Sept. 16-22
Fungal Disease Awareness Week Sept. 16-20
Falls Prevention Awareness Week Sept. 16-20
Days to Note:
World Sexual Health Day Sept. 4 (annually)
World Physical Therapy Day Sept. 8 (annually)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day Sept. 9 (annually)
World Suicide Prevention Day Sept. 10 (annually)
National Celiac Disease Awareness Day Sept. 13 (annually)
Get Ready for Flu Day Sept. 17
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day Sept. 18 (annually)
World Alzheimer’s Day Sept. 21 (annually)
Falls Prevention Awareness Day Sept. 22 (annually)
National Women's Health & Fitness Day Sept. 25
World Pharmacist Day Sept. 25 (annually)
Sport Purple for Platelets Day Sept. 27
World Rabies Day Sept. 28
World Heart Day Sept. 29 (annually)
October 2024
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
American Pharmacists Month
Healthy Lung Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Liver Awareness Month
National Chiropractic Health Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Health Literacy Month
Home Eye Safety Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
Mental Illness Awareness Week Oct. 6-12
National Primary Care Week Oct. 6-12
National PA Week Oct. 6 - 12
Healthcare Supply Chain Week Oct. 6-12 (annually)
Bone and Joint Health Action Week Oct. 12-20
National Healthcare Quality Week Oct. 15-21
International Infection Prevention Week Oct. 20-26
Respiratory Care Week Oct. 20-26
National Pharmacy Week Oct. 21-27
National Health Education Week Oct. 21-25
Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23 - 31 (annually)
National Healthcare Facilities & Engineering Week Oct. 27-Nov. 2
Days to Note:
World Meningitis Day Oct. 5 (annually)
World Cerebral Palsy Day Oct. 6 (annualiy)
Child Health Day Oct. 7
National Depression Screening Day Oct. 7
Emergency Nurses Day Oct. 9
World Mental Health Day Oct. 10 (annually)
International Day of the Girl Oct. 11
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day Oct. 13 (annually)
Global Handwashing Day Oct. 15 (annually)
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Oct. 15 (annually)
World Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day Oct. 15 (annually)
National Pharmacy Technician Day Oct. 15
World Food Day Oct. 16
National Mammography Day Oct. 18
World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day Oct. 19 (annually)
World Osteoporosis Day Oct. 20 (annually)
National Check Your Meds Day Oct. 21
International Stuttering Awareness Day Oct. 22
National Medical Assistants Day Oct. 23
World Occupational Therapy Day Oct. 27 (annually)
World Psoriasis Day Oct. 29 (annually)
World Stroke Day Oct. 29 (annually)
November 2024
American Diabetes Month
Bladder Health Month
COPD Awareness Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
Mouth Cancer Action Month
National Adoption Awareness Month
National Epilepsy Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Healthy Skin Month
National Home Care & Hospice Month
National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Diabetes Education Week Nov. 3-9
National Radiologic Technology Week Nov. 3-9
Nurse Practitioner Week Nov. 10-16
Perioperative Nurse Week Nov. 10-16
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week Nov. 17-23
Days to Note:
World Radiography Day Nov. 8 (annually)
National Diabetes Heart Connection Day Nov. 9 (annually)
World Pneumonia Day Nov. 12 (annually)
World Diabetes Day Nov. 14 (annually)
Operating Room Nurse Day Nov. 14 (annually)
Great American Smokeout Nov. 16 (annually)
World Prematurity Day 2023 Nov. 17 (annually)
National Family Health History Day Nov. 21
National Rural Health Day Nov. 21
December 2024
National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Give the Gift of Sight Month
Weeks to Note:
National Handwashing Awareness Week Dec. 1-7
National Influenza Vaccination Week Dec. 1-7
Days to Note:
World AIDS Day Dec. 1 (annually)
International Day of People with Disability Dec. 3 (annually)
