They put up with long hours and high stress all year long, but this week doctors here in the borough are getting a little reprieve.

Staten Island University Hospital celebrated National Doctors’ Day Wednesday at both its North and South sites. Thousands of physicians were treated to special luncheons throughout the day as a show of thanks for their hard work.

“It gives us all a reason to reflect why we went into medicine to begin with, which is to help patients and to make them feel better,” said Dr. Michael Cooper.

“It's such a nice feeling to have everybody come up to you appreciate things you do on a daily basis and see what an effect you have on everyone around you,” added Dr. Cheryl de Silva.

Doctors’ Day is observed on March 30th each year. The tradition started in Georgia back in 1933.