What's Important: Retirement, Viewed 2 Years Later.

Abstract

At the age of 77, I retired from an active hand and upper-extremity practice at an academic institution. I had been involved in leadership positions in many national orthopaedic organizations and most recently have served on the Board of Trustees for The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. For over 46 years, I enjoyed the interactions with residents and fellows. Fortunately, I remained healthy and active with no major medical issues and prided myself on being an excellent surgeon and mentor with a busy practice. The decision to retire did not come lightly. After decades of dedication to orthopaedic health care, what would it feel like to step away? Would there be a “void” in my life? I was shocked to discover that I am far from bored in retirement. Now 2 years in, I am fully embracing this new phase of life. As I reflect on why that is, I realize that the seeds of a “successful” retirement are sown over the course of many years—and that while retirement may involve stepping away from work, it does not necessarily mean stepping away from one’s community. If asked to list the keys to a successful retirement, I would offer the following: When in a busy practice, remember to make time for life outside of work. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, including 2 children, both of whom are now surgeons, and 6 healthy grandchildren. My wife and I have been married for 56 years. While my career involved long hours and numerous professional activities, to have focused solely on my career would not have led to a successful or fulfilling professional life. Balance is needed and lays the foundation for a rich life. As much as possible, plan ahead financially. To be sure, life is expensive. My wife and I made a point to live within our means and started saving early on. We sought the counsel of advisers at different stages so that, from a financial standpoint, we would be ready to retire if and when retirement beckoned. Physical activity and social engagement are extremely important. We enjoy shared activities with family and friends, with travel, skiing, biking, golf, and sailing among our interests. We are fortunate to spend winters in Florida in a golfing and sports community, and summers at our cottage in Maine. We have actively enjoyed the company of friends, old and new, as much as possible during the pandemic. I am more involved now in social activities, sports, reading, and travel than at any other period of my life. Maintain contact with your peers. Among those I regularly see are several friends from the orthopaedic community whom I’ve known for more than 40 years. The enthusiasm we shared for our work during our lengthy careers has transferred to new interests in retirement, enjoyed together. The bonds of friendship are lasting and personally very gratifying. When the passion for work is gone, it is time to think about retirement. For quite a long time, I never thought I would retire. However, I found myself less and less enthusiastic about my practice, with the increased administrative and insurance requirements. More importantly, interactions with patients were not as gratifying as they once had been. My passion was abating. I would come home from the hospital and complain about my day, which I never did before. Moreover, mentoring younger members of the profession had always been one of the most satisfying parts of my career, and I knew from that work that there are brilliant surgeons who are coming up who can serve our profession well. I did not want to be one of the “old guys” hanging on. It was time for me to make a change and let the next generation take over, to continue to improve the quality of care that our patients deserve and pursue academic excellence. Surprisingly enough, I do not miss practice and can look back on my career with satisfaction. I am now in a new chapter of an active life.