LIFE AFTER MEDICINE
My Life After Medicine
by ALBERT B . HOSKINS III , MD , MACP
“ Nothing … absolutely nothing … and I ’ m not going to start doing that until I get up about noon .” -Bum Phillips , NFL football coach , when asked about what he was going to do in retirement .
“ A successful retirement is dependent upon putting about as much time preparing as one does preparing for a career .” -Wilfrid C . Gettelfinger , MD , FACP when asked about his retirement from medicine .
When you consider the achievement of becoming a physician , many years of study and goal-directed hard work are required . It is understandable that this , plus the years of practice , does not exactly prepare one for retirement , but when it happens , are we ready ?
In my case I was fortunate to have friends who went before me into retirement , as well as many patients who ’ d successfully retired , to be role models . Although we should never concentrate only on that day when we leave our practice , it is in the future for most physicians . So what have I learned in my own retirement ?
The first feeling of retirement was not of relief in my case . It was a reality check . I awakened with a feeling of irrelevancy . No longer were my patients seeking me out for my help , and life would go on without my input . I had tried to prepare for this by finding physicians to accept my patients , who were also my friends , into their excellent care . However , I did worry about them and regretted the loss of contact and interaction on a daily basis .
I was fortunate to practice with wonderful men and women both in my office and in the hospital . The daily interaction and collegiality of our relationship would never be quite the same , although we will always be friends .
My various office staffs with whom I interacted and cut up with daily was another loss . I had to adjust to the relative quiet of being at home .
Speaking of home … Judy , my wife of almost 56 years , had to adjust to me invading her domain and thus rules had to be followed in order to keep from stepping on one another ’ s toes . And … then there was the assignment of new “ household duties ” that I was expected to assume !
I learned quickly that there are only so many tee times or trips I could take without being very bored . So … I had to find other venues .
6 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE