When It’s Time to Retire: Notes From the Afterlife

David Loxterkamp

doi:10.1370/afm.2204

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When It's Time to Retire: Notes From the Afterlife by David Loxterkamp, MD
K V Ramani

Published on: 16 April 2018
Volunteer medical work is the best!
Samuel W. Warburton

Published on: 13 March 2018

Published on: (16 April 2018)
Page navigation anchor for When It's Time to Retire: Notes From the Afterlife by David Loxterkamp, MD
When It's Time to Retire: Notes From the Afterlife by David Loxterkamp, MD
K V Ramani, Retired economist
This poignant essay on the transition from working career to retired life moves me immensely. Strangers though we are, I nonetheless sense in you a kindred soul on the other side of the planet (I live in Malaysia). Someone who has put into words my own sentiments in a way I never could have.
More than your captivating eloquence, what resonates with me is the fluid ease with which you have opened your heart and mind. It...
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This poignant essay on the transition from working career to retired life moves me immensely. Strangers though we are, I nonetheless sense in you a kindred soul on the other side of the planet (I live in Malaysia). Someone who has put into words my own sentiments in a way I never could have.
More than your captivating eloquence, what resonates with me is the fluid ease with which you have opened your heart and mind. It is an invitation to people to take a stroll with you across the garden of life. Alternating between pride and humility, joy and wistfulness, the prosaic and the profound... a remarkable picture drawn by a thousand words that are more vivid than something that hangs on a wall.
It has been a very long time since I have been so affected by the simplicity of a questing intellect and a transparent soul. The last time was about 40 years ago when I came across an essay of Bertrand Russel. Thank you for the privilege, David.
Competing interests: None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (13 March 2018)
Page navigation anchor for Volunteer medical work is the best!
Volunteer medical work is the best!
Samuel W. Warburton, retired family physician
The joy of caring for patients after retirement does not have to stop. The administrative and electronic hassles go away. Yea! I speak as a 74 yo retired family physician, now retired for 4+ years. Life does move at a slower and more enjoyable pace. My reading now is not only medical journals [NEJM, JAMA, AFP and AFM] but also newspapers and books. Real, current top 10 books. If you want to get your blood boiling, re...
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The joy of caring for patients after retirement does not have to stop. The administrative and electronic hassles go away. Yea! I speak as a 74 yo retired family physician, now retired for 4+ years. Life does move at a slower and more enjoyable pace. My reading now is not only medical journals [NEJM, JAMA, AFP and AFM] but also newspapers and books. Real, current top 10 books. If you want to get your blood boiling, read Dark Money by Jane Mayer.
I encourage all retired physicians to seek volunteer medical opportunities. As a primary care physician, many doors should be open to you. In Durham NC, I volunteer at a homeless shelter clinic, a residential substance abuse program and precept at a federally qualified health center for about 2 1/2 sessions per week. And once a year I'm fortunate to be part of a medical team from our church that serves in Haiti. I do wish I had started the Haiti work earlier in my career. Its wonderful to provide medical care to folks in need and have no worries about revenue, income, administration, etc. It is very satisfying to continue to use my license and experience to help others.
Travel opportunities in retirement are great. I can recommend the Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Tanzania, Antarctica, Alaska, etc. And making time for grand children is a plus. But I predict you will feel most satisfied and fulfilled after a volunteer session.
Competing interests: None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.