Longevity Question...

[anothercaliapp]

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This issue has been kicked around and understand that EM is a fairly new specialty with the oldest EM trained docs, roughly, in their fifties. But I wanted to see if anyone practices or knows of physicians working in the EM well into their 60's or even 70's. I am headed to medical school in the fall and will be in my mid 40's when I complete a 3-5 year residency. Currently exploring specialties.

I currently volunteer in the ER but all of the docs seem fairly young. Is EM something that I can practice at 70? Does anyone know of someone that age still practicing?

 

[RustedFox]

I'm a senior resident at "Midwest Univ. EM Residency Program". Two of our core faculty are in their late sixties, and they're great at what they do. I kinda want to be just like them when I grow up (won't use the phrase "get old", 'cause they really don't show it except for the white hair).

 

[ccfccp]

One of our attendings is in his late sixties and probably works more often then most of the others in the group. He loves his job, and he loves his colleagues and doesn't want to leave. I think it all depends on your outlook and what you're looking for.

That said, you can pretty much write your own schedule in a lot of places and I've seen people go into "fake" retirement, where they work 4-6 shifts/month to finance other interests.

 

[deleted6669]

I work with a guy who was in the first em residency class at denver with peter rosen. guy's like 67 and still works full time and manages the group. he was the first em residency trained doc in our state.

 

[Khaos]

I work with a guy who was in the first em residency class at denver with peter rosen. guy's like 67 and still works full time and manages the group. he was the first em residency trained doc in our state.

Just to let you know, google Bruce Janiak...the first Emergency Medicine trained resident in 1970. He also still works and is a great guy! If you really want to impress him, bring him some Guarana. Just saying 🙂

 

[Hercules]

I work with a guy who was in the first em residency class at denver with peter rosen. guy's like 67 and still works full time and manages the group. he was the first em residency trained doc in our state.

One of my partners is in his early 60s. He was the first EM trained physician in our state. He works full time with no sign of slowing down. He also is the city EMS director, on the ACEP state board, and deploys with DMAT teams frequently. I think most days he has more enthusiasm than I do. So yes, there are definitely older EM guys practicing.

 

[docB]

There are a lot of old guys practicing. But just as anectdotes don't make data there are also a lot of guys who have to slow down as they get older.

All the older guys I know say that doing different shifts and working single coverage in high volume places gets, well, old. And so they cut back, find easier situations (double coverage, day shifts, etc.).

Ug. Gotta haul my old butt up to the unit to tube.

 

[jbar]

Also how many surgeons are working into their 70s? How many cardiologists? Sure it's harder than an office based practice like outpatient peds, but I don't think most people's goal is really to work in the hospital till they are 80.

 

[Entgegen]

Also how many surgeons are working into their 70s? How many cardiologists? Sure it's harder than an office based practice like outpatient peds, but I don't think most people's goal is really to work in the hospital till they are 80.

Perhaps with constantly decreasing reimbursements, people are having to rethink their expectations of how long they plan to practice?

 

[jbar]

Was anyone's goal ever to work till 80? Regardless of pay?

 

[ChemMed]

Was anyone's goal ever to work till 80? Regardless of pay?

I've always wanted to do a job I loved so much that I would never want to retire from it. I guess I'll find out if medicine will be that. Its still a bit to early to tell.

 

[anothercaliapp]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. My primary interest is in EM and I wanted to ensure that a long career (25 + years) after residency was possible. It depends on the individual but I am glad to hear that people can and do thrive in this field in later years.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

A long career is certainly possible. But you'll find a large percentage of those in EM are those who see medicine as a job, not a calling. As such, when able to outright retire or transition to half time or less (easy to do in EM) many do. I had a conversation the other night with a colleague who's less than 10 years out of residency. We discussed how we'd split a half time position beginning in about ten years. We're both good saver/live-below-your-means types so a 20 year career should just about do it for both of us as far as HAVING to work. At that point I'll only do it as much as I want to, which is probably 6-8 shifts month. Sorry, I don't want to do this until I'm 70, so I'm saving and investing so I don't have to. I'm positive I'll be done by 60 at the latest, and probably be done by my early 50s, at least down to 6-8 a month.

But it isn't that I'm burnt out, it's that I have other interests.

There are two types of docs that work into their 70s:

1) The type who never developed other interests (or loved their work THAT much) and really feel a calling to medicine
2) The type with 3 ex-wives and no savings

 

[RustedFox]

I echo what "ActiveDutyMD" says above.

For me, its a job, and that's it. I don't want to hear about it when I go home, I don't want to think about it when I go home, I don't want to.... whatever.

The types that tend to go into EM are like that. You can certainly make a big-time career out of it... but I'd rather make a career out of fishing and playing roller hockey, with EM shifts to support my habits - like bills and such.

 

[Apollyon]

I know of one heme/onc guy on the east coast that is about 85 and still taking Q4 call. There's an 82 y/o neurologist here, along with a heme/onc guy that is, I believe, 95 years old.

EM, though? Not so much, especially in Hawai'i.