Andrew King, MD, Offers Tips on Becoming an ‘Orthopaedic Elder’ after Retirement

I have been retired for 2 years, after 44 years of orthopaedic practice. For those 44 years, my days started with ward rounds at 6:30 a.m. I often left home in the dark and returned home in the dark! But I have no regrets. My career was interesting, fulfilling, and fun.

There are several ways to retire. One is to make a clean break from all things medical. Resign from all medical societies and affiliations. Send an email to all your patients telling them the date of your retirement and the contact information of physicians and hospitals you recommend they follow up with. Often, physicians choosing a clean break will leave the city where they have practiced and move to a more peaceful location. Some choose to spend their time exploring sports or artistic activities that they had no time for with the demands of clinical practice. These may include golf or art. I know several ex-orthopods who became furniture makers!

My path into retirement was different. I choose to step back and become an “orthopaedic elder.” I make myself available for advice and comment (but only when asked). Below are some suggestions for those who would do the same.

Stay engaged
Try to continue to attend grand rounds, research days, and visiting professor meetings. You usually will find that your attendance is welcome. You will be uniquely able to give a historical perspective to the topic being discussed. Try not to dominate the conversation. It is no longer your show. Enjoy watching the attending surgeons, some you may have mentored as residents or fellows, who are now in command!

Additionally, try to attend the meetings of your local, state, and national orthopaedic societies. Part of the fun is reacquainting with old friends and even old adversaries and, again, adding historical perspective.

Orthopaedic platforms on social media seem to be expanding exponentially. Cases are posted from around the world. You will see new technologies for old problems and sometimes old mistakes being repeated.

Offer second opinions
A significant portion of time in retirement may be spent giving opinions and second opinions on clinical problems from former patients, friends, and friends of friends. You are not paid for these opinions, but helping people based on your knowledge and contacts can give satisfaction. But you must ensure that they know you can no longer be their treating physician.

I work online with two companies that provide paid second opinions on orthopaedic cases for patients nationwide. I assess medical reports and radiographs and then have a Zoom meeting with the patient or family. Nearly always, I reassure the family that they are in excellent hands with their current physician, and I agree with his or her plan.

One common side activity that retired practitioners are attracted to is being an expert witness for personal-
injury and other legal cases. If you have a reputation for being good in court, you may find you are called upon often. Because the process is adversarial, the way to become regularly called upon is to align your opinions toward one side, plaintiff or defense.

Become a storyteller
You will have seen many interesting cases, and relating lessons derived from those cases can be interesting and educational. Set aside an evening with your computer, open Microsoft Word, click on “dictate,” and tell your story. Reading it the next day will usually make you discard it! But consider saving it and sharing with colleagues.

I have formed a loose collaboration with two medical friends. We send each other our stories. They can’t be too long (no more than 5 to 10 paragraphs), and nothing is too personal.

Potential hurdles
Although there are many ways to stay engaged after retirement, there are some hurdles in keeping up even a ramped-down practice described above.

First, you need to keep your medical license active. One problem with keeping up your medical license is that there is a mandate to document CME. I have found that attending the annual meeting of my special society confers enough CME credits for renewal, but other orthopaedic meetings and grand rounds can also confer CME credits.

Another piece of advice: Put old animosities aside. It is rare to retire from a surgical practice without some lingering memories of past rivalries or perceived unfair outcomes. It can be distressing to see a practice or institution you worked hard to build now be continued in a manner of which you do not approve. You must put it all aside.

Retirement is traditionally a time to refocus on family. Many surgeons use their retirement years for travel. Some like to explore new destinations. I like to revisit places I know and enjoy. If you have grandchildren, this is a time to create lasting memories of their grandma or grandpa.

Enjoy your hard-earned retirement years!

Andrew King, MD, practiced as a fellowship-trained pediatric and adult spine surgeon at LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, where he chaired the Department of Orthopaedics for 8 years. He was a member of AAOS, American Orthopaedic Association, North American Spine Society, and Scoliosis Research Society, and he is a past president of the Louisiana Orthopaedic Society.