I gave notice today!

[Sarah S]

Congratulations. I retired from practice ( IM) at 56 It is strange indeed to let your license go. But you have so much to look forward to. I am happy for you

 

[kgtest]

Deciding to give up my license was the hardest part of my decision. Paying the license fee and getting my continuing education would be relatively minor expenses. The problem is that it would also require carrying malpractice insurance. That would run me 10-15K/yr and it's just not worth it, so once I stop working in June, I will put my license on inactive status. There is a way to reactivate it but the state website is awful so I'm not entirely clear on the process were I to want to do that. But I think once I'm done, I'm done. I don't see myself practicing again in the future, especially after any extended gap.

My FIL retired from practice, and COO of a sizable heart clinic. From what I understand... as a Doc, you never truly are "done". He taught his daughter the trade, well a couple of them, one is an RN, the other a PA. And The "doc talk" never really ends. I still catch him bringing up old "war stories" and funny anecdotes from his practicing days.

Just the other day he was joking about some sort of "sternum rub". I love the humor as my family is cut from the engineer's cloth and its refreshing and insightful.

I respect the hell out of him, and you as well. Thanks for taking the "oath". I can imagine letting the license lapse will be tough, but you earned it, you deserve it, and it's your time to enjoy yourself now.

 

[SecondAttempt]

Congratulations Steve! I'm just a couple of months out myself so I know the feeling. In my case the exact date is a little fuzzy for reasons I won't go into, mostly having to do with an orderly transition. I'm required to give 30 days notice but I have already given a verbal notice. My desired date is March 31 but I think it might be as late as June 30th.

 

[More Cowbell]

Congratulations on your career completion!

 

[tmitchell]

Congrats!!

 

[LateToFIRE]

Congratulations! Welcome to the Class of 2024!!!

 

[disneysteve]

Congratulations Steve! I'm just a couple of months out myself so I know the feeling. In my case the exact date is a little fuzzy for reasons I won't go into, mostly having to do with an orderly transition. I'm required to give 30 days notice but I have already given a verbal notice. My desired date is March 31 but I think it might be as late as June 30th.

Congrats to you as well!

 

[38Chevy454]

Congrats on making the decision to fully retire. I was also an engineer with a PE, and I stopped paying for that license as well once I retired. I had/have no plans of needing it for work, so why continue paying the fees to keep it? It's been about 6.5 years retired for me so far and been a great ride to this point.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Congratulations on the decision! Now you will have more time to arbitrage on ebay!

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

It would be Walt Disney World for us, but no immediate plans. We actually haven't been there since October 2021 which is the longest we've gone since before we were married and took our first trip together in 1990. I've been somewhat disillusioned with a lot of the recent changes. Also, my wife has had some serious medical issues the past couple of years couple with my 93-year-old mother needing more and more attention. We haven't traveled at all since May 2022 though if all is stable, we will be going to Mexico in just under 2 weeks. If that works out okay, maybe we'll plan our next Disney trip.

Yeah- I hear you! My mom will be 94 next month so I get that. It's a lot easier to accommodate her needs now that I'm retired. Not nearly as stressful although there are still times!

Our last trip was in 9/2022 after 4 years which is much longer than usual. It was in the middle of not only a heat wave but high humidity. I'm a Californian living in the Sacramento valley so heat I'm used to but not the humidity! Everyone was cranky, including the employees. It was miserable. Crowded more so than typical in September.
Grandkids still had a great time though.
I stopped doing the rides like space mountain. I just can't take the fast jerking movements.
Star Wars land was great - next time I need to remember ear plugs-yes I've gotten to that age where the loudness of things really bothers my ears.

It was my first full vacation since I had retired and it was nice to not need to keep checking my work phone.

We are thinking of going in late November or early December this year so the kids can see the Christmas decorations. We shall see if that pans out!

 

[SJhawkins]

It's kind of interesting, at my last visit my Dr gave me a heads up he is going to be done when he turns 59 and suggest I do the same, best advice a Dr has ever given me. My Dr and I are the same age and 59 is comming on fast, although 58 sounds better!

He tells me first hand how many of his patients he sees that run into issue, don't make it to 70 etc and he just wants enjoy another chapter while he can. I'm sure his work makes it much more clear than us non doctor types will ever understand.

Conrats on your retirement and enjoy.

 

[ut2sua]

Wow. Congrats. It must have been liberating for you to give the notice.
Considering your profession, I would be emotional if I were you giving up that license. Personally, I like the spirit of your profession so much that I convinced one of my kids to join. It was difficult for me to give my own notice 2 years ago, but I have been glad I took that final step. Wishing you the best days ahead, and thanks for all the work you have done for humanity.

 

[Koolau]

Congratulations on your decision. Best of FIRE experiences to come!




Just a little piece of me feels sad when I hear of a doctor retiring. I'm at that age where I'm losing a doctor (to retirement) every 3 or 4 year or so. It's so hard to find a doctor that just "fits" that I hate to lose one.


But forget all that. Enjoy!

 

[disneysteve]

Considering your profession, I would be emotional if I were you giving up that license.

Absolutely. That was actually the thing that I mentally had to wrap my head around the most before pulling the trigger. It wasn't the finances. I'll go back to being an average Joe, having to contact a doctor when I need something rather than being able to take care of it myself.

 

[disneysteve]

Just a little piece of me feels sad when I hear of a doctor retiring. I'm at that age where I'm losing a doctor (to retirement) every 3 or 4 year or so. It's so hard to find a doctor that just "fits" that I hate to lose one.

I get it. Even though I'm only 59 and hardly an "old timer", I definitely have a lot more of the "old school" mentality than my younger colleagues.

 

[skyking1]

You can't turn it off. You will still see things and know, and have the ability and skill to save lives.

 

[mystang52]

Congrats! Doing the pat-time gig for a while has no doubt helped you transition to full time ER.

 

[RetMD21]

Deciding to give up my license was the hardest part of my decision. Paying the license fee and getting my continuing education would be relatively minor expenses. The problem is that it would also require carrying malpractice insurance.

Wow, I didn't know that was a thing. In Michigan I am free to just keep an active license and work or not. When I pick up the odd temp job here and there the insurance is provided.

Congratulations and good luck to you.

 

[disneysteve]

Wow, I didn't know that was a thing. In Michigan I am free to just keep an active license and work or not. When I pick up the odd temp job here and there the insurance is provided.

Congratulations and good luck to you.

I need to double check on that. I might be wrong.

 

[Yipper]

I had my annual review meeting today and used it as an opportunity to give notice of my retirement.

Congratulations! I did essentially the same in August and final day was mid-October. It's only been a few months but I am so glad I didn't do OMY (which I did last year ).

I know how much money I have. I do NOT know how much time I have.

Good luck!!!

 

[cyber888]

Congrats DisneySteve.

Now you can just "Play doctor" in Disney, because you won't have a medical license.
Congrats Doc Enjoy your retirement.

 

[Koolau]

Wow, I didn't know that was a thing. In Michigan I am free to just keep an active license and work or not. When I pick up the odd temp job here and there the insurance is provided.

Congratulations and good luck to you.

I need to double check on that. I might be wrong.

Yeah, I would have thought if you did "pick up" or fill-in at a clinic or hospital, etc. THEIR insurance would cover you. I think, if I were a doctor, that would be an ideal retirement. W*rk when you want, where you want and set your own hours. If no one wants you with those restrictions, then drop the license, etc. Just a thought.

Actually, although I'm sure "independent" doctors still exist, I don't know of any and it's been 25 years since I've been to such a doctor. All my doctors are (and have been) in small partnerships to massive clinics or hospital groups. AFAIK their insurance is all covered by the "business" they "w*rk" for.

 

[AZ1959]

Congratulations, Steve. Big step, and a smart move to call it quits on your own terms. Now the fun begins... ?

 

[F.I.R.E User]

I had my annual review meeting today and used it as an opportunity to give notice of my retirement. Our contracts require 120 days notice. That would take me to June 12 but they'll most likely make my last day June 8 as that's the end of the pay period.


I will have been at this job for just over 8 years and June 30 would mark 31 years in practice. While many/most doctors work well into their 60's and beyond, I will be retiring 2 months shy of my 60th birthday. Although I love being a doctor and have had a great career, I have never been someone who was defined by my job like many doctors are.


I'm curious to see how I feel once I inactivate my medical license because that's when my career will truly be over. At that point, I will no longer be able to practice medicine in any capacity, even to write a simple prescription for a family member. That will definitely be kind of odd.


Bottom line is that in 4 months I will be officially done.

Congrats so how rich are you now Doc?

 

[Romer]

Congrats! I have enjoyed reading your posts. Looking forward to reading about your new adventures