The Aging Surgeon: Planning for Retirement Across All Stages of One's Surgical Career

jpedsurg.org

Most surgeons view their work as their persona: “what and who I am.” What could be more rewarding, or more challenging, than a career in surgery? It is no surprise that many surgeons are reluctant to “walk away” from the satisfaction, the comradery, and the respect accumulated over many years in practice. Over half of the surgeons in practice today in the US are older than 55 [1] (one in seven beyond 70 years) [2]. Furthermore, the number of aging physicians and surgeons is increasing over time, having quadrupled over the past 40 years [3].

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Article · Jan 2024 · 1 min read

In brief

This article addresses retirement planning for surgeons across career stages, examining why many surgeons struggle to transition away from practice despite an aging workforce where over half of US surgeons are 55+ and one in seven exceed 70 years old. It explores the professional identity challenges and demographic trends shaping surgical workforce planning.

Over 50% of US surgeons are older than 55, with one in seven practicing beyond age 70.
The number of aging physicians has quadrupled in the past 40 years, creating workforce planning challenges.
Surgeons often identify strongly with their work, making retirement planning emotionally complex and frequently delayed.
Early career planning for retirement is essential given the aging surgical workforce demographics.
Professional identity as a surgeon can create reluctance to transition away from practice despite age-related considerations.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.

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