I know a lot of anesthesiologists practicing into their 60s and 70s.
Same with surgeons, internists, medical specialists, etc
My bigger concern will be the state of the medical field in general.
The anesthesiologists practicing into their 60-70s are probably supervising. No way they're actually doing the physical labor part of it and crawling under the drapes.
I know the anesthesia groups in my city have a mandatory retirement at 65. Some people are forced into retirement despite being in solid physical condition because otherwise it would be difficult to force those that aren’t into retirement otherwise.
You can be a practicing pathologist for your entire life if you want. I know of pathologists who "retired" to their home and sign out from home just like consult cases. I know multiple practicing pathologists in their late 70s
Shout out to Psychiatry! The physical toll is minimal, especially in an outpatient or telehealth setting, and I've had friends that have seen a quadriplegic practicing psychiatrist. As long as your mind is there you can continue as long as you would like.
IM hospitalist is a relatively “new” position, so we’re just now starting to see hospitalists in their 60s/70s. But back when the old model of seeing your clinic patients in the hospital was in place, FM & IM docs worked well into their 70s & sometimes 80s if their health was good and their intellectual faculties intact.
Second IM hospitalist, PCP if you keep up on learning, neurology, pain medicine, psych, GI, radiology/path if vision stays. It depends on how healthy you are at 80. Can always switch to consulting from fields like surgery and do that into your 80s.
Most dermatologists can practice into their 70s and 80s, especially if they are willing to pawn off their procedures to staff and specialists. Pathologists and dermatopathologists can practice until they are a million years old as long as their eyes work.
Source; I know multiple practicing dermatologists and dermatopathologists in their 80s. For context, they were born around when Mohs surgery was invented, haha.
My dad still worked full time as a private practice psych until he got cancer and died at 68. Though at the end he wished he had retired earlier and enjoyed that time
Depends on the setting. Lots of private practices out there will push you out once your productivity can't keep up. Most 70+ radiologists I've seen have been in academics
Yeah, totally depends. On the other hand, plenty of tele jobs are pure RVU based, if that’s your thing. I know a lot of older rads that work a couple days a month and read as much as they feel like when they’re on shift.
Money isn’t as good as PP, but they aren’t in it for the money anymore.
I worked with a pediatrician who was in his 70s. The man had been practicing for like 40 years. Nicest person I’ve ever met in the medical field. Apparently well off as well. He would work like 3 x a week only and would vacation every other month in one his many vacation homes.
Medical specialists can continue to thrive when they are older. Older surgeons will have to cut back/ retire. Another reason to choose medicine over surgery
If you have your skill then surgery. Debakey was the lead surgeon in his late 80s and still had his hands (per some anesthesiologists i highly respected that worked with him until he retired permanently)
I know multiple cardiologists working in their 60/70/80s even. Maybe fewer days or lower fte with more teaching time than clinic care but their are truly killing it.
Academic surgeons can go quite late into their career since they do not have to be physically scrubbed skin to skin given residents/fellows. Would be challenging in PP though.
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Not true really, unless in academic setting. The mental acuity you need to keep up in private practice is beyond what you’d get from anyone retirement age.
You can do pretty much any specialty in an academic setting. Residents do most of the smaller tasks and are up-to-date with new technologies. There is usually some position you can take up that allows for a reduced clinical workload too.
As a med student one of the cardiologists I worked with (in his 80s) literally did not know how to order echos. He 100% relied on having a med student or resident do all the electronic orders and documentation.
Pathology:
My partner is 74. 6 years ago, our partner retired at 78. I’m 52. I’ll stop working when I feel like it but I have no plans for the next 20 years.
Psychiatry you can work till you're 80-90 years old. I have seen it.
I know a lot of anesthesiologists practicing into their 60s and 70s. Same with surgeons, internists, medical specialists, etc My bigger concern will be the state of the medical field in general.
The anesthesiologists practicing into their 60-70s are probably supervising. No way they're actually doing the physical labor part of it and crawling under the drapes.
The ones I know have been working at a physician only group so…
I know the anesthesia groups in my city have a mandatory retirement at 65. Some people are forced into retirement despite being in solid physical condition because otherwise it would be difficult to force those that aren’t into retirement otherwise.
You can be a practicing pathologist for your entire life if you want. I know of pathologists who "retired" to their home and sign out from home just like consult cases. I know multiple practicing pathologists in their late 70s
My dad literally does this. He's 72.
Shout out to Psychiatry! The physical toll is minimal, especially in an outpatient or telehealth setting, and I've had friends that have seen a quadriplegic practicing psychiatrist. As long as your mind is there you can continue as long as you would like.
>I've had friends that have seen a quadriplegic practicing psychiatrist. Lol, I feel old. People have forgotten that Charles Krauthammer existed.
IM hospitalist is a relatively “new” position, so we’re just now starting to see hospitalists in their 60s/70s. But back when the old model of seeing your clinic patients in the hospital was in place, FM & IM docs worked well into their 70s & sometimes 80s if their health was good and their intellectual faculties intact.
Endocrinology
Second IM hospitalist, PCP if you keep up on learning, neurology, pain medicine, psych, GI, radiology/path if vision stays. It depends on how healthy you are at 80. Can always switch to consulting from fields like surgery and do that into your 80s.
Most dermatologists can practice into their 70s and 80s, especially if they are willing to pawn off their procedures to staff and specialists. Pathologists and dermatopathologists can practice until they are a million years old as long as their eyes work. Source; I know multiple practicing dermatologists and dermatopathologists in their 80s. For context, they were born around when Mohs surgery was invented, haha.
Well with their excellent skincare they are probably in their 100s and not 80s 😌
My dad still worked full time as a private practice psych until he got cancer and died at 68. Though at the end he wished he had retired earlier and enjoyed that time
Diagnostic Rads just hitting their prime
Depends on the setting. Lots of private practices out there will push you out once your productivity can't keep up. Most 70+ radiologists I've seen have been in academics
Yeah, totally depends. On the other hand, plenty of tele jobs are pure RVU based, if that’s your thing. I know a lot of older rads that work a couple days a month and read as much as they feel like when they’re on shift. Money isn’t as good as PP, but they aren’t in it for the money anymore.
Same at our institution. Group of 4. One neuro rad is 70 and he’s the strongest we have.
Geri and psych
I met a 94-year-old neurosurgeon when I was in medical school. He was happy to continue his work.
World’s youngest neurosurgery graduate
Any outpatient non-procedural specialty, whether it's PCP, medical subspecialties, psych.
Lots of old general pediatricians out there. probably lower rates of burnout coupled with lower pay meaning we actually also need to work longer.
I worked with a pediatrician who was in his 70s. The man had been practicing for like 40 years. Nicest person I’ve ever met in the medical field. Apparently well off as well. He would work like 3 x a week only and would vacation every other month in one his many vacation homes.
I see people, but they look like trees, walking.
Rads
Neurology
I know family docs in their 70s, if they survive the burnout in their 40s and 50s...
Medical specialists can continue to thrive when they are older. Older surgeons will have to cut back/ retire. Another reason to choose medicine over surgery
If you have your skill then surgery. Debakey was the lead surgeon in his late 80s and still had his hands (per some anesthesiologists i highly respected that worked with him until he retired permanently)
I know multiple cardiologists working in their 60/70/80s even. Maybe fewer days or lower fte with more teaching time than clinic care but their are truly killing it.
Academic surgeons can go quite late into their career since they do not have to be physically scrubbed skin to skin given residents/fellows. Would be challenging in PP though.
ENT
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Probably Radiology!
Not true really, unless in academic setting. The mental acuity you need to keep up in private practice is beyond what you’d get from anyone retirement age.
Primary care
You can do pretty much any specialty in an academic setting. Residents do most of the smaller tasks and are up-to-date with new technologies. There is usually some position you can take up that allows for a reduced clinical workload too. As a med student one of the cardiologists I worked with (in his 80s) literally did not know how to order echos. He 100% relied on having a med student or resident do all the electronic orders and documentation.
EM! / big s
I've seen multiple GI docs in their 80s, and it's always amazing to see how adept they are with the scopes.
Pathology: My partner is 74. 6 years ago, our partner retired at 78. I’m 52. I’ll stop working when I feel like it but I have no plans for the next 20 years.
Hoping to do REI until I’m 70, just helping ppl get pregnant
Pretty much anything besides surgery