Who says retirement means putting your stethoscope down for good? For many doctors, it’s just a new chapter of part-time healing. A recent survey of 5,000 physicians showed that most doctors don’t see retirement as a hard stop. In fact, around 75% of doctors plan to keep working past 65—but with a catch: they want to work less, and on their own terms.
Take Dr. Elmar Arens, for example. At 66, this German general practitioner moved to a peaceful mountain retreat, ready to enjoy the fruits of retirement. But when he found that gardening and cooking weren’t enough to fill his days, he got a call from an old colleague at a local hospital. They offered him a part-time gig—and Dr. Arens jumped at the chance. Now, he works four hours a day, providing much-needed internal medicine support on an orthopedic ward. Not exactly the retirement he envisioned, but it turns out, he loves it.
Why do so many doctors keep working after retirement? For some, it’s the joy of being needed. After decades of practice, it’s hard to walk away from using all that hard-earned knowledge. But it’s not just about feeling useful—it’s about the freedom to practice without the bureaucracy that often weighs down a full-time role. According to the survey, doctors want flexible hours and less paperwork, and part-time work is the perfect solution.
And let’s face it: what better way to stay sharp than by continuing to help patients? Whether it’s checking blood pressure, answering questions at the bedside, or simply offering a reassuring smile, part-time work allows doctors to keep doing what they love, without the burnout.
So, if you’re a doctor thinking of retiring, just remember: you don’t have to give up medicine to enjoy the perks of retirement. You just have to work smarter, not harder. And who knows? Retirement might just be the beginning of your best years of practice yet.
