Our vision is to support DoM faculty to transition toward and through retirement as a fundamental and rewarding part of the career arc of academic medicine.
Optimal career transition is both a result of, and a contributor to, overall well-being. We want to emphasize this duality and encourage transition/retirement to be viewed as a productive part of the life arc.
We want academic careers to end in a planned and successful way. This involves not just financial planning but also a planned and structured approach to reduction of activities. To make the transition successful in all domains, a strong sense of individual worth and identity that extend beyond the formal professional role is crucial. Developing and nurturing this sense of identity and worth is a career-long process that we intend to promote through wellness and mentoring initiatives.
Transition and retirement also have a time and purpose to ensure that the quality of patient care, research and teaching are maintained. This can be a sensitive issue in which transparency and fairness are key. Encouraging self-awareness and insight throughout the career arc can help mitigate these late career challenges.
We want the institutions we work within (hospital, department, and university) to have a fair and compassionate approach to our retirement that values not only our work and our legacy but also our financial and emotional well-being.
We want careers to transition and end in a way that facilitates renewal and innovation within our institutions, departments and divisions. By facilitating this renewal, the end of an academic career can be as meaningful as the start.
