What Would Happen if You Couldn’t Practice Anymore?

My Story

I was 59 years old and thought I had many more years of Plastic Surgery practice ahead of me. I purchased the standalone office building of my dreams and undertook a major renovation, including a surgical facility. 

I knew I needed to plan for my succession soon, including recruiting. This was the plan, although my own end of career seemed distant…or so I thought.

I resolved to do so soon, but never got the chance. Some months after the grand opening of my office and I was settled in, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was a big surprise as I had been diligent about physical exams, screenings and my health in general. That and other medical problems ended my plastic surgery career.

I am well, thankful and happy that for a number of years I have been cured of colon cancer. My days of practicing medicine are over, but I dedicated my life to making sure that physicians, who spend their lives taking care...

Standing Firm Amidst Change - 2010

Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

The New Year: A Fine Time for Introspection and Renewal

In the course of 365 days of the year, we live our roles at home and work that we have set for ourselves. We perform our various tasks, whether planned or improvised, usually without reflecting on our character and purpose. Most of us are pretty clear on that and our understanding seems to lie within rather dormant…until life's major events get our serious attention.

My Exclamation Point

I refer to these as life’s exclamation points. These are events such triumph, tragedy and end of career transition.

For most of my life I lived splendidly. So it was, until I experienced one of my life’s exclamation points that suddenly and unexpectedly ended my career as a Plastic Surgeon. Cancer has a very emphatic way of doing that. Treatment was immediate, the cure took longer. Thankfully, cancer is a thing of the past… for real. I am thankful to...

Aspen Elegance - 2019

Sierra Nevada, NV

The Benefits of Proactive Preparation

When the time to transition from your practice draws closer, you will likely start thinking about when and how to prepare. Questions will arise about personal, professional and practice matters.

Whether you're in group practice, a solo practitioner or otherwise employed, there are important professional matters that are necessary for you to address.

When to Begin?

It’s very difficult to know exactly when is the right time to begin to plan, primarily because this is an unfamiliar experience. It’s surprising to physicians how involved and time consuming the process can be. Consequently, they often wait too long to begin to develop their plans, let alone implement them. So, when is the right time to start planning and preparing?

Here’s a tip for timeliness: At the core, the process of transition is a very personal endeavor. It really begins when you begin thinking about it more often than...

Expressing Gratitude - 2006

Sonoma, CA 

May you have wonderful holidays!

Enrique

The Alaska Range - 2015

Alaska

Resilience

When the topic of human resilience comes up in writing or conversation, it’s natural to think about strength, toughness, adaptability, flexibility, etc. These attributes are commonly associated with an individual’s character, personality and is reflected in his responses to significant challenges.

In the course of your life, you may encounter major trials, trauma and perhaps tragedies. I refer to these as “life’s exclamation points.” They have in common that they often elicit resilience born of urgency and at times, the desire to survive.

Endurance

There’s another human quality that is the companion of resilience. The kind that is not readily evident in a person’s response to occasional crises. That attribute is endurance.

While resilience is a manifestation of flexibility, the ability to “bounce back,” endurance is the will to persist toward a grand goal, deliberately and...

Factors That Can Affect Your Perspective

It's common for physicians to look forward to their End of Career Transition. Yet, some don’t look forward to it for a variety of reasons. They share a degree of apprehension born of many concerns that coexist with their positive aspirations.

I know physicians that have one or the other perspective. However, more commonly, they experience a blend of both. As I reflect on my personal experience, understanding of human nature as well as that of the transition process, it's not surprising.

However positive the outlook, besides financial and other questions, there are usually other preoccupations that need to be resolved. These questions and answers reside within you and it's up to you to identify and answer them. You will benefit, as doing so will help you achieve your renewal and fulfillment that is the essential purpose of a successful transition.

The Personal Experience

The End of Career Transition is not an event. It's a process that...

Transition to Triumph - 2013

Grand Teton National Park, WY

The Time to Think 

It's commonly familiar that it's in those quiet moments when our mind is free to wander, that we are the most creative.

For me, it's commonly during morning coffee or perhaps fly fishing on a beautiful river for trout or salmon.

I usually make no effort to think about anything in particular. And yet, the more my mind wanders, the more meaningful are the insights, ideas and innovations that emerge.

I believe that this simple discipline can be beneficial as you plan your desired lifestyle after the End of Career. Now is the time for you to create plenty of time and space to comfortably design your roadmap. The map that will take you in the direction that you want your life to go…with confidence.

The best time to study a map is before you begin your journey.

The Illusion of Abundant Time

When the moment arrives, you may find that the time you have at your disposal seems unlimited compared to your...

Tranquility Amidst Grandeur - 2018

Sierra Nevada, NV

How To Prepare For Success

The successful preparation of your practice for succession and sale requires careful planning. There are several stages of the process that evolve in a natural, practical manner.

It is best to create plans that correspond to each of these stages. Each of these plans will provide the blueprint that will guide you and your staff through each of these phases successfully.

Phases

There are three concerns that should be addressed in a thoughtful, structured matter in order to optimize the probability of a good outcome. These are: preparing your practice, optimize its value and prepare for the recruitment and introduction of a new associate.

The underlying principle of preparing your practice as it functions presently, is that it is not the same thing as preparing it for a new associate. Your practice may or may not be functioning optimally for you presently. Either way, an analysis should be undertaken of its...

Splendor Amidst Transition - 2013

Carson Canyon, CA 

 On Planning and Prospering 

When you start thinking about preparing for your end of career, personal and professional matters will likely come to mind.

Whether you're in group practice, a solo practitioner or otherwise employed, there are important professional matters that are necessary for you to address.

When to Begin?

It’s very difficult to know exactly when is the right time to begin to plan, primarily because this is an unfamiliar experience.

I have discussions with colleagues who find themselves in the initial phase of their planning. It’s often the case that they have waited much too long to begin to develop their plans, let alone implement them.

This is a tip for timeliness: The process of transition really begins personally when you begin thinking about it considerably more often than you’re used to. When you find yourself in that situation, your transition has already begun....

Autumn Splendor - 2017

Sierra Nevada, NV

You Come First

The impending end of your career comes with a blend of thoughts and feelings that vary widely. They reflect the temperament, personalities and circumstances of those of you that are anticipating your transition or actually going through it.

Pondering and Planning

I know that the thinking that is applied to planning in a timely manner can range from minimal to substantial and proactive. In the case of the former, the results are all too often a much less favorable outcome than what could have been. In the latter instance, they are described by success.  Either way, at some point, the results become evident.

The feelings that you will likely experience can also vary widely: from joy of anticipation to downright dread. It is often that the former is experienced by of those of you who plan proactively, whereas the latter is more likely the outcome for those who do not.

In my previous article I discussed “The Big...