"Retiring Well" is a short series in which retired SND members share their experiences, their wisdom, and their lessons learned to help pave the way for other retiring physicians. 

Following decades of dedicated family practice, Dr. David Luk retired in 2018. But that doesn't mean that he's stopped being active in his community. In fact, you may have seen him at a recent CME, or presenting at the 2023 JCC pre-Forum. Here, Dr. Luk shares how he stays connected, both to his colleagues and to medicine, in retirement.

What do you wish you had known before retiring?

There is no one particular thing that I wish I'd known. But retirement so far has been a good reminder for me that we have to be adaptable, because things might not always be what you plan. I had planned to play lots of pickleball in retirement, but because of my knees, I've had to find other things to do. So being able to change course has been helpful for me.

What worked well for planning your retirement?

I was lucky that I worked with people who allowed me to exit on my terms. I didn't want an abrupt change, so I reduced my workload gradually, and the other physicians at my clinic took on my patients as I did that. 

At the same time, I was - and still am - active in other areas. I continued with long-term care and hospitalist work until COVID hit and I still do some UPCC work on an on-call basis; if the time is right, I'll answer when they call, so it really is on my terms. 

I think most physicians prefer to retire more gradually. But I had a colleague in the long-term care group who planned carefully and when he retired, he just left and went traveling. I admire him for that.

How else are you staying involved in the medical community?

I've found that staying connected takes more intention and effort in retirement, which I'm happy to do. I'm lucky that I have a group of semi-retired colleagues who meet regularly for lunch or coffee. And I also meet once a month to swap stories with a group of friends from medical school. If you don't have a group, you have to start one. 

I've also found that attending in-person CMEs and Division events is a nice way to catch up on medical topics and friendships. 

Is there anything else you'd like to say on the subject of retiring well from family practice?

You have to start taking care of the financial part well before retirement. I know many physicians work with MD Financial Management. I ask friends what works for them and have done a lot of my financial planning myself - it gives me more control, and it gives me something to do, which came in handy during COVID. 

Another thing I'd say is that you have to find things to do that work within your current capabilities. Right now, I'm working on a volunteer opportunity. And the UPCCs are always looking for more physicians to take shifts if you're looking for ways to stay connected. 

Are you planning on retiring in the next 5 years? Reach out to the PES team to ask about support and connections for retiring physicians!