O10
OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE PHYSICIANS TRANSITION TO RETIREMENT: AN INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF PREPARATION, PLANS, AND INTERESTS
R. J. L. Heron, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
Background:
The average age of Society of Occupational Medicine/ Faculty of Occupational Medicine (SOM/FOM) physicians is 60 years. Their retirement decisions significantly impact on the access to specialist OH capability. No previous studies have surveyed occupational medicine physicians (OMPs) to understand their activities, plans, and preparation for retirement. This international survey of OMPs was conducted to understand the maturity of their retirement plans, including financial readiness.
Methods:
An anonymous international cross-sectional survey was sent in mid 2023 to members of: the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), SOM and FOM, South African Society of Occupational Medicine (SASOM), Indian Association of Occupational Health (IAOH), and Medichem, an international organization of occupational physicians in the chemical industry
Results:
497 OMPs responded Internationally (USA-282; UK-97 ;India-36; South Africa-30; Other-52). 278 work full-time, 160 part-time, and 58 volunteer.
The average age of UK respondents was 63 years, less than half working full-time. Approx. half physicians aged <70 years have a written financial plan, with at least 1 in 6 uncomfortable about retirement plans. After leaving formal employment, 73% desire paid full-time work of which 30% plan to work as consultants. There is significant interest in opportunities for part-time work and volunteering, particularly professional societies (20%), mentoring (15%), and academic work (14%).
Conclusions:
Many Occupational physicians desire to work beyond formal retirement, with choices potentially limited by inadequate financial planning. Their preferences present untapped specialist capability for service providers, OM societies and academic institutions to support them and engage with them.
References:
Burton, Wayne N. MD1; Stave, Gregg M. MD, JD, MPH2; Baase, Catherine M. MD3; Heron, Richard J.L. MB ChB4; Thirumalai, Rajgopal MD, DPH, DIH, DNB5. The Occupational Medicine Physician: Planning for and Transitioning into Retirement. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ():10.1097/JOM.0000000000003054, January 19, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003054
Stave, Gregg M. MD, JD, MPH1; Burton, Wayne N. MD2; Heron, Richard J.L. MB ChB3; Baase, Cathy MD4; Thirumalai, Rajgopal MD, DPH, DIH, DNB5. Occupational Medicine Physicians Transition to Retirement: An International Survey of Preparation, Plans, and Interests. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ():10.1097/JOM.0000000000003053, January 19, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003053
GMC (2023) State of medical education and practice in the UK Workforce report. gmc-uk.org/stateofmed
