I am asked with some regularity whether I am aiming to retire in the near term. Years ago, I never received such inquiries. Why now? Might it be because my coiffure and goatee — although finely-manicured — has long entered the gray area? Could it be because many other even younger physicians have given up their stethoscopes for lives of leisure? (Hopefully, my inquiring patients are not suspecting me of professional performance lapses!) Interestingly, a nurse in my office recently approached me and asked me sotto voce that she heard I was retiring.

“Interesting,” I remarked. Since I was unaware of this retirement news, I asked her when would be my last day at work. I have no idea where this erroneous rumor originated from. I requested that my nurse-friend contact her flawed intel source and set him or her straight.

Retirement might seem tempting to me as I have so many other interests. Indeed, reading and studying, two longstanding personal pleasures, could be extended once I enter the post-career phase. And I also hope that during this time that I will give back in some way, an effort that I should have found time for during earlier years despite the pace and pressures of a career and a a large family.

So, here are the two reasons I head off to work each day rather than lounge at home adding more newspapers to my current event regimen and pursuing additional avocations.

I enjoy what I do.

I can still do the job.

I work a full week. In fact, during the week that will follow my penning this post, I am scheduled to perform 67 endoscopic procedures — which will be a career-high, assuming they all show up! Indeed, that week of endoscopic immersion might spawn a blog post or two.

While I carry a full schedule, this is the easiest GI gig I’ve had since I started work in 1990. As some readers may recall, I no longer do any hospital work and I have graduated from the night/weekend/holiday arena. I am now charged to manage a Mon-Fri outpatient practice. Not only is my current posting less arduous and stressful, but it is also more enjoyable. I am totally focused on the patient before me without distractions and interruptions from ICU nurses and ER physicians calling with urgent medical developments. And understandably, during prior days, there were always ill hospital patients on my mind.

I thought back then that I was able to compartmentalize and set all of these distractions aside. Now that I am free from them, I realize that I was less focused in the office than I thought I was. Indeed, having only office patients to care for now has been liberating.

Tomorrow is Monday, which may land me in the Endoscopy Hall of Fame. Let the games begin!

Addendum: While 67 patients were scheduled, only 58 kept their appointments — still a career high!