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THE WONDERS
OF RETIREMENT
Continued from page 23
specialties. Men actually went into OB/GYN. We had to attend I cannot imagine having done anything different in my profes-
several medical staff meetings monthly at which we often did not sional life than what I did, for it was rewarding beyond imagination.
accomplish much but they gave us the opportunity to have personal Personally, living in San Antonio has been a joy; it is a wonderful
interaction with many of our peers. Doctors were actually able to place to raise a family — echoed by having our older daughter, after
determine a meaningful charge for their services as opposed to ac- 19 years away, return with her husband and kids to live all of three
cepting someone else’s valuation of what we do. miles from the house in which she grew up. If my other son-in-law’s
job would allow, our younger daughter would be here in a heartbeat.
GROWTH OF RESOURCES Why would we ever move to a “retirement community”?
It is somewhat amazing to look back on the growth of both the
It has been my privilege to have spent my entire medical career
“bricks and mortar” and human resources since I arrived. One in this community in which so many excellent physicians have
would expect that American medicine has taken us to the Promised given superb care to so many in need. Putting the emotional stress
Land. Yet, since 1978, we have had a nearly three-fold increase in aside, I miss the satisfaction and sense of reward one gets from
our inflation-adjusted per capita healthcare costs (now greater than healing the sick. I treasure the personal ties I formed, and intel-
$9,300/year for each American) to achieve a one- to two-year in- lectual stimulation I received, from many of you who are instilled
crease in life expectancy! I will leave to others to debate the meaning with the same passion for, and dedication to, the practice of med-
of this. icine that I lived by.
I did not have a “day-to-day” plan for retirement last year, and I To my colleagues: Please carry on in the best traditions of all who
still don’t. I find that I am not at all bored, do not recall twiddling came before us. I wish you well.
my thumbs and live each day as it comes — wherever that may be
for we have had the opportunity to travel widely. This might not Richard Thorner, MD, was an Infectious Disease
be for some but I, after nine months, am without regret of the de- and Internal Medicine physician and is a BCMS re-
cision to retire. tired member.
24 San Antonio Medicine • September 2015
