What does it mean to retire? One definition states that to retire means “to withdraw from office, business or active life, usually because of age.” Withdrawal is the furthest thing from my mind!
I am now 5 years after I originally retired at the end of 2020. I do have to be honest. I enjoy getting up when I want to. I enjoy taking my hour-long walk in the morning and listening to audiobooks, podcasts or music. I enjoy spending more time with my wife and engaging in some travel. But withdrawal is not in the cards.
I once heard a wise man (Mark Del Monte, the CEO of the American Academy of Pediatrics) make a simple yet profound statement – Pediatrics is advocacy. What he was saying is that those of us who are pediatricians or engaged in the work of pediatrics are committed to advocate for children and families now and beyond – a commitment that is not time-limited. The commitment for pediatric advocacy does not end at retirement. It is lifelong.
In many ways, it intensifies after my retirement. If there is one thing that I have learned over the course of my career as a pediatrician and medical geneticist is that children and their families need tireless advocates. They need people (child health professionals and others) that care about more than themselves and are willing to do the hard work that needs to be done on behalf of children and families. So how can I withdraw from this role even when I don’t have to go to the office every day? I cannot.
I became engaged as a consultant at Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries.1 Looking to build and establish a trauma-informed “Healing Center” that will be a local, state and national resource, I am working with an incredible administration and team of dedicated professionals. I am invigorated daily with this work and so excited to be a positive contributor at multiple levels. This role has me actively working on activities, programs, education, and interactions with like-minded individuals. This role has me on the never-ending journey known as life-long learning. I can always be learning about the issues that affect children and families. I can always be learning about what influences the health of children and families. I can always be learning about actions that can make a difference going forward.
In short, my work will be ongoing, always learning and always humbled as I do the best that I can to make a difference. I can retire from work, but I cannot withdraw from service.
I plan to continue my writings and hope to also make a difference via that venue. I think words and their messaging can have a profound influence, and I am glad to send a weekly email blog that is well received around the nation.2 I’d like to think that my 44 years in medicine beyond medical school provides a basis for making observations that are important and provides a basis for converting those observations into actions that have an influence in the lives of our most fragile citizens, our children. Dr. Andy Garner and I just published the 2nd edition of THINKING DEVELOPMENTALLY: NURTURING WELLNESS IN CHILDHOOD TO PROMOTE LIFELONG HEALTH.3 And it is with a sense of satisfaction that I announce my latest project (WHAT REALLY MATTERS to be co-authored with Michael Cogdill4) will be published in Fall 2026. We will consider how truth, trust, science, civility, diversity and faith matter in our lives and how we interact with others.
We should remember that there is significant scientific evidence to show that early childhood experiences not only influence children as they grow and transition into adulthood, but this same evidence shows that these early childhood experiences affect the health of adults in terms of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and hypertension to name a few health problems in our society. So, all of the efforts on behalf of children can have a profound benefit for us all, now and far into the future.
All of the above is not written to pat myself on the back. I am not bragging. I am trying to emphasize that the work of helping our children and families is ongoing. It demands our continued efforts. For those of us that retire from the workforce, we should never withdraw from our commitment to children. I pledge to continue the work.
- https://conniemaxwell.com/dreamon/
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/readings/
- Garner A, Saul R. Thinking Developmentally: Nurturing Wellness in Childhood to Promote Lifelong Health, 2nd American Academy of Pediatrics; 2025. 200 pp.
- https://heartstrongbooks.com