Voices of Experience

JAMES MARK
Johnson and Johnson
Professor of Surgery, Emeritus

Deciding when to retire varies from department to department. My situation was unique. Being a surgeon is a 24/7 job. Since I was the only full-time faculty member in my division (thoracic surgery), I was always on call. I did my best to prepare the department in advance of my actual retirement. However, I precipitated a search by becoming emeritus in 1997. Immediately thereafter I was recalled to 100% duty because there was no one else. More »

STANLEY SCHRIER
Professor of Medicine (Hematology),
Emeritus

I’m probably busier now than I was when I was retired. Now I see patients, do research and teach. Also I’ve just received two new grants. I changed from being a ‘lab rat’ to becoming a clinical investigator – something I thought I’d never do. At a certain point it became apparent that I wouldn’t be able to get grants for my basic lab research , so I switched gears. Now I draw upon my clinical experience to obtain funding for both my clinical and research activities. More »

LINDA CORK
Professor of Comparative Medicine

I was working almost entirely off grant funding; research salaries are often not as high as clinical salaries. As a single parent, I had two children to put through college by myself, so there wasn’t a lot of saving until that was past. So, for me, availability of funds for retirement might have been a bigger issue than for some others.  But, individuals who have several children, aged parents, or other financial responsibilities also would have concerns about adequate retirement income. More »