I’m an 80-year-old retired podiatrist. My intention is to start a discussion of subjects that are of interest to my fellow practitioners who have decided to move on to the next chapter of life.
The first challenge is to keep the mind active. After I retired from a large university practice, l received an email. The content explained that there is a historic mansion on the campus with a need for new docents. If I had an interest in history, art, and architecture, I might be interested in applying for the volunteer position.
After taking the course for six weeks, I passed their test and began a multi-year experience of giving guided tours. This challenges the mind, as tours grow and change over the years. It is fun to frequently interact with visitors from local and distant places. After a few years, I learned of a second museum in need of docents. The tour script here was more self taught. Again, I find it enjoyable to give tours and interact with new people almost daily. Guided tours take an hour and involve a fair mount of walking and talking, so it provides a side benefit of physical exercise.
I would invite discussion from fellow retirees about what they do to keep their minds and bodies active.
—Bruce Lebowitz, DPM (retired)
Hello Bruce,
You raise a question I have not seen in my 60 years of being involved with podiatry. To best understand my status, after completing a post-doctoral fellowship in autoimmune diseases at Stanford University medical school, I started teaching at the California College of Podiatric Medicine in 1967. Along the way, I became director of the Basic Sciences Department, associate dean for curriculum affairs, a DPM with two years of postgraduate training, professor in the Podiatric Medical Department, and had a private practice for more than 40 years. I retired from CCPM in 2002 and from my private practice in December 2022.
Throughout my career in podiatry, even when working many hours, I still was physically active and pursued many interests. Since retiring, I continue to scuba dive, hike/walk, swim, visit areas I have not visited before, read several newspapers a day, train and compete in scent work with my 3-year-old English cocker, go to the theater and opera, and try to learn or do more about anything that interests me.
As an 85-year-old, I agree that one must keep the mind physically and mentally active. As much as I loved podiatry and spent many hours per week doing that, it would not have been healthy if that were all I would do. Life is interesting and we must, no matter what work or family obligations we have, continue to develop our interest and activities.
Regards,
—Arlene F Hoffman, DPM, PhD
How wonderful to hear from the illustrious Dr. Arlene Hoffman as to how she is staying so active after retirement! As one of my favorite professors at CCPM, she was always memorable for saying, "The PhD in me says..., but the DPM in me says...". I learned much from her during my time there.
As a DPM nearing retirement now myself, I appreciate hearing from Dr. Hoffmann and wish her well.
—Lisa DeTournay DPM, CCPM Class of 1987