Change, Career Transitions, and Retirement in Allergy-Immunology

Melinda Rathkopf¹, Ray S Davis², Dana V Wallace³, Thomas A Fleisher⁴, Michael E Conti⁵, Marylee Verdi⁶, Dennis K Ledford⁷, Don Bukstein⁸, David B K Golden⁹, Jonathan A Bernstein¹⁰, David M Lang¹¹, John Oppenheimer¹², Matthew Greenhawt¹³, Mary Kay Hillinger¹⁴, John O'Day¹⁵, Russell Settipane¹⁶, Marcus Shaker¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga.
² Professor in Clinical Pediatrics (retired), Division of Allergy Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Miss; The Problem Based Learning Institute, LLC, Chesterfield, Miss.
³ Department of Medicine, Dr Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
⁴ American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Milwaukee, Wis.
⁵ Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and Department of Anesthesia, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Nurse Anesthesia Program, University of New England, Portland, Maine.
⁶ Student Health, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida and James A. Haley V.A. Hospital, Tampa, Fla.
⁸ Allergy, Asthma, and Sinus Center, Milwaukee, Wis.
⁹ Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.
¹⁰ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
¹¹ Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
¹² Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
¹³ Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Arlington, Va.
¹⁴ Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (retired), Hanover, NH.
¹⁵ Massachusetts General Hospital (retired), Wentworth-Douglas Hospital, Dover, NH.
¹⁶ Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI.
¹⁷ Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH; Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH; Section of Allergy and Immunology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH. Electronic address: Marcus.shaker@dartmouth.edu.

PMID: 41314467
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2025.11.018

Review

Change, Career Transitions, and Retirement in Allergy-Immunology

Melinda Rathkopf et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2026 Jan.

. 2026 Jan;14(1):94-102.

doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2025.11.018. Epub 2025 Nov 26.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga.
² Professor in Clinical Pediatrics (retired), Division of Allergy Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Miss; The Problem Based Learning Institute, LLC, Chesterfield, Miss.
³ Department of Medicine, Dr Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
⁴ American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Milwaukee, Wis.
⁵ Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and Department of Anesthesia, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Nurse Anesthesia Program, University of New England, Portland, Maine.
⁶ Student Health, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida and James A. Haley V.A. Hospital, Tampa, Fla.
⁸ Allergy, Asthma, and Sinus Center, Milwaukee, Wis.
⁹ Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.
¹⁰ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
¹¹ Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
¹² Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
¹³ Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Arlington, Va.
¹⁴ Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (retired), Hanover, NH.
¹⁵ Massachusetts General Hospital (retired), Wentworth-Douglas Hospital, Dover, NH.
¹⁶ Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI.
¹⁷ Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH; Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH; Section of Allergy and Immunology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH. Electronic address: Marcus.shaker@dartmouth.edu.

PMID: 41314467
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2025.11.018

Abstract

Transition during and toward the end of the clinical practice of medicine awaits us all sooner or later. Thoughtful planning and engagement with colleagues can encourage a successful transition. This review outlines important considerations and practical advice for any clinician considering a career transition or retirement, an inevitable process for which preparation can never be initiated too early. Key factors include self-awareness of motivation, trade-offs, resources, personal strengths and limitations, networks, and action plan. Gradual change advantages natural human processes of accommodation while leveraging appreciative inquiry and promotes opportunities for health and wellness. Leaning and learning forward approaches help to foster service and mentoring to improve community engagement and satisfaction.

Keywords: Career transitions; Pivot; Retirement; Wellness.

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Change, Career Transitions, and Retirement in Allergy-Immunology

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Change, Career Transitions, and Retirement in Allergy-Immunology

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