Resources for Late Career Faculty - Transitioning to Retirement

The Department of Pediatrics is committed to your professional and academic success and wants to support our faculty in all career stages.  Please see below for guidance and resources related to planning for and transitioning to retirement.

Issues to Consider

  • Define your goals for retirement
  • Make financial plans
  • Assess needs for healthcare coverage
  • Be aware of institutional requirements for departing faculty appointment
  • Communicate with department and division leadership regarding any plans to reduce effort (Phased Retirement)
  • Be aware of institutional policies regarding effort status and benefits eligibility (Full-Time, Full Status Partial Load, and Part-Time status)
    • Minimum effort to retain benefits as a faculty member is .5 FTE.
  • Investigate opportunities for continued involvement after retirement
  • Determine if you are eligible for or interested in Retired or Emeritus/Emerita status with the institution
    • Benefits of Retired status include: a VU ID card, access to the campus computer network and a VU email address, and borrowing privileges for physical library materials as well as access to library buildings during regular and restricted hours. Faculty with Retired status may also attend Pediatrics Grand Rounds and continue to receive the Department's monthly newsletter.
    • Benefits of Emeritus/Emerita status include: an VU or VUMC ID card, general administrative support provided by the VUMC Office of Faculty Affairs, continuance of VU/VUMC IDs and email accounts, library access and privileges (VU ID required), weekly collaborative virtual meetings with the emeriti group (may include scholarly presentations from emeriti colleagues, faculty and guests), free vehicle registration for unreserved space in the TVC Central garage, free annual flu immunization, discounts at the VU bookstore/VU software store/VU athletic tickets, and attendance at School of Medicine general faculty meetings and meetings of the Faculty Assembly.  Emeritus/Emerita faculty may also attend Pediatrics Grand Rounds and continue to receive the Department's monthly newsletter.
  • More information on these topics can be found in the Department's Career Transition Plan and in the additional resources listed below.

Resources

Department of Pediatrics Career Transition Plan - Next 100 Day Plan
Retired and Emeritus/Emerita Status in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (eligibility, benefits, process)

Books and Articles:

“Reimagining the self at late-career transitions: how identity threat influences academic physicians' retirement considerations.” Acad Med. 2015 Jun;90(6):794-801.
“Meeting the Late-Career Needs of Faculty Transitioning Through Retirement: One Institution’s Approach.”  Acad Med. 2018;93(3): 435-439.
“Understanding the Needs and Concerns of Senior Faculty in Academic Medicine.” Acad Med 2013;88: 1927-1933.
Retire Right: 8 Scientifically Proven Traits You Need for a Happy, Fulfilling Retirement  by Frederick T Fraunfelder, M.D. and James H. Gilbaugh, Jr, M.D.
Designing your Life  by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom by Mary Catherine Bateson
The 100 Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott
Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life by George E. Vaillant, M.D.