Transitions in Medicine
A practical learning series supporting U of A's Department of Medicine clinicians, academics and researchers at every stage of their career.
Format: In person (sessions will be recorded and made available later)
Careers in academic medicine move through distinct phases, and each transition brings new questions, new responsibilities, and new opportunities. Our Transitions in Medicine Series is designed to help clinicians/academics navigate these moments with clarity, confidence, and a realistic understanding of what each stage requires.
This multi-session series brings together faculty experts, institutional partners, and colleagues with lived experience to explore what it takes to move through key professional transitions, early-career to mid-career, mid-career to senior roles, and eventually, into late-career planning and retirement.
Current Focus: Late-Career Transitions to Retirement
The first instalments of the series concentrate on the final phase of an academic medical career. These sessions offer practical guidance for those planning the shift out of full-time practice, clinically, academically, financially, and personally.
Why This Series Matters
Transitions in academic medicine aren’t just administrative milestones; they affect patients, trainees, research programs, teams, and your own sense of identity and purpose.
This series will help you:
- Understand your options. Clarify pathways such as phased retirement, emeritus status, post-retirement contracts, and advisory roles.
- Protect your clinical and academic legacy. Plan for responsible handover of patients, learners, labs, and research programs.
- Navigate policies and processes with confidence. Hear directly from Faculty, HR, and other key partners on what is required and what support is available.
- Plan for what’s next. Explore possibilities beyond full-time practice, mentorship, teaching, consulting, volunteering, leadership, or personal priorities.
DoM members who should attend
- Faculty across the career spectrum
- Faculty preparing for late-career transitions or retirement
- Division directors and leaders supporting faculty in transition
- Mid-career faculty planning ahead for long-term options
- Administrative and academic leaders involved in succession planning
Late-Career Transitions to Retirement Series at a Glance
Session 1 - Charting Your Path: Understanding Your Career Transition into Retirement
Get a practical snapshot of what your transition could look like. We’ll walk through the key pathways - phased retirement, emeritus status, two-year post-retirement contracts, and advisory roles, so you know exactly what’s available and how each option works.
This session is designed to answer your burning questions, clarify timelines and eligibility, and give you the context you need to start planning your next steps with confidence.
Session 2 - Patient-care Transitions: Planning Your Clinical Legacy
What does clinical transition and legacy planning look like as you move through the later stages of your career? Our goal is to ensure physicians leave this session with a clear understanding of their responsibilities and the practical steps involved in transitioning patient care.
This session focuses on how clinicians can thoughtfully and compliantly transition out of active clinical practice, ensuring continuity of patient care, and supporting divisions through effective succession planning.
Session 3 - Research Continuity & Supervision
Going on leave, sabbatical or retiring? If you supervise students, run grants, or hold active research ethics protocols, stepping away from your PI role requires more than just setting a "last day" date for your leave.
This session focuses on what researchers need to think about to ensure continuity for their staff, learners, grants, data, and clinical trials.
Learn more
Session 4 - Closing the Loop: Labs, Offices & Compliance
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
Winding down a practice or academic role involves more than handing in your keys. This session outlines the steps for responsibly closing or transferring labs, handling hazardous materials, securing or archiving patient and research data, and decommissioning office and research space.
Speakers/Resources may include:
- Environment, Health & Safety (lab/office closure)
- Privacy/FOIPP Office (research & patient data)
- Department administrative staff
Session 5 - Financial & Personal Planning
Date/Time: TBA
Retirement planning isn’t just about “when can I afford to stop working?” This session covers pensions, benefits, insurance, tax implications, and estate considerations, alongside the personal side of preparing for a major life change.
Speakers/Resources may include:
- HR Benefits & Pensions
External financial planner (with physician experience) - Retired physician on “financial surprises”
Session 6 – Life After Full-Time Practice: Redefining Your Role
Date/Time: TBA
Stepping away from full-time clinical work doesn’t mean stepping away from academic medicine entirely. This session highlights opportunities in mentorship, teaching, research collaborations, and consulting. A panel of retired faculty will share lessons learned, including what went as expected—and what didn’t.
Speakers/Resources may include:
- Dean’s Office (emeritus eligibility & process)
- Panel of retired clinicians (2–3 faculty)
- Organizational Development & Talent Management (post-retirement coaching)