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Updated: May 13, 2026
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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
What do we know about retired physician assistants? A preliminary study
Jennifer M Coombs1, Roderick S Hooker, Kimberly D Brunisholz
1University of Utah, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Salt Lake City, USA.
Summary
Physician assistants (PAs) are increasingly retiring, with most retiring around age 61 after nearly 30 years in practice. Many PAs continue medically-related volunteering post-retirement.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Healthcare Workforce Studies
Background:
- Retirement is a relatively new phenomenon for physician assistants (PAs), particularly those trained in the 1970s.
- Understanding PA retirement patterns is crucial for healthcare workforce planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the retirement patterns of physician assistants.
- To identify demographic and career factors associated with PA retirement.
Main Methods:
- A national survey was conducted in 2011.
- 625 retired physician assistants were included in the analysis.
Main Results:
- The mean age of PA retirement was 61 years, with an average career duration of 29 years.
- Most PAs retired from family/general medicine or emergency medicine.
- The majority of PAs received Social Security and Medicare, with most having a pension; less than 20% retired due to health reasons.
Conclusions:
- PA retirement is an evolving concept, reflecting broader societal changes in work and retirement.
- Many PAs continue medically-related activities post-retirement, indicating a shift in traditional retirement definitions.
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