Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
KevinMD
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking
KevinMD
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking
  • About KevinMD | Kevin Pho, MD
  • Be heard on social media’s leading physician voice
  • Contact Kevin
  • Discounted enhanced author page
  • DMCA Policy
  • Establishing, Managing, and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices
  • Group vs. individual disability insurance for doctors: pros and cons
  • KevinMD influencer opportunities
  • Opinion and commentary by KevinMD
  • Physician burnout speakers to keynote your conference
  • Physician Coaching by KevinMD
  • Physician keynote speaker: Kevin Pho, MD
  • Physician Speaking by KevinMD: a boutique speakers bureau
  • Primary care physician in Nashua, NH | Kevin Pho, MD
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recommended services by KevinMD
  • Terms of Use Agreement
  • Thank you for subscribing to KevinMD
  • Thank you for upgrading to the KevinMD enhanced author page
  • The biggest mistake doctors make when purchasing disability insurance
  • The doctor’s guide to disability insurance: short-term vs. long-term
  • The KevinMD ToolKit
  • Upgrade to the KevinMD enhanced author page
  • Why own-occupation disability insurance is a must for doctors

Why this plastic surgeon chose to become a high school science teacher [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD
Podcast
March 25, 2021
Share
Tweet
Share
YouTube video

“I have closed my practice, but I have no plans to retire at the age of 52. I have started the journey to become a high school science teacher. There are frequent internet postings and blogs by physicians with strategies to retire young. I suspect that many of us, not near traditional retirement age, still desire to work. At this point, I do not yet have a passion for traveling the world or for driving around the country in an RV like many former physicians. Furthermore, I still have two children who are not yet college age. I enjoy working, and I fear mental stagnation were I to retire at this point. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. From pre-school through hand fellowship, I have had 28 years of formal education. It is time for me to reciprocate and to honor the extraordinary minds of my teachers and mentors. I am excited to become a high school teacher. I was a chemistry major in college, and it will be a smooth transition to teach high school science. I judge success not by financial wealth, but by contributing to the community and finding happiness in life. I don’t miss my pager.”

Timothy Bill is a plastic surgeon.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, “Why this plastic surgeon closed his practice to become a high school science teacher.”

Did you enjoy today’s episode?

Please click here to leave a review for The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out!

Do you know someone who might enjoy this episode? Share this episode to anyone who wants to hear health care stories filled with information, insight, and inspiration.

Hosted by Kevin Pho, MD, The Podcast by KevinMD shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from.

Prev

COVID-19 recovery? My long-haul experience with infectious illness suggests disability.

March 25, 2021 Kevin 1
…
Next

Put down the knife: A neurosurgeon explains the importance of a work-life balance

March 26, 2021 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Surgery

< Previous Post
COVID-19 recovery? My long-haul experience with infectious illness suggests disability.
Next Post >
Put down the knife: A neurosurgeon explains the importance of a work-life balance

ADVERTISEMENT

More by The Podcast by KevinMD

  • Finding peace by unhooking from ego and achieving a loving presence in medicine [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Why physicians must reclaim their right to pause [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Why hormonal shifts make traditional dieting ineffective for midlife women [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD

Related Posts

  • Medical school and the science of sleep

    Sarah Murad
  • Why I got into medical school and chose not to go

    Armando Quintana
  • Is social media a friend or foe of science?

    Michael Joyce, MD
  • End medical school grades

    Adam Lieber
  • The medical school personal statement struggle

    Sheindel Ifrah
  • Why medical school is like playing defense

    Jamie Katuna

More in Podcast

  • Finding peace by unhooking from ego and achieving a loving presence in medicine [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Why physicians must reclaim their right to pause [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Why hormonal shifts make traditional dieting ineffective for midlife women [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Proactive monitoring can prevent emergencies by catching heart signals early [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Why measuring muscle mass matters more than tracking your weight [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Insulin resistance is a survival mechanism, not a broken system [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How hindsight bias distorts clinical medicine

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Whole-body MRI screening: a radiologist’s guide to preventive scans

      Amit Newatia, MD | Physician
    • Debunking 4 myths about fertility treatments for women of color

      Ilana Ressler, MD | Physician
    • Insulin resistance is a survival mechanism, not a broken system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding peace by unhooking from ego and achieving a loving presence in medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How competency-based education is driving medical education reform

      Ben Reinking, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The dangers of vertical integration in health care

      Stephanie Waggel, MD | Policy
    • Why does sex work seem like a more viable path than medicine in 2026?

      Corina Fratila, MD | Physician
    • The 9 laws of health care quality: Why metrics miss the point

      Constantine Ioannou, MD | Physician
    • Politics and fear have replaced science in U.S. pain management [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How board certification fuels the physician shortage crisis

      Brian Hudes, MD | Physician
    • The Platinum Rule in health care: Moving beyond the Golden Rule

      Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Finding peace by unhooking from ego and achieving a loving presence in medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Coprolalia and Tourette syndrome: Understanding involuntary vocal tics

      Jerome Lisk, MD, MBA | Conditions
    • How medical education debt drives the physician shortage

      Michael Jerkins, MD, MEd | Finance
    • The hidden costs of diffuse accountability in medical teams

      Gus W. Krucke, MD | Physician
    • Overcoming moral injury in medicine: a Doctor’s Day reflection

      Seleipiri Akobo, MD, MPH, MBA | Physician
    • A poem of gratitude for narrative medicine on Doctor’s Day

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How hindsight bias distorts clinical medicine

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Whole-body MRI screening: a radiologist’s guide to preventive scans

      Amit Newatia, MD | Physician
    • Debunking 4 myths about fertility treatments for women of color

      Ilana Ressler, MD | Physician
    • Insulin resistance is a survival mechanism, not a broken system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding peace by unhooking from ego and achieving a loving presence in medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How competency-based education is driving medical education reform

      Ben Reinking, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The dangers of vertical integration in health care

      Stephanie Waggel, MD | Policy
    • Why does sex work seem like a more viable path than medicine in 2026?

      Corina Fratila, MD | Physician
    • The 9 laws of health care quality: Why metrics miss the point

      Constantine Ioannou, MD | Physician
    • Politics and fear have replaced science in U.S. pain management [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How board certification fuels the physician shortage crisis

      Brian Hudes, MD | Physician
    • The Platinum Rule in health care: Moving beyond the Golden Rule

      Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Finding peace by unhooking from ego and achieving a loving presence in medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Coprolalia and Tourette syndrome: Understanding involuntary vocal tics

      Jerome Lisk, MD, MBA | Conditions
    • How medical education debt drives the physician shortage

      Michael Jerkins, MD, MEd | Finance
    • The hidden costs of diffuse accountability in medical teams

      Gus W. Krucke, MD | Physician
    • Overcoming moral injury in medicine: a Doctor’s Day reflection

      Seleipiri Akobo, MD, MPH, MBA | Physician
    • A poem of gratitude for narrative medicine on Doctor’s Day

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today

Copyright © 2026 KevinMD.com | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme

  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Why this plastic surgeon chose to become a high school science teacher [PODCAST]
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...