Harefuah
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Retirement can be traumatic, and physicians are not immune. The Israeli Medical Association (IMA) has been conducting a preparatory course for retirement for its members reaching retirement. The objective of the present study was to survey the characteristics of participating physicians, to map their activities following retirement, to gauge their appreciation of the course, and to assess their willingness to continue their association with the IMA. ⋯ This preliminary survey of physician retirement in Israel found that once physicians ceased working, many considered their life quality unfitting. The need to remain associated with the IMA is indicative of the large social and emotional importance of this membership.