We have lost so many physicians to retirement. It's devastating to not only the patients but to those of us who work with them. The workload has doubled, sometimes tripled for us. Patients are left scrambling to find coverage for a myriad of conditions. And the wait is interminable. We have cancer patients who were in the middle of chemotherapy and now have a new physician who has taken their case temporarily while the patient hunts for a new oncologist. This, among many other reasons, is why I won't stay past my retirement age. And my medical center is desperately trying to hold on to those of us who are seasoned veterans in the laboratory. People are leaving healthcare careers at an alarming rate. And there are not enough people deciding to enter the healthcare field. As much as I feel for the patients, I can't remain any longer than necessary.