According to a new Merritt Hawkins white paper, around 43 percent of physicians in the U.S. are 55 years old or older, and specialists have a higher average age than primary care physicians. As a result, specialists are expected to retire at a faster rate on average than primary care physicians.
The percentage of physicians age 55 or older among the following specialties is particularly high:
1. Pulmonology: 73 percent
2. Psychiatry: 60 percent
3. Noninvasive cardiology: 54 percent
4. Orthopedic surgery: 52 percent
5. Urology: 48 percent
6. Ophthalmology: 48 percent
7. General surgery: 48 percent
8. Gastroenterology: 45 percent
9. Anesthesiology: 44 percent