Hi,
I guess this decision is more of a struggle than I realized, seeing that I blogged on it twice.
But I have given up practicing medicine to focus exclusively on the nonprofit CLL Society until I retire a second tine
Here are my thoughts
:
cllsociety.org/2019/08/reti...
Stay strong.
We are all in this together.
Brian
Brian Koffman MDCM (retired) MS Ed
Co-Founder, Executive VP and Chief Medical Officer
CLL Society, Inc
Sounds like this was an incredibly hard decision to come to but you are answering your heart! I wish you new energy to tackle what comes your way! It seems in life we are always seeking to find a way to contribute at the same time have some sort of balance in whatever our new normal is-I wish you the best!
Dear Dr. Koffman,
You are a God send to all of us who have CLL. God Bless you. I don't post often on this site. Diagnosed in 2017 but have had it since 2014. Prognosis markers are very favorable indolent disease however I know anything can change. I PRAY God continues to give you the strength, wisdom, understanding, compassion and love you have for all of us. You were in my prayers when you were going through stem cell/CAR-T treatment here in Seattle. Yes we are all in this together.
Thanks
As someone who has also taken the decision to partly retire (from a job far far less prestigious than yours) I can understand your feelings. Your contribution to CLL is greatly appreciated by us all so great for us of course.
Thank you Brian for your ongoing help.
Peggy 😀
You are an inspiration to us all Dr Brian. Thanks for all your good work and encouragement. I’m sure you’ll be greatly missed by your patients. Take care.
Kind regards Josephine
Dr. Koffman: Solving “the risks of recurrent catastrophic therapeutic missteps” you reference in your blog is an admirable, important and an achievable goal. As someone who received initial poor advice/treatment from a general oncologist at a “world class” Boston hospital I thank you from the bottom of my heart for pursuing this goal.
I’m still shocked that in 2018 the oncologist who initially treated me for SLL didn’t simply say to me this is an incredibly complex disease with an evolving treatment landscape. You need to sit down with an expert and make an informed decision. It would have also been nice for him to explain to me what a clinical trial was. Fortunately, I subsequently found my way to Dana Farber where some of the most intelligent and compassionate SLL/CLL clinicians and researchers reside. Dr. Koffman, I wish you all the best with your goal of educating doctors and patients alike. Unfortunately, you have many hills to climb.
I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day,
Mark
Thank you for your dedication!
Thank you so much for everything you do for us Dr. Koffman. God bless you!
Thank you. May you have much success in your endeavor. We are all indebted to people like you who devote so much of their time and energy to helping us.
I agree with GMa27. Thank you doesn't seem enough. Words can't say how much we appreciate you and all your efforts for all of us.
Paula
Congratulations Dr. Koffman for an amazing career in medicine. You have an contributed so much. You will be sorely missed by your patients, of that I am certain.
You have helped so many people here and at the CLLsociety.org
God bless you for your work.
-John
Thank you for all that you have done! Thank you for your encouragement, strength and resilience. Thank you for your insight and guidance. Most of all thank you for your perseverance. My favorite line from your announcement is “And once CLL is cured, the CLL Society can move on too.” Thank you for that. Best of luck on your journey Brian!
GP
Congratulations on your decision. I’m sure it was difficult, but always follow what’s in your heart. You’re an amazing doctor with so much talent. Blessings, Sally
Wishing you the best of retirements filled with fun and happiness. Congratulations Dr. bkoffman.
I can’t begin to tell you how much valuable information I have found on the CLL Society website. Thank you and your wife for all you do to keep us informed and full of hope.
Thank you for all you do!
. . . so you are about to join the 'I can't imagine how I used to fit work in' clan - may it be a long, happy and healthy retirement with lots of rest and pleasurable time.
Be a bit wary of making the CLL Society your new full-time job - we do appreciate all you will still achieve but do put yourself really high on your priority list.
Too late! It's already more than a full time job. I agree Dr Koffman and his wife need to put themselves really high on their priority lists. This is not so much a retirement announcement but a change of vocation announcement - and what a difference that vocation change has made already!
See: guidestar.org/profile/46-41...
Thanks Brian and Patty!
Neil
Taking this step would not come lightly to you, Brian, but how wonderful that you can now focus exclusively on your passion, the CLL Society. You have helped me and many others, through your personal and professional contributions. Though you’re retiring from one job, you’re throwing yourself more fully into another...congratulations on living your best life and helping others with CLL do the same! I noticed your blog post from last month where you were experiencing unexplained fatigue. That has to be a concern. How are you currently feeling? Here’s hoping your energy will be restored!
Cynthia
You are continuing to take care of many, many pts, all of us and more, and for that we thank you. As my Jewish friends would say, you are a true mensch.
Teddo
I retired from self enployment in 2017 I adjusted slowly building a new routine and by making a plan
So happy for you! Congrats!
You are an amazing man, physician, and CLL Car-T survivor! You have made such a difference to all of us with your dedication to CLL and the CLL society. I don’t know how you were able to even maintain a private practice. You may be retiring from your practice, but will always be the caring, inquiring, compassionate health care professional who has truly walked the path of all on the CLL path. You are one of the few physicians who have done this and we all have benefitted in more ways than you may ever know. Take good care of yourself with your very busy schedule making you a priority.
Stay strong and thank you for being you!!
Blessings
Hi Brian. Just want to say that you are an inspiration to us all. Hope you find solace in your chosen path. Kind regards.
Thank you for the great work you've done and will continue to do. We appreciate you!
Best of luck on your decision !
Thank you for all your on target information and support !
We all continue to benefit from your caring comments and on target advice !
Be Well !!
Dr Brian: thank you very much for dedicating a big part of your life to our community. It is a great example of love and passion to improve many lifes threatened by cll. Best Regards, Alan.
I just want to add my thanks, Brian, for all you do for the CLL community. It is very precious and MUCH appreciated.
Wishing you all the best for the future,
Paula
Brian you are a champion for our cause ! I wish all the best in your other passion, finding a cure for CLL. Thank you for all you do for this community of people who are cheering you on!
ReneeSusan
Thank you for sharing this decision with your other family, us CLLers. Your knowledge, guidance and encouraging words are greatly appreciated and eagerly sought. Thank you for all you do here!
Hello bkoffman
You have carried a very heavy schedule for some time, sounds like good idea to concentrate on what you want to do most. You are still helping others no matter which path you take. Blessings.
Good luck on your new journey. Thanks for being there and being such a mensch!
Do doctors ever really ‘retire?’ You’re way too busy for that and may have put away your stethoscope but the medical work continues in a different direction.
Not so much a retirement as a renaissance! 😉
Be happy and enjoy the next chapter Brian. Too many people still need you and as you say, ‘we are all in this together’.
Newdawn
Thank you so much for your dedication to continue to educate yourself and the cll community. I feel more secure just knowing that we truly are all in this journey together.
Miller1960
Dear Dr.Koffman, thank you so much for your help. You have kindly answered my emails.
I am most grateful for your work.
I wish you all the best. kind regards, Emma
You are my hero. The CLL society website has been my guiding light on my CLL journey. Although you retired from your “day job” you will always be a physician...it is part of you.
As a member of the CLL Society Support Group in Rochester, NY, I have personal experience of the benefits that are offered to us through your commitment, expertise and thoughtful approach. Thank you for this amazing organization.
I am new to the CLL society, I want to thank you for being here to help us with CLL . Now you can take the time to enjoy the little things in life.
This must have been a very tough decision for you Dr. Koffman after have a successful practice for so long. I know that you are doing what your heart tells you to do and that probably made it a little easier. At least you had the choice. My wife worked for a doctor for 12 years and one day he came in and said that he was retiring. Luckily my wife had just turned 62 so she decided to retire as well. She tried to find a job for a while, but it seemed that people did not want to hire "older" workers. I told her don't worry about working. You earned your retirement. Now she is having to re-invent herself and find things to do. It sounds like you have plenty to do with CLLsociety. Thank you for all of the great work that you and your team are doing for people like us! I truely appreciate it.
Chris
Your patients will miss you. We are so lucky to have you with us.
