72-Year-Old Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Begins Medical Residency After 45-Year Career
Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft, a 72-year-old neonatal nurse practitioner with 45 years of experience, is beginning a family medicine residency after graduating from medical school at age 69. Her decision to pursue medicine came after a health scare involving her husband prompted her to reconsider her bucket list. Her late-career transition raises practical questions about employment, Medicare eligibility, and the feasibility of practicing medicine at an advanced age.
Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft began medical school at age 69 in 2022 after spending 45 years working as a neonatal nurse practitioner. A pivotal moment came when her husband experienced a health scare, prompting both of them to reconsider their life priorities and unfulfilled goals. While she initially had no plans to practice medicine after graduating, she changed her mind and is now beginning a family medicine residency at age 72. Her unconventional path raises practical challenges, including how her employer handles a resident who is simultaneously on Medicare. Zuidgeest-Craft acknowledges that her extensive healthcare background gives her significant advantages over younger medical school graduates, noting that many "young wannabes don't have a clue" about what residency entails.
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- STAT NewsCenter
Opinion: ‘They all think I’m insane’: What it’s like to start medical residency at 72
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