Dawn Zuidegeest-Craft Starts Medical Residency at 72 After Beginning School at 69
Dawn Zuidegeest-Craft will start her medical residency at age 72 after beginning medical school at 69. She's breaking age barriers in a field where most students start in their twenties.
Dawn Zuidegeest-Craft is proving age is just a number in medicine. She started medical school at 69 and will begin her residency training at 72, an age when most doctors are retired.
Medical residency is notoriously demanding, with long hours and intense training that challenges even young doctors. Starting this process in your seventies requires exceptional dedication and physical stamina.
The medical field is seeing more older students. The pace of medical school can be tough for anyone who's been out of school for years, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Students must adjust to a very different learning speed than other programs.
Zuidegeest-Craft's journey comes as more people question traditional timelines for career changes. Some doctors who started medical school in their thirties report no regrets, finding meaningful work and financial stability even with student loans.
Her experience challenges the common belief that certain professions have age limits, especially those requiring years of additional training.
Her story shows it's never too late to change careers, even in demanding fields like medicine. This could inspire older adults considering major life changes and challenge stereotypes about age in the workplace.
Zuidegeest-Craft will begin her residency training, which typically lasts 3-7 years depending on specialty.
Was this article helpful?
0 people found this helpful