An Ophthalmologist
Views Retirement Through
the Lens of His Camera

Former TMAIT Board Chairman, Dr. Ronald Pinkenburg, or "Dr. Pink" as he's often known, can't put his finger on the connection between his chosen career as an ophthalmologist and his other passion—photography. But he knows there is one. On the surface, it's obvious: Both have to do with seeing.

"The same thing that interested me in photography may well have had a hand in the career I chose," he says. "And what I've learned as an ophthalmologist—the science of vision, color, and perception—makes taking photographs more enjoyable."

But even if he wasn't an ophthalmologist, he'd still love photography. "I'd be taking photos even if I were herding cattle."

Pursuing His Passion

His zeal for photography started in high school, when he developed a fascination for both the mechanical and visual aspects of photography. His curious tinkering turned into a life-long hobby. Now, in retirement, he travels all over the world to find beautiful landscapes to photograph.

His sojourns have taken him to Scotland, Wales, Moab, Utah, Coyote Buttes in northern Arizona, the Columbia River Gorge, and the Smoky Mountains. He considers Red Rock country in the American Southwest, the Oregon coast, the Cascade Mountains, and New Zealand among his favorite sites to photograph.

Laurel Creek in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park (voted Photo of the Year by the Tyler Photo Club, 2007); Sunset in Joshua Tree National Monument, California; Lower Antelope Canyon on the Navajo Reservation near Page, Arizona.

Until two years ago, he was also treating patients at the EyeCare Associates of Tyler, Texas. He spent more than 33 years helping his patients improve their vision.

He admits the only downside to retirement is that he misses his patients.

"My patients were like family and friends," he says. "We enjoyed keeping up with each other. Especially when I started treating the grandchildren of people I treated early on—that made it a lot of fun. Fortunately, they still call me and seek me out when we cross paths in the grocery store. We catch up."

Service to TMAIT for 16 Years

During his medical career he also found fulfillment serving on the TMAIT Board of Trustees, helping physicians with their insurance needs.

Dr. Pinkenburg was a member of the Committee on Association Insurance Programs (which later became the TMAIT Advisory Committee) from 1981-1992. Then, he was appointed to the TMAIT Board of Trustees in 1986 and served as Chairman from 1989 to 1997.

"I learned a lot about the nature of claims and what problems physicians are prone to run into," he says of his time on the Board. "We tried to structure TMAIT plans to fit physicians. Doctors have some unique injuries that can occur in the office or operating room that other insurance companies might find difficult to understand."

These days, Dr. Pinkenburg continues to serve other doctors and his community. He sits on the Smith County Medical Society's Board as a delegate to the TMA. He also volunteers at Bethesda Health Clinic Board and sees all their ophthalmic patients. Bethesda is a Christian-oriented endeavor to bring affordable health care to those working people who "fall through the cracks"—people who are above the poverty lines and don't qualify for federal funding, but don't make enough income to be able to afford health insurance.

He and his wife Pat, who have four grown children, also serve Meals on Wheels once a week, are active in their church, and participate in a Bible study. For the past 35 years, he has met with a group of other physicians for scripture study and breakfast every Wednesday morning.

Dr. Pink won't be slowing down anytime soon. This year he and Pat have already traveled to Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, England, and Alaska.

No doubt, he was clicking his camera the whole time, returning home with hundreds of landscape photos to add to his collection.

You can contact Dr. Pinkenburg at pink@eyecaretyler.com.

Term Life Insurance Premiums at an All-time Low

Today, you can buy a term life insurance policy for much cheaper than you could just a decade ago. Thanks to improved mortality rates and better efficiency in the insurance industry, rates dropped an average of 15% per year between 1994 and 1999, and an average of 4% per year from 2000 to 2007.¹

The Insurance Information Institute estimates that, for example, last year (2008) the annual premium for a 40-year-old male non-smoker buying a $500,000 20-year level term life insurance policy was about $725 if he qualified as a standard risk and $350 if he met the more stringent requirements of a preferred risk. That's only $30 - $60 per month.

Rates for women are even lower. For example, the comparable annual rate for a 40-year-old female non-smoker would be about $600 for a standard risk policy and $300 for a preferred risk.¹ If you buy when you're in your 20s or 30s, the rates could be even lower.

So talk to an insurance advisor today to find out if you could benefit from a life insurance policy.

¹Insurance Information Institute, Term Life Insurance Rates Expected to Drop in 2008, by Dr. Steven Weisbart, CLU, September 21, 2007
http://www.iii.org

Long-term Care Insurance.
Do you need it?

As Baby Boomers reach retirement age, more and more will need help with everyday living. One solution is to buy long-term care insurance.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average cost per day for a private room in a nursing home was $209 in 2008¹. That adds up to $76,285 per year! And those costs are expected to rise in coming years. Long-term care insurance could help defray the expense.

Most people purchase long-term care policies in their 50s and 60s. According to AARP, few experts suggest buying before age 50, and if you wait until after you turn 70, premiums could be prohibitively expensive or you may not qualify due to health conditions.²

AARP also suggests you may be able to forgo long-term care insurance and pay for long-term care yourself if you have assets over $1 million (for a single person), or over $1.5 million (for a couple).²

Buying long-term care insurance is a decision only you can make, and it's a tough one. Whatever you decide, you may not want to plan on Medicare to help with long-term care. Generally, Medicare does not provide support services for activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom.³ And most health insurance plans don't cover long-term care either. So you may want to talk with an insurance advisor to find out how you can make sure you're protected in your golden years.

¹U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Clearinghouse for Long-term Care Information Overview, updated April 13, 2009
http://www.longtermcare.gov

²AARP, Long-term Care Insurance: Is it Right for You (and Your Parents)? By Jonathan D. Pond, May 21, 2009
http://www.aarp.org

³U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, What is Long-Term Care? March 25, 2009
http://www.medicare.gov

TMAIT Welcomes New Board Members

Two new board members, Howard S. Garb, MD, and Bernard M. Gerber, MD, were elected during TMAIT’s annual meeting on September 4. Roberto San Martin, MD, was appointed to the board. They will serve three-year terms. Here’s more information about the new members:

Howard S. Garb, MD, Tyler, Otolaryngology
Dr. Garb is board certified in head and neck surgery by the American Board of Otolaryngology. After attending medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, he completed his residency at the UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Bernard M. Gerber, MD, Bellaire, Psychiatry
Dr. Gerber is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. After completing his training, Dr. Gerber joined the faculty of Baylor College of Medicine as Assistant Professor. Since 1982, he has been in full-time private practice.

Roberto San Martin, MD, San Antonio, Ophthalmology
Dr. San Martin graduated from UCLA and has been practicing since 1974. For the past nine years he has been the Ophthalmologist in charge of the eye clinic of Los Quijotes de San Antonio, a volunteer organization of physicians, nurses, allied health workers, and associates which provides yearly medical missions to Mexico.