Dr. Amir Ansari has worked everywhere from rural hospitals with skeleton crews to high-volume emergency departments in major metro areas.
But what keeps him coming back to locum tenens isn’t the pace or the procedures. It’s the people.
“I love meeting new staff and connecting with patients,” he said. “You get a glimpse into different communities and ways of working. It’s like traveling with a purpose.”
Dr. Ansari’s journey into medicine began in family practice, but he quickly discovered a passion for emergency medicine. “I liked starting from scratch with each case,” he said. “You see everything in the ER from newborns to older adults. You have to think fast and act even faster.”
A natural fit with locum tenens
Dr. Ansari picked up his first locum assignment immediately after completing his residency in the early 2000s. He was initially drawn to the way hospitals operated at different volumes and with varying resources, and that curiosity never left. He has since practiced in hospitals across the country, from small-town Alabama to university systems in major metropolitan areas.
“One of my first assignments was in Alabama,” he recalled. “The locum agency treated me well, and the team at the hospital was collaborative and supportive. That makes all the difference.”
Flexibility that supports real life
Like many clinicians, Dr. Ansari stepped away from locums for a few years to prioritize family life, but he returned to work when the timing felt right. Now, he values the flexibility more than ever.
“Being able to schedule around life outside of medicine is a huge benefit,” he said. “It allows me to stay present with my family and handle what I need to at home. That kind of balance is hard to find.”
Where the staff makes the difference
Over the years, Dr. Ansari has learned that the staff can make or break an assignment. At the end of the day, what made his favorite assignments truly special wasn’t the patient volumes or pace, but his fellow caregivers.
“It’s the people,” he said. “You can do the same clinical work anywhere, but if the team isn’t helpful, it becomes stressful. A good support system changes everything.”
Dr. Ansari encourages anyone considering locums to go in with an open mind. “Every facility will do things differently,” he said. “But patient care stays the same. If you focus on that, everything else falls into place.”
What he’s most proud of
In addition to treating thousands of patients, Dr. Ansari has helped shape the next generation of clinicians. He’s trained medical students, participated in teaching programs, and mentored colleagues throughout his career.
“People know they can count on me,” he said. “They know I’ll advocate for them and the patients. That means a lot to me.”
For the next chapter of his life, Dr. Ansari isn’t rushing into retirement. “Once both of my kids are off to college, I’ll see what’s next,” he said. “Until then, I’ll keep doing the work I love and showing up for the people who count on me.”
