After 13 years as a pediatric hospitalist at the same hospital system, Dr. Jaber felt boxed in. The clinical work still mattered. The environment no longer did.
Office politics were getting in the way of patient care, and he felt like he wasn’t having any new experiences.
That all changed when he started doing locum tenens full-time two years ago. “I can see my family whenever I want, and still get the chance to travel across the country and have new experiences this far into my professional life. I feel like I have control over my career again.”
Locum tenens wasn’t always the obvious path for Dr. Jaber. While he appreciated the stability of his old position, the longer he stayed there, the more frustrated he became.
“The longer you stay at a place, the more you become attuned to the politics and how they affect everything. At some point, I knew I needed a break from it.”
How Locum Tenens Helped Him Take Control of His Career
When he began looking for a reset, Dr. Jaber researched locum tenens after seeing more locum providers come through his hospital. What he found surprised him. “When I first started really looking into it, all I could think was ‘Why didn’t I do this sooner?’”
It offered the variety he had been missing, along with the freedom to move on when he chose.
Just as important, the constant change kept him engaged. “There’s more than one way to be a doctor, and with locums, you’re able to learn from different hospital systems. You can get a lot from books, but there is no substitute for real-life experience.”
Each assignment required him to adapt quickly, communicate clearly, and integrate into new teams, skills that he feels make him a better doctor.
“I get to step into different systems, see how they operate, and sharpen my clinical instincts instead of repeating the same routines year after year.”
How Locums Opened the Door for Work-Life Balance
Dr. Jaber’s need for variety led him to locum work, but the flexibility and financial benefits have made it easy to keep going.
“Even with the travel, my work-life balance has greatly improved. I work fewer hours than I did before and make more money.”
Ultimately, locum work has given him the freedom to build the career he always wanted. “As a physician, having control over your life and schedule while still doing well financially is the dream.”
Advice To New Locums
Dr. Jaber’s advice to those considering locum tenens? Put simply, “Just do it.”
For physicians who feel stuck, he believes locum tenens offers a practical way to regain autonomy without stepping away from patient care.
He also recommends that younger physicians find a guide to help them transition into locum work. “If I had a mentor or teacher when I was younger who showed me what was possible, I would have made the switch to being a full-time locum much sooner.”
The Freedom To Build the Life He Wants
Dr. Jaber uses the work-life balance he gains from locums to have new experiences he wouldn’t have otherwise, just like in his professional career.
“I have five children, and we go out wherever I want, whenever I want, since I’m not obligated to be somewhere unless I choose to. That level of flexibility is difficult to find in full-time roles.”