A letter from our president
When I drafted my letter for last year’s National Locum Tenens Week, we were facing a time of great uncertainty, both as a country and as a healthcare industry. At that point in time, our associates, clinicians, clients and the patients they serve had been living through the pandemic for the better part of a year. I am extremely proud of the way they all adapted, remained flexible and most importantly, demonstrated courage despite the unknown.
This year, as more people continue to get vaccinated, COVID-19 numbers decline and we return to a sense of normalcy, I encourage you to focus on something that is much needed for us all: recovery. While much remains uncertain, I have never been more hopeful for our future.
This year, we’re celebrating our clients, who have continued to use our services both to ensure their facilities are adequately staffed to meet increased demand and as a way to provide much-needed burnout relief to their full-time staff. We’re celebrating our associates, who have continued to work tirelessly to get clinicians to facilities where their assistance is needed most. And most importantly, we’re celebrating our locum tenens clinicians, many of whom have worked within their own communities or traveled cross-country during one of the most grueling years for any healthcare provider.
I could not be more appreciative of the way you all work together to ensure patients across the country receive the care they need.
Chris Franklin
"Caring for these patients is what puts life in my veins."
Dr. MaryAnn Curl
Dr. Curl began working as a locum tenens clinician right before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, after a 16-year career with Veterans Affairs.
"Corrections work seemed like a frontline job where I could define both myself and my career in terms of clinical work. At the point in my career when I started doing locum tenens work, I didn’t want to do any administrative work at all," shares Dr. Curl. But working in corrections turned out to be rewarding in more ways than she originally anticipated.
"For me and for so many other physicians and advanced practitioners, medicine is a calling. It’s not just a job or a paycheck. I need to be able to connect with my patients and my coworkers and be useful to them. I want to help them better navigate their care and add value to my team. Working in corrections makes establishing that connection easier."
While some clinicians have reservations about accepting corrections assignments, Dr. Curl has none. "I have never had one moment where I felt unsafe, which is so important."
#ProudToBeLT: Taylor
Account Executive, Anesthesia
"I love telling people I work for LocumTenens.com. I’m proud to state that – ultimately, the work we do every day results in a patient being seen that otherwise would not have been seen. We’re given the opportunity to match a clinician’s preferences with needs of healthcare facilities that result in more patient care. Who wouldn’t love doing this? In addition, the culture and atmosphere at LocumTenens.com brings overwhelming joy and satisfaction. Simply put, we’re a family of people helping connect clinicians to patients in need."
"I’m able to devote so much time to mission work due to locum tenens."
Sonata Bohen, CNS, APRN, psychiatric nurse practitioner
Sonata Bohen is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who works locum tenens so she has the financial freedom and flexibility to pursue her passion of serving on medical mission trips.
"It doesn’t matter who you are; you don’t need to be a medical professional to help change lives for the better, both yours and the people you serve," says Sonata. Because of the tremendous impact she has made in the lives of patients both at home and abroad, Sonata was the recipient of the MedicalMissions.org Clinician of the Year Award in 2021.
Sonata has advice for those who also wish to pursue mission work: "The key is being committed to long-term relationships. You must keep at it. It may feel unpleasant to leave your comfort zone of what is known and predictable, but pushing through is worth it; you grow and learn so much and find you have even more to give. It is so much about just listening and being. It’s not so much about 'doing'."
#ProudToBeLT: Rashon
Associate Account Executive, Radiology
"I'm proud to work at LocumTenens.com because of the impact we are able to make in our communities by helping facilities that are short-staffed connect with different providers who are able to provide excellent patient care. The charitable work that we do in our local communities makes me proud to be part of something special."
"Locum tenens has given me more time to accomplish my goals outside of work."
Miechia A. Esco, M.D., PH.D., RPVI
Dr. Miechia Esco is a vascular surgeon focused on full-time locum tenens work and licensed in 15 states. For the past several years she has served as a consultative member on the LocumTenens.com Customer Advisory Board and now serves as the company’s Chief Medical Resource Advisor.
"Although I’ve always been passionate about my work, I realized several years ago I wasn’t quite happy because I felt out of touch with my patients and the communities where I served, so I decided to try working locum tenens," says Dr. Esco.
"Making a career change is almost always scary, but the decision to work locum tenens was easy for me. I knew that I would be able to choose where I would work and when I would work. Permanent positions don’t allow that kind of flexibility. If I decided I wanted to travel to a different state, I could ask a recruiter to find me a position there. To spend more time with family, I could ask a recruiter to find me an assignment with fewer hours."
#ProudToBeLT: Janet
Proposal Specialist
"LocumTenens.com exudes compassion and is continually raising the bar to better the lives of its community, clients, providers, associates and the patients we serve. LocumTenens.com offers an incredible support system. It's like no other company I have ever worked with in the past."