Younger physicians are blazing new paths with portfolio careers. Is it a fad, or the start of a new normal?
Welcome to Locums CME 59, Locumpedia’s bi-weekly news roundup that helps physicians and APPs maximize their locum tenens lifestyle.
Our lead story: Aya Healthcare’s Stephanie England recently wrote a guest piece for Locumpedia about a new trend that’s changing how younger physicians work: portfolio careers. Rather than doing things the old way (finding a decent permanent job and staying put for decades), these physicians are blending income streams and professional roles, including a mix of clinical shifts, locum assignments, research, consulting, and telemedicine. The result is a career that avoids common medical pitfalls, such as burnout, while remaining as dynamic as the physicians who pursue it.
Also in this edition of Locums CME: What new locums need to know before your first assignment, how rural locum tenens has evolved for the modern age, and why excellence, not perfectionism, should be the standard for medical professionals. Plus, we examine the accountability (or lack thereof) of AI in healthcare and discuss how providers can think smarter, not harder, about asset protection.
What Does a Portfolio Career Look Like in Medicine?
July 9 | Aya Healthcare, Locumpedia
The days of pursuing one full-time, long-term job are fading fast. Instead, today’s locum tenens providers, especially millennials and Gen Z, are choosing flexibility, autonomy, and purpose through portfolio careers. These intentionally curated careers blend multiple income streams and professional roles. For many, that means a mix of clinical shifts, locum assignments, research, consulting, and telemedicine. The goal is no longer to climb a single ladder. It’s about creating a career that aligns with your life, interests, and evolving goals.
So, why is this model gaining ground? A combination of burnout, shifting generational expectations, and growing interest in achieving a better work-life balance is driving this change. Many providers are intentionally stepping away from traditional roles to make space for creativity, rest, and new professional challenges. Technology has also played a significant role, making remote care more feasible and portfolio careers more accessible than ever before.
Locum tenens fits naturally into this new way of working. It offers the chance to choose when and where to work, explore new settings, and grow professionally without locking into a permanent role. Whether you’re seeking a reset, testing new opportunities, or creating space for life outside of work, a portfolio career centered around locum tenens can help you define success on your terms.
Your Locums Prescription
Why More Physicians Are Choosing Locum Tenens for Work-Life Balance
July 10 | Hayes Locums
Locum tenens is no longer just a temporary fix. With locums revenue jumping 12% in 2024, more physicians are rethinking the traditional full-time hospital model and opting for a career path that supports both financial goals and personal well-being. Providers in high-demand specialties like anesthesiology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and oncology are especially well-positioned to benefit. While the competitive pay is a clear draw, many physicians find that it’s the lifestyle improvements that keep them in the locums game for the long haul.
The pressures of the pandemic era left many physicians drained and seeking a change. Locum tenens has become a practical solution for those seeking more autonomy. By stepping away from full-time employment, providers can regain control over their time and reduce the risk of burnout. With support from specialty-specific recruiters, physicians can craft a schedule that aligns with their personal and professional goals, whether that involves working a few shifts a month or pursuing assignments nationwide.
Doctors like Erica Tauck and Marc Atzenhoefer have found that locums allows them to be fully present in both their careers and personal lives. Tauck, a hospital neurologist, now works just seven to 10 days a month and spends the rest of her time at home with her family. For many, locum tenens isn’t just a job, but a way to reclaim their time and reconnect with why they entered the field of medicine in the first place.
What You Need To Know Before Your First Locums Assignment
June 26 | LocumTenens.com
Starting a locum tenens assignment can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. The freedom to travel, build your own schedule, and earn competitive pay is what draws many clinicians to this field. But walking into a new facility, especially on your first day, can feel intimidating without proper preparation. Fortunately, insights from both an experienced trauma surgeon and a recruiter can help ease the transition.
Dr. Adair deBerry-Carlisle has worked full-time as a locum surgeon since 2018 and holds 17 active licenses. For her, locums provided a way to regain a work-life balance and protect against burnout. Her advice to first-timers? Come prepared. Know your contract, understand the facility’s systems, and make sure your arrival logistics are in order. She also emphasizes choosing assignments that align with your skill set and travel preferences. Her top reminder for day one: confusion is normal. Stay calm, focus on patient care, and remember that your professionalism and ability to adapt go a long way in ensuring the best possible outcomes.
Sidnie Adair, a senior recruiter at LocumTenens.com, echoes that sentiment. She encourages providers to start early, lean on their recruiters for support, and stay flexible. From onboarding details to housing logistics, preparation makes all the difference. Knowing who to contact, how the call is structured, and what documentation is required can help reduce stress from the start. Most importantly, she says, clinicians should ask questions, get to know their team, and give themselves time to adjust. With the right mindset and support, your first assignment can be the start of a fulfilling and flexible new chapter in your career.
Common Myths About Locum Tenens, Debunked
June 30 | Medicus Healthcare Solutions
As staffing shortages persist and demand for care continues to grow, locum tenens providers are stepping in to fill critical gaps. However, despite their increased presence, misconceptions about locum work persist. For physicians considering locums, separating fact from fiction is essential, which is why Medicus recently debunked seven of the most common locum tenens myths in the industry.
For example, locum tenens isn’t just for semi-retired doctors or constant travelers. Clinicians at all stages, from recent grads to late-career physicians, are choosing locums for flexibility, clinical variety, and reliable income. Assignments range from local to cross-country, and many offer long-term stability and security. Locums can also enhance a CV by exposing providers to new workflows, EMRs, and patient populations.
Another debunked myth is that locums can’t integrate with permanent teams or connect meaningfully with patients. In reality, many clinicians hold locum jobs in addition to their primary roles. Permanent staff often appreciate the support, especially during high-volume periods. And with fewer administrative burdens, locum providers can focus more on patient care and sometimes return to the same sites, building rapport over time.
How Rural Locum Tenens Has Evolved and Who’s Leading the Way Now
July 2 | Wapiti Medical
Locum tenens in rural healthcare has come a long way. While the idea of traveling physicians dates back to ancient Greece and gained traction during the American frontier days, modern locum work began to take shape in the 1970s. That’s when programs like Utah’s Rural Outreach (ROLE) initiative formally recognized the need for flexible staffing to serve rural communities.
For years, locum work in rural areas was mainly the domain of semi-retired physicians seeking to stay active, earn supplemental income, and explore the country on their terms. However, over the last decade, the face of rural locums has undergone significant changes. More early- and mid-career physicians are stepping into these roles, drawn by the chance to escape burnout, regain control of their schedules, and work in settings that offer both variety and impact.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift. Technology has expanded access to specialty care in rural regions, while locum tenens providers have become essential in delivering consistent coverage. Today’s rural locums are shaping the future of rural medicine by bringing energy, expertise, and flexibility to the communities that need them most.
Why Healthcare AI Still Lacks Real-World Accountability
July 9 | Healthcare IT News
Despite growing adoption, many healthcare AI tools hit the market without a straightforward process for validation in real clinical environments. According to Pelu Tran, CEO of Ferrum Health, that’s a serious problem. FDA clearance often gives the illusion of readiness, but once deployed, AI tools can underperform, especially when applied across different hospitals, scanners, or patient populations. A recent RSNA study showed that 81% of models lost accuracy when tested on external datasets.
One major issue is that AI is regulated like a static medical device, which limits its ability to evolve and improve over time. Without a framework for ongoing monitoring, hospitals are left to track tool performance on their own, if they track it at all. This leaves clinicians relying on systems that may not generalize well or introduce bias, with limited transparency about their performance.
To enhance safety and trust, validation must encompass diverse patient populations, various clinical settings, and ongoing post-market surveillance. CIOs and other IT leaders should ask tough questions: Does this model work for our population? What’s the infrastructure cost? Are we evaluating real-world data, not just flashy demos? A centralized platform for deploying and monitoring AI across departments could reduce redundancies and help systems scale responsibly. As AI regulation evolves, maintaining practical expectations is crucial to striking a balance between accountability and innovation.
Physician Wellness Retreat
How Locum Tenens Supports Career-Family Balance for Healthcare Providers
July 10 | MPLT Healthcare
Balancing a healthcare career with family responsibilities can be challenging, especially when full-time roles involve rigid schedules and long hours. Many physicians and APPs are turning to locum tenens as a more flexible option. By choosing when and where to work, providers can plan around school calendars, caregiving needs, or simply make space for rest and personal time, which are things permanent jobs rarely offer.
Flexibility isn’t just about time off. Locum assignments can be structured with fewer on-call demands, limited administrative duties, and shorter durations, helping reduce burnout and preserve mental energy for life outside of work. For families who relocate frequently or want to travel, locums also provides geographic freedom, allowing providers to stay clinically active without being tied to one facility.
Financially, locum tenens can offer competitive pay without the long-term commitment of full-time roles. Whether it’s saving for a child’s education, covering caregiving costs, or building financial stability, providers can take on assignments that meet their income goals while still prioritizing family time. In the long run, many find that locum work enables them to build a career that aligns with the kind of life and family presence they desire.
When Perfectionism Becomes a Liability for Women Physicians
July 12 | KevinMD
Many women physicians succeed by leaning into traits like self-sacrifice, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. These habits often help them push through the grueling demands of medical training. But once they’re practicing, those same tendencies can become unsustainable, especially as healthcare systems add more time pressure and administrative burden.
With shorter visits, increased patient messaging, and chronic understaffing, many physicians are burning out as they try to meet impossible expectations. The internal pressure to be flawless, never say no, always go the extra mile, and do everything perfectly only adds to the weight. For some, the habits that once defined their success are now undermining their well-being.
The good news is that change is possible. Physicians don’t need to give up their values, but they do need to set boundaries, practice self-compassion, and redefine success as excellence instead of perfection. With support, many are finding the confidence to prioritize their own needs without guilt and reclaim space for themselves, both in and outside of medicine.
Burnout in Medicine Holds Lessons for Every Workplace
July 2 | Fast Company
Emergency physician Dr. Leigh Vinocur knows burnout from both personal experience and professional observation. The traits that help doctors succeed, such as grit, perfectionism, and the ability to suppress personal needs, can also make it harder to ask for help when overwhelmed. Combined with institutional stigma and fears about career repercussions, this creates a culture where mental health struggles are hidden. Physician suicide rates remain among the highest of any profession, which is a sobering reminder of what’s at stake.
Burnout also stems from worsening workplace conditions. Violence against healthcare workers is on the rise, with over 90% of emergency physicians reporting threats or attacks. Administrative burdens, such as prior authorizations and excessive clerical tasks, consume significant time and often interfere with patient care. These issues are not unique to healthcare. In many industries, workers face emotional fatigue, unsafe working environments, and excessive paperwork, all of which contribute to growing burnout rates.
What healthcare is beginning to learn, other sectors can apply. True resilience comes from support, not self-denial. Psychological safety, trauma-informed leadership, and open communication are crucial for enhancing team performance and overall well-being. Burnout is not a personal weakness. It is an organizational issue, and the workplaces that recognize this and act accordingly will be the ones best equipped to protect their people.
Doctor’s Notes
How Doctors Can Think Smarter About Asset Protection
July 13 | The White Coat Investor
Asset protection is a hot topic for physicians, but it’s often misunderstood and over-complicated. While flashy strategies get attention, most doctors are unlikely to face a lawsuit that exceeds their insurance coverage. The real financial threat? Divorce. For every one doctor who loses money in a malpractice case beyond policy limits, hundreds lose it in a divorce settlement.
The top asset protection strategies are surprisingly straightforward: strengthen your relationships, consider a prenup, carry strong malpractice and umbrella insurance, and take advantage of state-specific legal tools like tenants by the entirety titling and protected retirement accounts. These options are typically simple, low-cost, and effective.
More complex tools, such as domestic asset protection trusts, LLCs for rental properties, and family limited partnerships, may be suitable for physicians with substantial assets that are exposed. But many advanced strategies require significant time and money to set up, and are rarely needed unless you have particular risks or are exceptionally cautious.
Above all, physicians should understand that asset protection is governed by civil law, which varies from state to state. Planning is key, but so is avoiding unnecessary fear. For most, building a solid plan based on insurance, legal structures, and a healthy dose of realism is enough.
Fewer Doctors Plan to Leave Their Jobs, New Data Shows
June 24 | American Medical Association
Fewer doctors are planning to leave their jobs, according to new AMA survey data from nearly 18,000 physicians across 43 states. In 2024, 32% of physicians reported considering leaving their organization within two years, down from 36% in 2023. Physicians more than 20 years out of training reported the highest intent to go, followed by part-time physicians and male physicians. Specialties with the lowest exit rates included dermatology, infectious diseases, pediatrics, and internal medicine. The highest were anesthesiology, vascular surgery, radiology, and general surgery.
The top factors that physicians said would keep them in their roles included better pay, improved workflow efficiency, fewer frustrations with electronic health records, reduced after-hours work, and more consistent staffing. Many physicians also said they planned to cut back hours, though that number dropped slightly from previous years. Despite progress, burnout and dissatisfaction with administrative demands still influence career decisions.
Some health systems have started addressing these concerns with programs focused on onboarding, leadership development, and physician engagement. Organizations that invest in physician well-being and make visible, data-driven changes appear better positioned to retain their workforce. While intent to leave is trending downward, the data reinforce that sustained modifications are needed to support long-term physician retention.
Rural Health Fund Falls Short as Medicaid Cuts Loom, Experts Warn
July 10 | PBS
The newly passed “Rural Health Transformation Program” allocates $50 billion to support rural health systems. Still, experts say it falls far short of addressing the damage expected from nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts included in the broader legislation. About 12 million people are projected to lose coverage over the next decade, and rural communities, which depend heavily on Medicaid, are expected to be hit hardest. More than 300 rural hospitals are already at immediate risk of closure, and the $50 billion fund covers less than one-third of the federal Medicaid support those communities stand to lose.
States have until December 31 to submit detailed plans to receive funding. Half of the $50 billion will be distributed evenly among states with approved plans. At the same time, the remaining funds will be allocated based on factors such as rural population size, the number of critical facilities, and other criteria established by CMS Administrator Dr. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. If the federal government deems a state’s use of funds inappropriate, payments can be reduced, withheld, or reclaimed.
Health policy experts remain skeptical. The goals outlined for the program, such as improving access, expanding workforce capacity, and stabilizing rural hospitals, are considered too vague, and the path to implementation is unclear. With states facing significant budget pressure from Medicaid cuts, they may be forced to reduce spending elsewhere or implement controversial measures, such as work requirements. Some warn that the framing of this as a Medicaid issue overlooks the broader risk to rural communities, where hospitals often serve as both care providers and economic lifelines.
Sponsored Content
Why HSAs Make Sense for Locum Tenens Providers in 2025
July 15 | The Doctor’s CPA
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) offer key financial benefits for locum tenens physicians and APPs, especially when paired with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). These accounts provide triple tax advantages: contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. Unlike FSAs, HSAs are individually owned, portable, and do not expire at the end of each year. After age 65, funds can be used for non-medical expenses without penalty; however, taxes still apply. For providers with variable income or multiple contracts, HSAs offer long-term flexibility and savings potential.
In 2025, the IRS allows contributions of up to $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families, with an extra $1,000 for those 55 and older. Eligible expenses include prescriptions, dental and vision care, mental health services, and medical devices. HDHPs often have lower premiums, making them a practical option for independent clinicians. Selecting a plan should involve reviewing personal health needs and consulting a tax advisor familiar with locum work.
HSAs can also serve as investment tools, offering growth potential alongside other retirement accounts, such as Solo 401(k)s or SEP IRAs. For locums seeking to minimize tax burdens and establish long-term financial security, incorporating an HSA into their strategy is a wise move.
