Locum tenens: Reclaiming purpose, autonomy, and financial freedom in medicine (KevinMD)

Locum tenens is often dismissed as a stopgap in medicine—but for some physicians, it’s a path back to purpose. In this reflection, a pediatrician shares how choosing locums unlocked financial freedom, community ties, and a renewed sense of why he became a doctor. From paying off $315K in debt to finding stability in supposed instability, the story challenges long-held assumptions. Could the “wanderer’s route” actually be the future antidote to burnout in medicine?