Gastroenterologists today have more ways to practice than ever before, and locum tenens has become an increasingly recognized option across the specialty. Whether you are looking to complement your current role, explore something new, or simply learn more about how locum tenens works in gastroenterology, understanding what it offers can help you make the most informed decision about your career.
Here are six reasons gastroenterologists may want to consider working locum tenens.
Burnout remains a pressing concern in gastroenterology, with 43% of gastroenterologists reporting burnout in Medscape's 2025 survey. At the same time, 64% reported that they would accept lower pay for improved work-life balance, highlighting how much value physicians place on greater control over their time.
Locum tenens offers a different way to think about that tradeoff. Rather than feeling locked into a schedule that leaves little room for life outside of medicine, you can choose when, where, and how often you work. The temporary nature of locum tenens roles allows you to build a schedule around your priorities, whether that means more time with family, space for personal interests, or simply the ability to step back and recharge between assignments.
One of the most appealing parts of working locum tenens jobs is the ability to focus more directly on patients. Permanent roles often include administrative responsibilities, committee work, meetings, and operational demands that can take time away from clinical care.
Locum tenens jobs are temporary by nature, so the role is often more focused on providing coverage, supporting patient access, and helping teams meet immediate care needs. For a gastroenterologist who wants to spend more time practicing medicine and less time navigating administrative work, that distinction can be significant.
Gastroenterology locum tenens jobs span a wide range of clinical environments, from large hospital systems and outpatient procedure centers to community hospitals, academic medical centers, and rural facilities with limited GI coverage.
That variety puts more control in your hands. You can pursue roles that match your procedural expertise, preferred patient population, desired call schedule, or long-term professional goals. Whether you are drawn to the pace of a busy metro hospital or the deeper patient relationships that come with community-based care, locum tenens allows you to practice where your skills are needed most and where you feel most effective.
A study published in Gastroenterology found that nearly 70% of U.S. counties lack a practicing gastroenterologist. This gap leaves close to 50 million Americans without local access to essential GI care.
Working locum tenens gastroenterology jobs enables you to bring your expertise to communities that need it most. By accepting assignments in areas with gastroenterologist shortages, you can help reduce care delays, support overextended teams, and make timely GI care more available for patients who may otherwise have limited options.
One of the biggest advantages of working locum tenens is the opportunity to practice in places you have always wanted to explore. With ongoing gastroenterologist shortages across the country, locum tenens jobs are available in a wide range of communities, allowing you to choose assignments in regions that align with your personal and professional interests.
That variety can take you from bustling cities to quiet rural towns. Along the way, you can meet new colleagues, care for different patient populations, and experience new clinical environments while helping expand access to essential GI care.
Compensation is another reason many gastroenterologists choose to work locum tenens. Healthcare organizations often use locum tenens to address temporary staffing gaps, and these assignments may offer competitive hourly rates that exceed those of some permanent positions.
The pay structure differs from that of a permanent role because compensation is not packaged the same way, with traditional benefits such as paid time off or retirement contributions. As a result, locum tenens can offer a way to increase your earning potential while maintaining greater control over your schedule.
Starting a locum tenens gastroenterology career involves more than finding the right job. Licensing, credentialing, travel, and scheduling all play a role in how the experience unfolds. Partnering with an experienced locum tenens agency like Medicus can simplify each step and help you stay focused on what matters most: patient care.
At Medicus, our recruiters take the time to understand what you are looking for, both clinically and personally. Whether you want to explore new regions, prioritize flexibility, or focus on specific practice settings, we match you with assignments that align with your goals. Once you accept a role, our team handles the details behind the scenes, from licensing and credentialing to travel, lodging, and ongoing communication before and during your assignment.
For Dr. Murry, that personalized support helped ensure each locum tenens gastroenterology job aligned with how he wanted to practice.
“The benefits of partnering with Medicus were their desire to help me find the right fit. That allowed me to ensure my skills would be recognized and utilized appropriately.” — Dr. Murry, locum tenens gastroenterologist
With the right locum tenens agency support, making the move to locum tenens gastroenterology can feel less overwhelming and far more rewarding. You gain the flexibility to focus on patient care while building a career that fits your life, not the other way around.
Interested in working as a locum tenens gastroenterologist with Medicus? View our open locum tenens gastroenterology jobs or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.
Locum tenens gastroenterology refers to gastroenterologists who work temporarily to provide clinical coverage at hospitals, outpatient centers, or health systems on a short-term or long-term basis, depending on the coverage need. Locum tenens gastroenterology jobs help healthcare organizations maintain access to GI care during provider shortages, paid time off, increased patient volumes, or other coverage gaps.
Gastroenterology locum tenens jobs vary in length, depending on the facility's needs. Some locum tenens jobs may last a few weeks, while others may extend several months. You have the opportunity to choose the locum tenens jobs that fit your availability, which could mean one longer assignment or multiple locum tenens jobs throughout the year.
Locum tenens gastroenterologists often earn higher hourly or daily rates than physicians in permanent roles. Rates often reflect high demand and the fact that locum tenens compensation typically excludes traditional employment benefits such as paid time off, health insurance, or retirement contributions.
Approximately 19% of the gastroenterology workforce works locum tenens either alongside their permanent position or as a standalone career, according to Medicus proprietary data as of May 2026.