A Spouse's Perspective on the Benefits of Locum Tenens
Are you looking to pursue a career as a locum tenens physician and wondering how it will impact your spouse? During the Medicus-hosted Center Stage discussion at the American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting (ASA), anesthesiologist Dr. Hoehner and his wife, Sheryl, shared their journey of leaving behind the constraints of a traditional W2 position for the flexibility and freedom of locum tenens work. For Sheryl, this transition has been transformative, allowing their family to reconnect in ways they hadn’t thought possible. In her words, it has been “revolutionary.”.
Sheryl reflected on how the countless missed birthdays and anniversaries due to scheduling conflicts had left a void in their family life. “Back in the day, when he would put in the dates that we would want, we’d have to wait, like, four or five months to even find out if he got the time off,” she explained. This rigid schedule meant that Dr. Hoehner often came home with a calendar in hand, mapping out their lives around work commitments instead of family priorities. “It was always a battle. He hated to come home with the calendar, saying, ‘This is what our life is going to look like.’”.
With a locum tenens career, however, they’ve been given the chance to reclaim their family time. “We put in the dates that we want off, which has just been amazing,” Sheryl shared. Together, they now map out their calendar for the year, setting dates based on family events and personal interests. "It’s, I won’t even say, like night and day,” she expressed; “it’s just been so wonderful. I just wish we could’ve done it earlier when our kids were younger.”.
The flexibility of locum tenens has also brought unexpected financial benefits. “I just have to say, it’s been just revolutionary. One thing he didn’t mention is he is making as much money as he did full-time,” Sheryl said, “maybe even a little bit more, working 24 weeks a year, which has made a huge difference for us. Plus, the ability to travel and spend more time with our family.”
For Sheryl and Dr. Hoehner, the transition to locum tenens has been life-changing—empowering them to reclaim family time, live by their values, and shape their lives together in ways they hadn't thought possible.
Learn More about the Benefits of Locum Tenens with Dr. Hoehner:
Curious about how locum tenens can transform your life and career? Check out the first blog in this series, Achieving Work-Life Balance and Professional Growth with Locum Tenens, to see how Dr. Hoehner’s journey impacted both his professional and personal life.
Interested in working locum tenens anesthesiology with Medicus? Complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus Recruiter.