During this year’s American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Center Stage Presentation, Passion and Practice Aligned: The Advantage of Locum Tenens Careers, Dr. Jeanette Bauchat joined Shannon Peterson, Senior Vice President of Delivery at Medicus, to share how working as a locum tenens anesthesiologist has brought greater flexibility, variety, and professional growth to her career.

Insights From the ASA Center Stage Discussion With Dr. Bauchat

Locum Tenens Puts Physicians Back in Control of Their Careers

Dr. Bauchat spent years working in academic medicine. The paycheck was steady and the schedule predictable, but the structure left little room for flexibility. She reached a point where she wanted more control over her career and how she practiced. Locum tenens work gave her the freedom to build a career that truly fits her life.

“Locums allows me to have that balance between how much I want to work versus how much money I want to make,” she explained. “Whether I want to take call, choose a particular practice setting, or focus on different skills, I have the flexibility to manage my own time and my own practice."

She shared that this kind of freedom is what many physicians are seeking today. Between rising burnout rates and ongoing physician shortages, the chance to manage your own schedule has become increasingly valuable.

"You have so much control that I think is incredibly rare right now in healthcare culture,” Dr. Bauchat said. “Locums is a unique place where you can still have control over your time, which is your most valuable asset.”

For Dr. Bauchat, locum tenens has redefined what professional flexibility can look like, allowing her to build a sustainable career that aligns with her goals both inside and outside of medicine.

Mentoring the Next Generation While Advancing Your Own Skills

After nearly two decades in academic medicine and leadership positions, mentoring and teaching were not only among Dr. Bauchat’s passions but also central to her professional identity. Initially, she worried that those opportunities might disappear when transitioning to locum tenens work. What she found instead was that mentoring looks a little different in each setting, but it never disappears.

“There are academic hospitals looking for locum tenens, so you can still work in that academic environment as a locum tenens,” she explained. “Also, I’ve worked in private practices, and especially as someone who is 20 years out, you’re going to have young anesthesiologists who are looking for your experience, advice, techniques that work, what they should be doing financially, and what other practices look like. So, there are many ways that you can still be an advisor, mentor, and educator.”

Beyond mentoring, locum tenens work has also provided Dr. Bauchat with new opportunities to continue growing professionally. “One of my goals was to sort of re-expand my skill sets, and locums allows me to do that because I get to work in so many different practice settings,” she said. The range of clinical environments has strengthened her adaptability as an anesthesiologist and reaffirmed that locum tenens creates space for both continued mentorship and ongoing professional growth.

Flexibility in Locum Tenens Extends to Life Beyond Medicine

With the flexibility that locum tenens has offered, Dr. Bauchat has been able to pursue hobbies and interests, such as dance, more frequently, as well as make more time for her children.

“When I was on a W2, you make a certain salary, you do the call shifts they ask you to do, all of that,” she explained. “Now I can look at my kids' spring breaks and decide which weeks I want to work around that, whereas before it was a competition with 200 other people to get spring break off. Now, I work looking sort of retroactively at how much salary I want to make, and then I work for that, which is a very unique position to be in.”

By working locum tenens, Dr. Bauchat has created a schedule that allows her to pursue her passions, spend more time with her family, and even take assignments near her child’s college, turning work into an opportunity for connection.

It’s Important to Choose the Right Locum Tenens Agency

While some physicians prefer to handle locum tenens work independently, Dr. Bauchat has found that partnering with the right locum tenens agency makes the process much smoother. Managing travel, licensing, credentialing, and payment can be time-consuming, and having the proper support can make all the difference.

“One of my goals in locums is to investigate different parts of the country and different hospitals, their culture, and things like that, so I do a lot of credentialing and a lot of licensing,” she explained. “Medicus really makes that super smooth; people are so responsive and so attentive, and I really have a great experience because credentialing and licensing are very difficult.”

Dr. Bauchat encourages physicians to take time when selecting a locum tenens agency, noting that the right partnership can make a significant difference in how smooth and rewarding the locum tenens experience feels. She advises physicians to consider how locum tenens agencies handle communication, credentialing support, and malpractice coverage, and to look for a recruiter who genuinely advocates for their goals, time, and compensation.

Building Confidence and Connections in Every Locum Tenens Assignment

When Dr. Bauchat began working in new hospitals and clinical settings, she found that each environment brings its own systems, teams, and ways of operating. Adjusting to new settings takes time, but those differences create valuable opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with new colleagues.

“I think some people get very afraid of the different systems in different hospitals and think, how can you possibly learn that?” she said. “Really, the thing that you bring is your expertise in your clinical work and clinical practice.".

Dr. Bauchat shared that success in locum tenens depends largely on how physicians approach each assignment. Strong communication skills, curiosity, and an open mind help make transitions smoother, while building connections with local teams creates a sense of community and support.

Interested in working as a locum tenens anesthesiologist with Medicus? View our open locum tenens anesthesia jobs here or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.