After years in a demanding permanent anesthesia role, Dr. Goodwin began to feel the strain of long hours and limited flexibility. While she loved caring for patients, the structure of permanent employment left little opportunity to recharge, spend time with her family, or pursue her passion for global volunteer work.

Seeking a way to continue practicing medicine without compromising balance, she began exploring locum tenens work. It wasn’t until she connected with a Medicus locum tenens recruiter that she found the right fit, a partnership that aligned with her professional goals and personal priorities. The conversation wasn’t transactional; it was collaborative.

That discussion became the starting point for a new phase of her career one that offered both professional fulfillment and personal balance.

Starting a New Chapter as a Locum Tenens Anesthesiologist

Dr. Goodwin’s first locum tenens anesthesiology job was in Minnesota, where she jumped right into cardiac anesthesia. “I thought, wow, this is quite the way to start,” she said, laughing. “I was nervous, but everything was so organized. The online orientation was simple, and the team was incredibly welcoming.”

One of her first moments on-site still stands out. “The head of cardiac anesthesia met me and said, ‘If you have any problems, call me—we’ll figure it out.’ That made all the difference.”

Those first few days, which she expected to be overwhelming, turned out to be smooth and encouraging. “That experience set the tone for everything that came after,” she said.

"I'd always heard this stigma, that if you do locum tenens jobs, they're in bad hospitals or with bad staff, but I haven't had a bad experience yet. Every site I've been to with Medicus has been great, the support has been great, and it really is a lovely work environment."

Finding Connection and Belonging Through Locum Tenens Jobs

Although locum tenens work is often viewed as independent, Dr. Goodwin has experienced quite the opposite. From her first locum tenens assignment, she was welcomed into collaborative teams that valued her expertise and treated her as part of the group—not an outsider.

“There’s this myth that locum tenens physicians don’t build connections with other people, but you actually do,” she explained. “You find you’re part of something, and you’re very well supported.” That sense of connection has become one of the most meaningful parts of her career.

"It doesn't feel like I'm on an island," Dr. Goodwin explained. "I feel like I'm part of a whole system. You become close friends with the anesthesiologists and CRNAs on assignment with you, and you become friends and collaborate with everyone at Medicus. It really feels like a home base, not like I'm a contractor."

Balancing Volunteer Missions & Mentorship Through Locum Tenens

Through her locum tenens career, Dr. Goodwin has been able to continue two passions that keep her connected to the heart of medicine—mentorship and volunteer work abroad.

For Dr. Goodwin, one of the most rewarding aspects of locum tenens has been the ability to continue teaching. She’s found ways to stay involved in academic settings and share her experience with physicians early in their careers. “After being out of training for 10 years, I asked to work with residents so I could help with their training process,” she said. “It was special to work with these up-and-coming physicians who are motivated and inspired by the experiences I’ve had in my career. It allowed me to give back in a way I didn’t expect locum tenens work would make possible.”

Locum tenens work has also given her the opportunity to serve patients in parts of the world where care is most needed.

"I travel to Africa twice a year," she expressed. "It's about two weeks of work and three weeks of travel. It's the flexibility of locum tenens that allows me to do that."

Making Locum Tenens Travel a Family Adventure

As a parent, Dr. Goodwin has found that locum tenens work supports her family life in ways she never expected. The flexibility allows her to spend more meaningful time with her son while maintaining a fulfilling career.

Dr. Goodwin shared, “I have one child, and a lot of people tell me, ‘You can’t travel and have a child.’ But it actually works really well. Sometimes my family can come along, and I see my son more than I did when I worked full-time.".

She explained that this balance has given her a sense of freedom she didn’t have before. With more control over her schedule, she can prioritize family time without stepping away from the work she loves. “I also have the ability to take time off,” she said. “If I don’t want to work a holiday, then I don’t have to.”

Dr. Goodwin shared that the locum tenens lifestyle has become a fantastic adventure for her entire family.

"Each time we go somewhere new, my son gets excited. When we were in Cedar Rapids, there were parks and bike trails, and he loved it. It's a fun way for kids to experience the world and for me to balance work and family."

Feeling Supported in Every Locum Tenens Job

For Dr. Goodwin, one of the biggest surprises about working locum tenens has been how supported she feels. From the moment she accepts a new locum tenens assignment, the Medicus team takes care of every detail—travel, scheduling, and credentialing—so she can focus entirely on her patients.

She remembers how effortless it felt compared to managing those logistics on her own. The process was straightforward, organized, and consistent from one locum tenens assignment to the next. Even simple things, like checking her upcoming schedule or confirming pay, are now just a few taps away in the Medicus app.

"Working with Medicus is by far the easiest way to go," she shared. "Everyone is so helpful—travel, credentialing, scheduling. I can check my assignments and pay in the Medicus app, and everything is simple."

Discovering Where Locum Tenens Can Take You

What began as a career transition soon became something much greater. Locum tenens opened the door to new experiences, new teams, and new perspectives on medicine. Each assignment has given Dr. Goodwin the chance to learn, explore, and rediscover what she loves most about her work.

The freedom to choose where and how she practices has brought a renewed sense of purpose both in and outside the hospital.

"There's so much more to locum tenens than the work itself," she said. "I've explored places I never would have thought to go and found myself thinking, I could live here. It's been an incredible experience."

Interested in partnering with Medicus for locum tenens? Click here to view our open locum tenens jobs or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.