The Golden Handcuffs - why I walked away from a “stable” W2

Leaving a financially stable job for the unknown is scary. Right out of residency, I had exactly what I was "supposed" to want: a generous salary, great benefits, and patients I loved.

On paper, my full-time W2 job was the definition of stability. In reality, I was unhappy. I felt like I couldn’t practice dermatology the way I knew was best for my patients. If you’ve ever worked in a large managed care health system, you probably know that feeling. That was my main driver for leaving, but it wasn’t the only one.

I had almost zero control over my clinical template or my daily workflow. I was tired of the office politics and an administration that felt unsupportive. I reached a point where I felt like my input simply did not matter to the machine. I knew I needed a change, but I was also hesitant about immediately signing on with another permanent practice.

My personal life at the time made the jump easier. Being single with no kids meant I had the flexibility and mobility that locums requires. I realized that if I was ever going to take a risk on a different way of working, this was the time to do it.

There are always a lot of “what-ifs” with a major job change, but I am proud that I finally prioritized my own happiness. I do not regret the decision at all.

I also want to mention a fellow board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Hedy Setyadi. She is a life coach, and a single session with her helped me crystallize my thoughts and finally take the plunge. You can check her out at joyfulhopecoaching.com. This is not a paid ad; she was just a resource that actually worked for me when I was stuck.

So if life circumstances permit it, give the locums dermatology route some serious consideration.