I find this to be a really complicated topic. I’m going to cover the basics and try to give you a high-level overview of the Solo 401(k): what it is, why it’s useful for locums physicians, and the three ways to set one up.

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

EMRs suck. And there are a lot of them. When you start at a new clinic, the EMR is often the most immediate obstacle to your efficiency.

When you look at a locums contract, it’s easy to get fixated on the daily rate as if it’s a simple trade for your time. That number is only a fraction of what you actually provide to a practice.

I’ll start by saying what is probably obvious to a lot of you: there is no "one-size-fits-all" health insurance plan for a locums physician. Your optimal choice likely depends on your budget, your health status, your family’s needs, and your travel schedule.

Finding locums work in dermatology takes effort but is overall fairly straightforward.

When I tell people I’m a locum tenens dermatologist, they usually envision a nomad moving across the country every three to six months. While that’s a viable path for some, I wanted something different. I needed a schedule that fit my specific lifestyle, not the other way around.