Pivot Points: Navigating Career Transitions

More early-career physicians and APPs are exploring new paths. Learn practical tips to help you navigate transitions with confidence and clarity.
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Career transitions are increasingly common among early-career physicians and advanced practitioners. Whether it’s burnout, wanting to learn a new skill or just wanting a better lifestyle, locum tenens can provide opportunities for those looking to change things up and take that next step. Let’s take a look at the common reasons why clinicians are looking to make a change, how locum tenens can help and things to look out for when navigating the transition.  

Mental Health

Physician burnout in the healthcare industry is very real. Whether it’s an overloaded census or the stress of hospital life, many clinicians are looking for ways to protect themselves. Instead of leaving medicine altogether, a career as a locum tenens clinician can be seen as a solution to physician burnout. It allows you to schedule contracts that work for you, whether that means building in a few months between jobs for some relaxation or setting a schedule that consistently gives you weekends off, locums can help you reclaim your time and your mental health. 

Changing Interests

Maybe the field you ended up in sounded great a few years ago but your career interests have evolved, and you’d like to learn a new skill. Taking a fellowship position isn’t the only way to expand your interests. Locum tenens allows you to take contracts that allow you to pursue specific interests, learn new skills, and perhaps get experience for healthcare leadership roles. You also don’t have to make the financial and lifestyle sacrifices a fellowship requires, plus you get support with things like licensing, credentialing, and even housing.

Finding New Challenges

Many clinicians thrive on taking on new challenges. A career as a locums clinician allows you to pursue the challenges you want, whether that be leadership skills, the patients you work with, or expanding your clinical expertise. The flexibility of locums also allows you to take your challenges as far as you’d like. Want to see what it would be like to work in a rural area? Locums allows you to try this out without having to permanently relocate 

Lifestyle Changes

Sometimes you just need to change things up. Maybe you want to try working in a different setting or a new part of the country. Locum tenens allows you to try these things. Wouldn’t it be better if you could do a test run of your dream of living in that dream location before you permanently relocate? With locums, you can.  

Partner With Us

When you choose locum tenens with Jackson and Coker, your recruiting consultant will take the time to get to know your interests to match you with healthcare organizations that align with your professional ambitions and personal priorities. We offer customized locum tenens opportunities based on medical specialty and work preferences, including options for telehealth and government positions. We’re not just here to file paperwork, we’re here to make your life easier:  

  • We pre-fill applications.   
  • We chase down references, verifications, and school transcripts.   
  • We coordinate background checks and license lookups.   
  • We work with your schedule and preferred method of communication — email, call, text, you name it.   
  • We offer 24/7 on-call support during travel or emergencies.   

Our team is your partner from first conversation to final placement—and beyond.  

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Federal facts for you.

We are a Federal Supply Schedule Contract holder. 

Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract: 36F79723D0086, Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing, effective March 15, 2023, through March 14, 2028.

NAICS Codes:
  • 561320: Temporary help services. 
  • 621111: Offices of physicians. 
  • 621112: Offices of physicians, mental health specialists. 
  • 621399: Offices of all other miscellaneous health practitioners. 
  • 621330: Offices of mental health practitioners.

Privileging.

Once you and our client agree to move forward with your assignment, our privileging team will assist you and the client in gathering information required by the healthcare facility to grant clinical privileges.

1

We contact the facility’s Medical Service Office (MSO) for their application and requirements.

2

We will assist you by pre-populating the facility’s application and sending to the MSO.

3

We will assist the MSO by following up on requested items.

4

MSO will grant privileges based on your training and experience, and you will be able to start your assignment.

Headshot photo of Maggie Youmans

Maggie Youmans

Senior Vice President, Sales

As Senior Vice President, Maggie oversees several key specialty divisions and adjacent teams. With a demonstrated history of leading teams and developing individuals across the organization, she is dedicated to inspiring, challenging and empowering associates to achieve their personal and professional goals. 

Maggie earned degrees in marketing and management focused on consumer economics from the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business. She enjoys traveling with her husband to visit different bed and breakfasts. Together, they have been able to see the beauty within their own backyard and across the country.

Connect with Maggie on LinkedIn.

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Anne Anderson

Executive Vice President

"I'm passionate about the locum tenens industry - we make a real difference in the lives of both our heroic healthcare providers and the patients they treat."

Anne has been at the forefront of the evolution of locum tenens for more than 35 years. She’s a respected leader with expertise in corporate operations, risk management, credentialing, and travel services. Before joining Jackson and Coker, she served as Executive Vice President at Medical Doctor Associates, part of Cross Country Healthcare. 

An ardent industry advocate, Anne served several years on the Board of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO), including two years as president. Her passion for innovation has also led her to be named to Staffing Industry Analysts’ 2024 Global Power 150 Women in Staffing list. SIA recognizes Anne for easing the administrative burdens of healthcare workers through the implementation of state-of-the-art credentialing technology within the customer care team at Jackson and Coker.

Anne received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Spring Hill College. She is also a PADI open water diver and enjoys scuba diving. 

Connect with Anne on LinkedIn.