Physicians at any career stage can use locum tenens to reclaim control over their practice environment and find more flexibility. Gastroenterologist Dr. Mark Kocab is a great example: after spending 25 years in a thriving practice, he transitioned to locum tenens after his practice shifted to a private equity ownership model. Through locum tenens work, he not only achieved a healthier work-life balance but also found deep fulfillment in serving patients in communities most affected by the physician shortage.
Why did you become a gastroenterologist?
I was a late bloomer. I didn’t know that I wanted to go into medicine until I was midway through college, which is late for a lot of people. But [once I decided on medicine], I knew early on that I was going to be looking into gastroenterology. I’ve always been strategic, and I also enjoy working with my hands—gastroenterology brings the cerebral part and the manual part together.
The best part about being a gastroenterologist is getting the patient’s reaction. When someone who’s been struggling with symptoms, sometimes for years, comes in and you figure out what’s going on and get them on the right therapy, and then they come back and tell you that you’ve fixed their life—that’s definitely the best part of what I do.
Why did you start doing locums?
I was at a thriving local practice for 25 years, but when they decided to take a direction towards being owned by private equity, I knew that wasn’t for me.
The timing was right [for locums]. All of my kids had left the house, and I had a little more freedom to do some traveling. Locums was a good opportunity to explore that freedom, and it has worked out very well.
What do you find the most rewarding about locums?
The best part about locums is having more free time. I used to put in 75-hour weeks routinely. Now, if I work a 75-hour week, I’m able to go home afterward and take some time off. I don’t need to go to work every single day.
I also get to travel quite a bit. I’ve gone to places I’ve never been to before. Florida will always be my home, but everywhere I’ve gone has something unique to offer. I’d never seen the mountains in Montana before I went there, and the people are so nice. In Michigan, I get to actually see the seasons change. In Tennessee, there are wide open spaces and beautiful landscapes. It’s been wonderful to see so many different places.
What are the trends you’re noticing within the gastroenterology specialty?
It’s becoming very obvious that there’s a huge physician shortage in gastroenterology. On the one hand, it’s nice to be needed and to know that you provide a valuable service that isn’t available everywhere. On the other hand, it’s tough knowing that many patients have a difficult time accessing the right care.
It hits me more acutely when I go to places like Montana. Some of these patients travel from six hours away because there’s no other hospital near them. Many of the patients will say, “thank you for being here, thank you for coming out this far, thank you for helping me.” It’s nice to feel needed in that way.
What are the misconceptions of locums in your specialty?
I used to look at locums tenens as an option for providers who were winding down in their careers. I thought of it as a side gig, but that’s not the case. I’ve run into seasoned providers and younger physicians who have made a career out of locums. They can afford to travel, and they bring their spouses. They’re not tied to a practice that demands that they be somewhere all the time, so they have more free time to spend with family.
Do you have advice for gastroenterologists considering locum tenens?
I think every gastroenterologist should consider locums. If your life and your family can accommodate it, locums is a great option.
You don’t have to deal with any of those administrative duties that are time-consuming. You don’t have to deal with reimbursement cuts from Medicare or insurance companies, you don’t deal with staffing, overhead, or running an office or surgery center.
I don’t have to worry about any of that anymore. I just go where I’m told and do the work, and then I’m happy to come home.
One thing I’ll add is that Hayes has been really good to me. A year ago, I didn’t know what I was walking into when I started locums. My Hayes Locums consultants have been extremely good to me. They’ve given me great assignments and protected me from assignments that aren’t ideal for me, and they’re always available whenever I need them.
