In honor of Women in Medicine Month, we’re highlighting some of the women physicians and APPs we have the privilege to partner with.
We asked them about the careers they’ve forged, the benefits of locums, and the impact they have on patients and other healthcare providers. Here are some of the things they shared:
Tackling challenges with confidence and grace.
Throughout their careers, women in medicine often navigate unique challenges while balancing the demands of patient care, professional growth, and personal responsibilities. For many, those experiences become opportunities to build resilience, confidence, and leadership.
“As a female healthcare provider, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been overcoming self-doubt and learning to trust my own expertise, especially in unfamiliar situations,” says Nurse Practitioner Veronica Carrera. “Adapting to new colleagues, workflows, and expectations—while balancing the realities of life outside of work—pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated. There were times when I questioned whether I was prepared or capable enough, but each assignment reinforced my confidence in my clinical judgment and my ability to adapt. Over time, I learned to embrace discomfort as part of growth and to trust the skills and knowledge I had worked so hard to build,” says Carrera. “Looking back, I’m proud not only of the provider I’ve become, but also of the resilience and confidence I’ve developed through those experiences.”
That’s one of the benefits of locum tenens: every assignment is a chance to expand your toolkit. Locums gives you the opportunity to practice with new patient populations and medical teams, adapt to different practice environments, and learn new clinical approaches. Expanding your clinical practice helps you build trust in your own skills—and bring that renewed confidence into future assignments.
Working hard—without sacrificing personal life.
Burnout is a concern for any physician, and navigating work-life balance can be a challenge. But you don’t have to choose between your career and your personal life: you can have both, in a way that works for you.
“Being a working single mother, you sometimes feel like your career keeps you from your kids. You just have to make it work,” says Dr. Shelly Hampton.“That’s what’s so great about locums. It gives you autonomy. You sign up when you can, and don’t when you can’t.”
Locums gives you the ability to do what you love, and create a schedule that is compatible with your other priorities. That’s why many physicians and APPs have gravitated toward locums: so they can design a work schedule that works around the rest of their life, and truly take time off when they need it.
“I’ve always been the kind of physician who checked in while on vacation and answered questions from patients or nurses whenever they needed me,” says Dr. Renee Boulicault. “Locums gave me something I hadn’t experienced in years: the freedom to truly step away from work when an assignment ended.”
By offering an alternative path from a traditional full-time hospital role, locums helps keep more women in medicine. They’re able to continue practicing and making a positive impact on patient’s lives, without sacrificing their own.
“I’m grateful that locums has given me an exceptional work-life balance while allowing me to continue making a meaningful impact,” says Dr. Boulicault. “I would encourage any woman physician to consider locums. Whether you’re looking for greater flexibility, a healthier balance between your personal and professional life, or a way to continue practicing on your own terms, locums offers opportunities that many physicians may not have considered.”
Making connections to make a difference in patients’ lives.
We’re grateful to partner with so many women who aren’t just excellent practitioners: their empathy and compassion make a difference in their patients’ daily lives.
“I appreciate the time I get to connect with patients,” says PA Jackie Tank. “They’re so grateful to have someone explain procedures to them so they understand what’s happening.”
The opportunity to connect with patients is what brought so many physicians and APPs to medicine, and what keeps them practicing. Amidst all the frustrations of medicine—keeping up with record-keeping and documentation, navigating insurance, dealing with administrative headaches—establishing real connections with their patients is what keeps their work fulfilling.
That human connection also makes a tangible impact on patient’s lives.
“When I can tell a patient is upset, I’ll ask them if they need a hug, and more often than not they say yes, and I hug them and they break down in tears,” says Tank. “It’s really interesting how appreciative patients are for that kind of connection, because they’re scared and lonely and they don’t feel well and they just want some empathy.”
Mentoring the next generation of women in medicine.
At Hayes Locums, we’re proud to partner with an amazing community of women who not only excel in their medical careers: they also support new medical practitioners coming up in medicine every day.
“Throughout my own journey, I’ve learned that mentorship doesn’t always come from one person or one experience,” says NP Veronica Carrera. “Sometimes, it’s the support of colleagues, providers, and leaders who encourage you to trust your abilities and continue growing. The women who receive support and guidance today become the mentors who empower and uplift the next generation of healthcare professionals.”
We are so grateful for the women in our Hayes Locums community, and honored to support and partner with them as they continue to forge new paths in medicine.
