Locums can be more than a career option: it can be a pathway to both professional fulfillment and work-life balance. Dr. Stephanie Goei and Dr. Julian Nussbaum are a great example. After 25 years in academic medicine, they discovered that locums work could offer something unexpected: the flexibility to continue doing what they love—teaching and treating patients—while building a lifestyle around what matters most: their family.
How did you both end up doing locums work?
Dr. Julian Nussbaum: We always talked about doing locums after the kids were out of the house.
Dr. Stephanie Goei: I first started [locums] with Hayes Locums. I was able to retire from my academic position at the Medical College, but I wanted to continue to see patients; I didn’t want to give up practicing medicine. So when our youngest daughter left home for college, we felt that we could begin another adventure.
After 25 years in a teaching position at the Medical College of Georgia, I decided to retire. [My Hayes Locums consultant], Aubrey, found me an academic position in a department similar to where I had been working—the travel was reasonable, so I decided to try it.
I started over a year ago, and I was on assignment one week each month. I really liked the department, and I liked what I was doing—the people and the chairman are wonderful. I found it very smooth working with Hayes as a company, but I didn’t know if it was sustainable because I missed my husband—the only downside of being away for five days. Julian agreed to look into doing locums there as well.
Dr. Julian Nussbaum: I was surprised at how quick the turnaround was. [Aubrey] asked for a copy of my resume, and the next day, she told me that they had a position for me as well.
What does your life look like when you’re both on assignment?
Dr. Julian Nussbaum: I think we’re both aligned on this—if we’re traveling for locums work, we’d really like to be together as much as possible. It worked out beautifully because we work in different sub-specialty areas of ophthalmology, so perhaps it’s easier to find a match that way, where we each have a niche to fill.
Dr. Stephanie Goei: In addition to a good working environment, travel should be efficient. We leave home on Sunday afternoon, work Monday to Friday, and return home after Friday clinic. I look at whether the flight connections are good, and we rent a car and stay at a hotel that is close to the hospital or clinic. Julian keeps the same schedule.
Dr. Julian Nussbaum: The main difference is that Stephanie is clinic-based all day, every day. Part of the reason [the hospital] needed coverage was to provide relief for their retinal surgeon—he was basically on call 24/7. So, in addition to the clinic, I take trauma calls.
In terms of responsibilities, our day-to-day lives vary from one another, but at the end of the day, we work it out.
What did your kids think about you both doing locums, and how do you balance locums around spending time with your family?
Dr. Stephanie Goei: After I retired, I took a part-time job in South Carolina. Both of our kids were at the same college in Greenville at the time, so [Julian and I] thought it would be fun. I think their take on it might be a little different, but we asked them both independently if they were okay with me working near their university.
Our daughter said, “Whatever you decide, you should do for yourself. If it makes you happy, do it.” And our son has always been proud that we train and teach residents. For many years, residents were a part of our lives, and were often hosted in our home. We have the opportunity to teach at our locums jobs.
Dr. Julian Nussbaum: When the kids knew it was another academic position, they were both supportive—I think they were thrilled we were working together.
Dr. Stephanie Goei: I’ve actually asked Aubrey to search for locums in Denver for us, where our son is currently in graduate school. I’m sure he would be fine with that [laughs].
We have an apartment, where our daughter lives, and I work there for two weeks each month, so now I’m there half-time, and I’m able to select the weeks I’m there.
Both of the kids are classical singers, so now I look at the schedule to see when my daughter is performing so I can plan to be on assignment that week, or around Jewish holidays. Try to spend the holidays together in Greenville. The flexibility of both jobs allows this to happen.
For Dr. Stephanie Goei and Dr. Julian Nussbaum, locums have proven to be much more than a post-retirement adventure—it’s become a way to keep doing what they love, while still centering their lives around what’s most important: family. Whether it’s scheduling assignments around their daughter’s performances or scheduling time together over the holidays, locums allow them to build their career around the moments that matter most.
