In this episode of Locums Lounge, Dr. Jamila Goldsmith sits down with Dr. Mark Royer, ENT surgeon, MBA, and physician leader behind Specialty Locums, to unpack how locums can evolve from short-term coverage into a long-term platform for autonomy and impact.

Dr. Royer shares his journey from employed practice to building a physician-led locums company, breaking down how ownership, ethical staffing, and service-line development can restore both quality of life and patient care. The conversation dives into direct contracting, VMS systems, physician commoditization, rural healthcare access, and what doctors need to know to protect themselves while navigating locums strategically.

This episode reframes locums not as a fallback, but as a powerful business and lifestyle tool for physicians ready to practice medicine on their own terms.

Locums is often misunderstood as a temporary fix or an escape hatch from burnout. In this episode, Dr. Jamila Goldsmith sits down with Ebony Thyme, Travel Nurse Practitioner and 1099 career coach, to break that myth wide open.

They talk candidly about why locums work should be approached as a business, not a short-term hustle. From negotiating contracts and setting boundaries to understanding seasonal demand, financial leverage, and long-term freedom, this conversation reframes locums as a strategic career move for clinicians who want control over their time, income, and energy.

If you have ever felt boxed in by a W2 role, burned out by hospital systems, or unsure how to advocate for your worth, this episode will challenge how you think about stability, success, and what is actually possible in medicine.

Flight delays, cancellations, and long connections can throw your entire assignment off schedule — and your paycheck with it. In this episode, live from the airpot, Dr. Mimi breaks down how to protect your time, money, and sanity when traveling for locums work during a chaotic travel season.

She shares practical strategies to stay one step ahead, including:

- Why you should fly in a day early to avoid last-minute chaos
- How to choose assignments that keep you close and flexible
- What to consider when booking through travel agencies
- When to say no to “high-paying” gigs that are too far or risky
- How to make sure you still get paid — even when plans change

If you are a locums physician planning your next assignment, this one is your travel survival guide.

In this episode of The Locums Lounge, Dr. Mimi meets with Dr. Joffre Johnson to share practical strategies every locums doctor can use to make their money work harder. From travel rewards to tax structure, Dr. Johnson breaks down how to turn everyday expenses into long-term benefits while avoiding burnout along the way.

You’ll hear:

• How to use credit cards and loyalty programs to earn travel rewards
• Why setting up a C-corp or S-corp can help you keep more of what you earn
• The importance of separating your income goals from your shift count

If you’ve ever wondered how to manage the financial side of locums work like a pro, this conversation will give you the tools to maximize your income and your freedom.

In this episode of The Locums Lounge, Dr. Mimi meets with Dr. Niki Thran to talk about what it really feels like to leave a full-time job and step fully into the world of locums. From exploring new places to building meaningful connections, Dr. Thran shares how locums gave her a renewed sense of freedom, flexibility, and confidence.

You’ll hear:

-The biggest benefits of leaving a permanent W2 role for locums work

-Why flexibility and travel make locums uniquely rewarding

-How community and connection make the locums journey less isolating

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to create more freedom and actually enjoy practicing medicine again, this conversation will inspire you to take that next step.

In this episode of The Locums Lounge, Dr. Mimi reconnects with Dr. Temi to talk about what happens when you finally recognize your value, and start negotiating like it. Dr. Temi shares how embracing locums work helped her take control of her schedule, increase her income, and spend more time with her family.

You’ll hear:

-How confidence and good work lead to stronger negotiation power
-Why reputation matters in securing consistent locums assignments
-The freedom and flexibility that come from designing your own schedule

If you’ve ever questioned whether locums can offer stability, freedom, and family time, this conversation will show you what’s possible when you know your worth and take control of your career.

In this episode of The Locums Lounge, Dr. Mimi sits down with Dr. Eric Toone to talk about stepping into locums straight out of residency, learning how to negotiate, and why knowing your worth is the key to freedom in medicine. From his first single-coverage shift to leading teams and balancing family life, Dr. Toone shares hard-won lessons about opportunity, value, and control.

You’ll hear:

• Why locums gave him flexibility and the power to design his own schedule
• The importance of setting your rate and never working for less than your worth
• How 24- and even 48-hour shifts shaped his perspective on time and opportunity
• Why leadership roles can come with hidden costs and how to avoid the trap
• The difference between “F-you money” and “F-you opportunity” — and why the latter matters most

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can step off the traditional path, take control of your schedule, and build a career that works for your life, this conversation will show you what’s possible when you know your worth and stand on it.

In this episode of The Locums Lounge, Dr. Mimi sits down with Dr. Joffre Johnson to talk about the twists and turns of his career—from part-time roles with benefits, to contract changes that forced him to pivot, to finding freedom and leadership through locums work. He shares lessons from practicing in both rural and urban ERs, the grind of COVID, and how stepping into leadership shaped his view of medicine and life.

You’ll hear:

- How contract buyouts and canceled benefits pushed him toward locums
- Why COVID shifted the locums market and created unique opportunities
- The mindset change that turned dysfunction into leadership growth
- Tips for balancing career and parenthood without burning out
- What new grads should know about sign-on bonuses, contracts, and the real value of their time

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can build a sustainable, flexible, and fulfilling career in medicine, this conversation will show you that you can choose your path, and protect your time and energy along the way.

In this episode of The Locums Lounge, Dr. Mimi sits down with Dr. Temi (@moneymindsetmd), founder of Money Mindset MD, to talk about the heavy weight of student loans, the reality of burnout, and the wake-up call that forced her to choose herself first. From $500,000 in debt to walking away from a steady job, Dr. Temi shares how she built a new career on her own terms.

You’ll hear:
- How massive student loans and RVU cuts pushed her to the breaking point
- Why ignoring burnout can cost more than money—it can cost your health
- The turning point that made her say “enough” and walk away
- The mindset shift every locums doctor needs to thrive without fear
- How to claim your value and negotiate from a place of strength

If you’ve ever felt trapped by debt, burned out by the system, or scared to step off the traditional path, this conversation will remind you that you are in demand, you bring value, and you have the power to design medicine around your life.

In this episode of The Locums Lounge, Dr. Mimi reflects on the holidays she missed, the family moments she wished she had more control over, and the wake-up call that led her to redefine her career. She shares how locums work allows physicians to plan their job around their life rather than the other way around.

You’ll hear:

• Why holiday shifts taught her the value of time and freedom
• How permanent jobs can trap physicians into sacrificing health and family
• The mindset shift that makes practicing locums possible
• A vision exercise to help you picture the life you actually want as a doctor
• How stepping away from the “traditional path” led her to fulfillment and freedom

If you are feeling burned out, trapped, or unsure how to balance medicine with your personal life, this episode will challenge you to sit down, write the vision, and create a career that truly serves you.