Dr. Veronica Abegunde has aspired to work in medicine since growing up in Nigeria’s Oyo state capital, Ibadan. A self-proclaimed city girl, Dr. Abegunde put down roots in Chicago, where her passion for living a bustling lifestyle continued to fuel her medical career.
Driven by the desire to stay active and embrace new challenges, Dr. Abegunde found her calling as a hospitalist. She appreciated the role’s flexibility, which perfectly suits her dynamic approach to her life and her career.
“I don’t see myself as a desk or corporate office person,” she said. “I like that I can work with patients and interact with people from all different walks of life. I love the interpersonal relationships you build with people.”
“Dr. Abegunde continued, “There are some challenging days [in medicine], but there’s never a dull moment. I like that.”
After receiving her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Dr. Abegunde returned home to the Windy City to complete her residency at Loyola University Medical Center. She then worked for three years as a full-time hospitalist at a healthcare facility in Indiana but found that the demands of the full-time role began to take a toll physically and emotionally.
“I don’t like drama. I’m just not that person,” she said. “I think that’s why I don’t like the corporate world because I don’t enjoy meetings, and having to get involved in the hospital politics or deal with the administration.”
Full-time work exposed Dr. Abegunde to the less enjoyable aspects of the job, which quickly led to her feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Prioritizing her well-being, she resigned from her permanent position without yet securing another job, opting instead for locum tenens assignments that promised a better work-life balance. Shortly thereafter, she received a text message from an Interim Physicians recruiter, steering her career in a promising new direction.
Working with Principal Recruiting Director Jackie Byrd, Dr. Abegunde recalled, “Interim Physicians found me a good match at BJC Alton Memorial Hospital outside of Chicago. I’ve been working with Interim now for the past seven years.”
Dr. Abegunde expressed her appreciation for Interim’s personal touch, stating that she feels confident in trusting Jackie to ensure her success with each new assignment.
“Jackie has always been the go-to person for me,” Dr. Abegunde said, “ responding to emails or text messages. It doesn’t matter if it’s 8 or 9 p.m., she’ll respond and make sure there’s adequate follow-up.”
Find Freedom in Locum Tenens
Ditching the daily grind, working locum tenens gave Dr. Abegunde a level of comfort that her previous full-time position lacked. Reflecting back on her time immediately following residency, she recalled working non-stop, even through holidays, without the option to swap shifts for vacation time.
“I didn’t like that I didn’t have ownership over my schedule,” she said. “That was the deciding factor for me in switching to locums. Now, if I want to, I can take two or three weeks off and then come back to work when I want.”
She continued, “I get to have autonomy and control of my life. While I would never say I will never go back to full-time, I’m happy working in locums now.”
Dr. Abegunde is licensed in five states but primarily practices in the Chicago suburbs, close to family and the vibrant city life she enjoys. Emphasizing the invaluable nature of time and how control over her schedule dramatically enhances her life’s quality, she believes locums is perfect for her.
However, she cautions that so much autonomy might not appeal to everyone. “Physicians need to consider all factors when exploring a move into locum tenens,” Dr. Abegunde suggests, recommending that those interested should start part-time to see if it’s a good fit.
While the travel and transient lifestyle of locums may be challenging for some, it suits Dr. Abegunde just fine. “The benefits far outweigh the challenges,” she concludes, emphasizing the profound impact of flexibility on her professional satisfaction and sense of well-being.
