Dr. Daniel Nwankwo’s journey into medicine was fueled by his profound empathy for others and a relentless curiosity about human health. Encouraged by his parents, his passion for relieving suffering ultimately guided him toward a career in medicine.
Dr. Nwankwo moved to the US in November 2012 after practicing for four years as a board-certified internal medicine physician in Nigeria. While he acknowledged that being a physician in a developing country holds a level of prestige, adding, “It has a nice ring to it,” he was drawn to the US by what he described as “the magic of medicine.“
Back home, Dr. Nwankwo often felt frustrated by the lengthy approval processes required under the country’s system of universal healthcare.
“In the United States, you can order tests and then get the answers you need right away,” he said. “That was new to me, and it was one of the most wonderful things about practicing here.”
While holding a full-time position at an Indiana hospital, Dr. Nwankwo vividly recalls meeting his first locum tenens physician. The encounter opened his eyes to a new way of practicing medicine.
“I would see this guy come in, do his work, and then leave, always looking so calm and happy,” Dr. Nwankwo recalled, contrasting it with his own late nights spent handling phone calls, finishing administrative tasks, and navigating office politics. “I was in love with his aura!” he laughed.
Curious about what he witnessed, Dr. Nwankwo began investigating what’s known in the industry as the “locum life.” After researching and discussing locum tenens work with his family, he declared it was time for a career change.
Finding Flexibility and Fulfillment
As a young man, Dr. Nwankwo had a deep interest in people. He loved getting to know them and understanding what made them tick. He often joked that his parents and mentors knew he was destined to be a doctor before he did.
Through these early medical interactions, he developed a strong desire to alleviate others’ pain. However, when he entered a traditional hospital setting, he quickly realized it wasn’t what he expected. Instead of spending time at his patients’ bedside, getting to know them and delivering treatments, he found himself bogged down with patient records, managing pre-authorization requests, and coordinating appointments and follow-up visits. All the paperwork left little time to build relationships with patients.
“What I liked most about working locum tenens was the freedom,” he said. “If you sign a big permanent contract, you can’t just leave. As a locum tenens physician, you’re not stuck. If a place doesn’t fit your personality, you can move on quickly.”
His newfound flexibility has been facilitated by his Interim Physicians recruiters, who ensure Dr. Nwankwo has plenty of opportunities to work when and where he wants.
“I love Interim,” he said. “They have given me so many opportunities. My recruiter is Jackie Byrd, and I want to give her a shoutout. When I first started working with her, she told me, ‘Just so you know, I work 24/7 for you,’ and I thought it was a lie. But no, every time I call she will stop whatever she’s doing and will jump to my aid.”
Embracing the Locum Tenens Lifestyle
Always one to keep busy, Dr. Nwankwo is now licensed to practice in nine states and picks up shifts as fast as Jackie can find them. He hopes one day to work in all 50 states—especially Florida and Alaska. He wants to be able to say he’s treated patients in diverse communities from one edge of the country to the other.
When not on assignment, he assumes his role as a full-time dad, taking his two kids to school, sports, or music practice. “My kids are 10 and 7,” he said. “Each morning, I try to call them or FaceTime on the iPad when I’m not with patients. If I’m home, I watch after them before heading to my next job. I do whatever I can to fill in the gaps.”
Despite its challenges, Dr. Nwankwo can’t imagine returning to a full-time hospital position. He understands the appeal of permanent hospital work, stating, “If it’s just for the sake of getting ‘full-time’ benefits, then I get it. But if they are doing it because they want to find the best job, then it doesn’t make sense to me.”
Dr. Nwankwo has met dozens of locum tenens doctors who have shared similar stories of extreme burnout and job dissatisfaction from their time in permanent positions. He recalled one physician who was part of a 30-doctor team that “up and left” a hospital system after new ownership implemented policies he disagreed with.
With locum tenens, he never has to worry about such things, and Dr. Nwankwo is grateful for it. He enjoys being able to show up on the spot with “no dog in the fight,” focusing solely on what he loves most—practicing medicine and getting to know his patients. It’s something permanent hospital roles could never offer him.
“I don’t see any benefit in going back to a hospital full-time,” he said. “The lack of stress is just unmatched.”
