After a short time as a full-time hospitalist, Dr. Nadia Parchment realized that a conventional medical career wasn’t her cup of tea.
Instead, she embraced the freedom and flexibility of life as a locum tenens hospitalist, where every assignment promised a new adventure, and the practice of medicine remained exciting with each new setting. For the past decade, she has charted her own course as a locum tenens hospitalist, primarily serving healthcare facilities across the South. Drawn to the versatility of locum tenens work, she embraced the opportunity to break free of constraints.
“With locums, I’m not loyal to a system but to this profession,” she explained. “I’m loyal to my patients wherever I go. Medicine is medicine no matter where or how I practice.”
Locum tenens allows Dr. Parchment to stay true to her passion for medicine while maintaining the excitement and autonomy she craves.
She was drawn to locums right out of residency but hesitated to explore it in the absence of full-time experience.
“I got a lot of offers from locums companies,” she said. “Back then, they didn’t care if I had experience, but I knew I wanted to build a background as a permanent provider before going the locum route.”
Training for Locums
Completing her residency in 2014 gave her the skills and confidence to thrive in locum tenens settings.
“I trained in a robust system,” she said. “But coming out of residency, you don’t always realize how much you’re prepared for. I had to go out on my own to see what I was capable of.”
Working in locum tenens requires adaptability—whether it’s learning new systems, adjusting to new environments, or switching between agencies. For Dr. Parchment, that’s part of the appeal.
“Believe it or not, medicine can get monotonous after a while,” she admitted. “But every time I start at a new facility, it’s exciting for me again. It’s what keeps the work interesting.”
Dr. Parchment is grateful for her partnership with Interim Physicians, praising the agency for consistently providing assignments and support when she needed it.
“Working with Interim has been great. They’re by far one of the best agencies I’ve worked with, and I’ve worked with a lot,” she said. Principal recruiting director Lauren Roberts makes sure every assignment goes smoothly, and travel manager Stefannie Rose is always there to help with logistics. “Everyone plays a part in making my job easier.”
Locum for Life
Dr. Parchment strongly advocates locum tenens work and encourages other physicians to explore it, particularly those seeking greater career flexibility.
“If you’re new and have a lot of debt, locums is a great way to take a bite out of it. And if you want something permanent later, that’s fine—but it’s definitely worth trying. Over the years, I’ve met doctors who have been doing locum work longer than I have, and none of them regret it. Many have told me they wish they’d started sooner.”
For Dr. Parchment, locum tenens has allowed her to practice medicine on her own terms. Free from the constraints of a rigid schedule, she can focus fully on patient care while enjoying the flexibility to shape her own career. With Interim Physicians as her trusted partner, she feels supported every step of the way.
“I’ve had doctors ask me, ‘Wouldn’t you want to become a CMO? Or a director?’” she said. “But why would I want that? I work locums—I’m already a boss. I don’t need a fancy title or nameplate on an office. I tell everyone that I’m locums for life.”
