The research on physician burnout is consistent on one point: variety and perceived meaning are protective, and their absence is costly (Mathews et al., 2024). What the research cannot fully capture is what it looks like in practice when a physician deliberately steps sideways into unfamiliar territory. Dr. Hanna's account does.
You practise comprehensive family medicine - what made you curious about occupational medicine specifically?
- I was curious about occupational medicine and wanted exposure to a different side of healthcare - one that focuses on prevention, workplace safety, and population-level impact.
How were you finding locum opportunities before this one?
- Mostly through word of mouth and occasional job boards, which often felt fragmented and time-consuming to navigate.
What made you decide to take this particular role?
- The role was clearly described, well-organized, and aligned with my interest in trying something new without a long-term commitment.
What did a typical day in the factory setting involve?
- A typical day was very well organized, with patients moving through scheduled assessments, including foot evaluations by podiatrists and fittings for custom orthotics. Many were genuinely engaged and appreciative, and it was rewarding to see such enthusiasm for a proactive approach to their health.
What surprised you most?
- I was struck by how proactive and prevention-focused the work is, and how much impact small interventions can have on both individual workers and overall workplace health.
How did it differ from your usual practice?
- It was more focused and structured than the broad scope of general family practice - a refreshing change while still emphasizing prevention and proactive care.
How has locum work affected your relationship with medicine more broadly?
- Locum work has been refreshing. It's helped me reconnect with the variety in medicine and brought a renewed sense of energy and curiosity to my practice.
Would you do a similar locum again?
- Absolutely, it was a rewarding change of pace and a valuable way to expand my scope of practice.
Would you recommend this kind of opportunity to other physicians?
- Yes. It simplifies the process of finding meaningful locum work and connects physicians with well-matched opportunities in a streamlined way.
The experience Dr. Hanna describes - renewed curiosity, a shift in clinical orientation, engagement with a patient population motivated by prevention rather than crisis - is not incidental. Grudniewicz et al. (2023) found that Canadian family physicians with exposure to multiple practice contexts reported higher career satisfaction and greater professional agency. A time-limited, well-scoped locum in an unfamiliar setting is one of the lower-risk ways to get that exposure. Dr. Hanna's answer on whether she would do it again is unambiguous.
