Gastroenterology Locum Jobs

The credentialing process of gastroenterology locum tenens starts with being a licensed gastroenterologist. Gastroenterology is a subspecialty of internal medicine. To become a board-certified gastroenterologist, you must complete the following:

1. Earn an undergraduate degree:

• • The university must be accredited. 
  • A pre-med specialty diploma (biology, chemistry, microbiology) is preferred.

2. Pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT):

• • This is a rigorous, comprehensive exam that requires extensive studying.
  • Prep for this exam typically takes place starting junior year of undergraduate school.
  • Once you pass the MCAT, you can begin the admissions process to medical school.
  • Most medical schools will only take MCAT scores taken within 3 years.

3. Complete medical school:

• • Medical school is a four year program. The first two years are usually in the classroom and the following two years are supervised clinical rotations at a healthcare facility.
  • During the last two years, students usually decide their specialty. If you decide gastroenterology is the field you want to pursue, you’ll start by specializing in internal medicine.

4. Complete residency:

• • Internal medicine residency is a three-year program and is required before applying to be certified in the subspeciality of gastroenterology.
  • If you are planning to specialize in pediatric gastroenterology, your residency will be in pediatrics and not internal medicine.

5. Complete a gastroenterology fellowship:

• • This is one of the most competitive fellowships.
  • The length of fellowships varies between schools, but the typical fellowship lasts two to three years.
  • If your goal is to be a pediatric gastroenterologist, your fellowship will be specific to pediatrics.
  • The fellowship program must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

6. Pass the gastroenterology certification exam.

• • The entire exam is completed in one day over the course of 10 hours.
  • The test is divided into four sessions with a total of 100 minutes of break time in between.

7. Pass licensing exam (The United States Medical Licensing Examination).

• Step 1 of the exam is completed during medical school.
• Step 2 and Step 3 are completed after residency.

Once all requirements are met and exams are passed, you will be able to practice as a gastroenterologist. As a certified, licensed gastroenterologist, you now have the option to work as a gastroenterologist locum tenens. 

As the population in the United States gets older, the need for gastroenterology increases since the older population tends to utilize gastroenterological services more than the younger population.

It is estimated that 50% of gastroenterologists currently practicing are 55 years old or older. The growing age of practicing gastroenterologists means that within the coming years, over half of practicing gastroenterologists will likely retire. The increase in the age of the U.S. population combined with the increase in the age of gastroenterologists creates a high demand for gastroenterological services.

Within the subspecialty of gastroenterology, there are even more specific specialties that are even higher in demand due to their specific nature and additional requirements for certification. Fellowships for these tend to be longer as well. These include:

• Interventional/advanced endoscopy
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Hepatology & transplant hepatology
• Motility

Gastroenterology is one of the higher-paid locum tenens positions. The salary potential for a gastroenterology locum tenens varies on numerous factors, primarily location. More urban areas see higher salaries, while smaller rural areas typically have lower salaries. 

The average salary range for gastroenterology locum tenens ranges from approximately $5,400 to $8,200 per week. The states with the highest salaries are:

• Washington
• The District of Columbia
• New York
• Massachusetts
• Alaska

At Trusted Locum Staffing, we take into account the hours you want to work, preferred locations, and desired salary to find the right fit for your needs.

Locum tenens positions are temporary positions that help support permanent positions in various healthcare facilities. The temporary nature of these positions provides many benefits not found in a more traditional, permanent role.

Some of the benefits of gastroenterology locums are:

• Higher salary: The positions of gastroenterology locum tenens are created out of a need to fill a temporary space for gastroenterologists. As a result of this immediate need, the locum tenens gastroenterology salary tends to be higher than a permanent position. It should be noted that these temporary positions may come with a different benefits package than a permanent staff position. However, it is possible for a locum tenens position to transition to a permanent position if needed.
• Freedom and flexibility: As a gastroenterology locum tenens, you have more control over your schedule. Traditional permanent staff physicians tend to work long, grueling hours for days on end. Working as a locum tenens, you are able to decide how much or how little you want to work. If you have an important event coming up, you are free to work less hours. Or if you find yourself needing to make more money, you can add hours to your schedule. It’s all up to you. 
• Less burnout: Being a permanent staff physician working long hours can make finding a fulfilling work-life balance difficult. Long hours, high-stress, and demanding work situations can take a toll on one’s physical and mental well-being. Physicians are facing burnout in high numbers. One possible way to combat burnout is to control how much time you work. Also, with the ability to change locations, having a fresh start when needed can also be helpful.
• Travel opportunities: Temporary locum tenens positions are needed all over the country. If you want to stay close to home, there are plenty of options to do so. But, if you want to explore the country, being a gastroenterology locum tenens is the perfect option for you. Let Trusted Locum Staffing do the legwork to help you find a position in an area that best suits your wants and needs.
• Career advancement: One of the benefits of being able to move from one location to another is gaining the experience of various peers, seeing the inner workings of different healthcare facilities, and exposure to different methods and technologies. Gastroenterology is a continuously evolving field, and having these experiences can help build your knowledge as a professional. Another benefit of working in a variety of locations is being able to work with different physicians and healthcare professionals. Networking benefits any physician, so building those connections across the country is professionally beneficial. 

There are numerous benefits of working as a locum tenens. In addition, there are multiple benefits to working as a gastroenterology locum with Trusted Locum Staffing. Our team is committed to providing you with:

• A simplified credentialing process: Our onboarding process is quick and efficient, allowing you to get started as soon as possible.
• Comprehensive malpractice coverage: Every assignment will include malpractice insurance and tail coverage. 
• Concierge care: We handle all of your housing and travel needs.
• Personalized placement process: We take the time to get to know you and our facilities to make sure each job is a good fit for the physician and the facility.
• White glove service: We provide high-quality care in every detail of your assignment.
• Support and advocacy: We are available 24/7 to support all of your needs.

If a gastroenterology locum’s salary, flexibility, travel opportunities, and work-life balance sound enticing, this may be an excellent choice for you. 

Trusted Locum Staffing is here for you if this is the professional endeavor you wish to pursue. Our team of recruiters is available to get you started on your journey. We do all the work so you can focus on your career as a gastroenterologist. 

Contact us so we can get to know you and find the proper placement for you!