Doctors Who Thought They Were Done—But Found New Opportunities After Retirement

9: Locum Tenens Doctor

For those who love the idea of practicing medicine again but can’t bear the thought of jumping back into a full-time, 9-to-5 grind, locum tenens might be your dream job. "Locum tenens," which is Latin for “to hold the place of,” allows you to fill in for other doctors on an as-needed basis. You might find yourself in one clinic for a day, or hopping from one to the next for a week or more. It’s like the substitute teacher of the medical world, except, you know, with a stethoscope.

The real appeal of this gig? Flexibility. You get to set your own schedule—no more rushing out the door at the crack of dawn or working late into the night. But, before you start packing your bags for a spontaneous adventure, keep in mind that this type of job might involve some travel (hello, frequent flyer miles!) and working off-hours. And, before you jump into a staffing agency, make sure to check if they offer perks like paying for travel and accommodation, or if you’re on your own for those expenses.

Don’t forget—if your license has lapsed, you’ll have to go through the re-entry process we mentioned earlier. Plus, if you plan on bouncing between states, you may need to get licensed in multiple locations. But hey, nothing says “I’m back, baby” like a multi-state medical license.