How to cite: Kim FJ. Landscape of Urology Locum Tenens. Grand Rounds in Urology. February 2026. Accessed Oct 2026. https://grandroundsinurology.com/landscape-of-urology-locum-tenens/
Summary
Fernando J. Kim, MD, MBA, FACS, AdventHealth Medical Group, Riverview, Florida, presents an overview of locum tenens practice in urology and its role in addressing workforce gaps. Dr. Kim describes observations from visits to rural and underserved communities, where limited access to urologic care results in delays in evaluation and treatment.
Dr. Kim explains that locum tenens involves the temporary placement of clinicians to provide coverage for defined periods. He describes common practice patterns, including emergency department consultations, urgent procedures, call coverage, and short-term clinical assignments. Facilities utilizing locum tenens include acute care hospitals, Veterans Affairs hospitals, and rural or critical access facilities.
Dr. Kim identifies contributing factors to the growth of locum tenens, including workforce constraints, geographic maldistribution, and physician preference for flexibility. He reports that a significant proportion of US counties lack practicing urologists.
Dr. Kim reviews compensation structures, noting that locum tenens roles may offer higher pay but may not include benefits such as retirement or long-term stability. He outlines credentialing requirements, including state licensure, hospital privileging, and malpractice coverage, and describes expedited licensure pathways.
He discusses regulatory considerations, including employment classification, contract structure, and liability coverage. Advantages include schedule flexibility and varied practice settings, while challenges include a lack of continuity of care and administrative requirements.
Dr. Kim also reviews the characteristics of physicians who may adapt to locum tenens practice and describes trends, including telemedicine, expanded procedural capabilities, and the use of emerging technologies in urologic care.
About the 45th Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar
The Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar, also known as the Jackson Hole Seminars, brings together distinguished urologists, clinical researchers, and thought leaders to share wisdom and experience that drives meaningful progress in patient care. Changes occur in medicine and urology on an almost daily basis, so it is imperative that the practicing urologist remains on the cutting edge. Urologists need to keep current on assessing, diagnosing, and treating urologic conditions in the clinical setting. The 45th meeting took place in 2026, focusing on urologic cancers, stone disease, urologic reconstruction, female urology, infertility, emerging surgical techniques, and general urology. 2026 also marked the meeting’s first-ever all-female speaker panel.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fernando J. Kim, MD, MBA, FACS, is a Urologist with AdventHealth Medical Group in Riverview, Florida. Dr. Kim is active in the American Urological Association (AUA) as part of their leadership program, served as their host country liaison, and was awarded their Presidential Citation for his international relations and contributions to minimally invasive urological surgery. Dr. Kim served as president of the SCSAUA. He also received the Presidential Juscelino Kubitschek Medal from the Society of Brazilian Urology, the Ernest E. Moore Trauma Award, and the Societá Italiana di Urologia International Guest Recognition.
Dr. Kim earned his Medical Degree from the University of São Paulo in São Paolo, Brazil. He completed a research fellowship in Trauma Medicine and an internship in General Surgery at the University of Colorado in Denver Colorado. Dr. Kim then completed a residency in Urology at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. After which, he completed fellowships in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Endourology, and Urology at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kim then earned his MBA in Healthcare Administration from the University of Colorado. He has also been certified in Clinical and Industrial Drug Development from MIT xPRO in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Kim is president of the South Central Section of the American Urological Association (SCSAUA), editor-in-chief of AUA NEWS in Portuguese, and associate editor of theJournal of Urology Plusand thePatient Safety in Surgery Journal. He has received several research grants and is a primary investigator (PI) or co-PI, including studies of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, and prostate cancer prevention in minority communities. He has over 200 published articles, book chapters, videos, and monographs.
