Feature
The unexpected locum
How locum tenens work can expand access—and careers
M
ark H. Knelson, MD, thought his IR career had come to an early end—until he discovered locum tenens work.
Dr. Knelson’s original career path was similar to many other interventional radiologists. After completing his fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, he stayed on as an assistant professor, and later transferred to a community hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. This 400-bed hospital was associated with a major cancer center, which offered Dr. Knelson the opportunity to take his experience at Duke and extend it into a community setting.
30 IRQ | WINTER 2026
“That was our mantra,” Dr. Knelson said. “Someone could go down the road to Duke or UNC, but we could do everything they could, and in the patient’s neighborhood.”
Over the years, Dr. Knelson and his colleagues built a robust and fulfilling practice. But when his hospital was bought out and the radiology group let go, Dr. Knelson found himself at a different hospital, one further from his home which didn’t offer the same fulfillment he’d previously found. At that point, Dr. Knelson decided to hang up his lead and take early retirement.
“I was pretty happy, but I did miss the work,” he said.
The unintentional locum At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Knelson heard that one of the radiology groups in his town was short on IRs. Because it was so close to his home— approximately 13 minutes—he offered to help, including taking call as needed.
“I didn’t get involved in a locum company, and I didn’t really know what that was,” he said. “I was just working when they needed help, if someone called in sick, and to help with call. Early in my career I had to take call every other night, so I knew how much difference it could make as a provider when you’re only taking every other third night.”
It was the start of a great relationship, Dr. Knelson said. But eventually the practice hired several full-time IRs, and his services weren’t needed as much.
“I didn’t really expect to keep doing it, but people kept sending me locum opportunities and encouraging me to think about continuing this work, so I did,” he said.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
