Pediatric surgeon Robert Touloukian, MD, enjoyed a long and accomplished career at a prestigious facility in the Northeast handling high-risk tertiary care. Last year, he decided to slow things down a bit, and accepted the title of Professor Emeritus of Surgery and Pediatrics.
“Though I still have an office, attend conferences, and speak to the residents and staff, I no longer have assigned duties,” says Dr. Touloukian. “I am enjoying my newfound free time, but I didn’t want to completely give up caring for children. So, I decided to pursue locum tenens opportunities.”
For the last 16 months, Dr. Touloukian has been providing services at a regional medical center 300-plus miles from his home. “My Weatherby consultant, Dane Risteen, set me up with an opportunity that was exactly what I was looking for,” he conveys. “In fact, it is such a good match that I have been back and forth on a regular basis ever since. I go there for 10 days at a time, and I have already been there 10 times. I’m actually preparing to leave for my next stint this week.”
One benefit of returning to the same place on a regular basis, says Dr. Touloukian, is that he can gain an identity at the institution. “By now, I know my colleagues very well, and they know me. There is no adjustment period necessary when I arrive. I am assigned to operating cases right away, and I have clinics assigned to me. I feel like a mini-member of the staff.”
Dr. Touloukian also feels good about being able to provide his counterpart with some time off. “There is only one full-time pediatric surgeon on staff, and he provides coverage 100 percent of the time. But when I’m there, he can get away and take a break. And I don’t mind making myself available the entire time I’m there. It’s not overly busy, and I rarely get called out in the middle of the night. Plus, I’m only there for a finite period of time.”
The less rigorous schedule, combined with the lower level of patient acuity, make up an ideal combination for Dr. Touloukian. “This facility is smaller than where I came from, and handles lower-risk surgical procedures,” he says. “And that is fine with me right now. I don’t mind giving up the very complicated cases and long hours, but I do not want to completely stop caring for children. I can put my skills to good use, and keep up with other activities and commitments in my life.
“My wife often drives there to spend a few days with me during my time away,” Dr. Touloukian adds. “And I am able to choose the dates that work best for me, so I am home for holidays, birthdays, and family obligations. Dane has been very helpful with that, and with all my needs. Finding this professional home away from home has provided me with a very satisfying chapter in my career.”
