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Exotic locations are one part allure, one part payoff for fans of the locum tenens lifestyle. For many, "exotic" may conjure visions of foaming waves on white-sand beaches. Or perhaps the word rekindles memories of lilting languages, as musical as they are unknown. In the U.S., we can find the exotic a little closer to home. All we need to do is look north.
Alaska offers more than adventure to locum tenens doctors. At one-fifth the size of the combined continental states and with a population as diverse as it is dispersed, Alaska offers unique professional challenges to physicians with an affinity for the wild. If your idea of a practical commute is a two-seater Cessna, endless miles of unpopulated, roadless wilderness, and a gravel airstrip, we might have the assignment you're looking for.
But who are we kidding? We all know the real reason to set sights on Alaska.
The fishing!
The 49th state is home to some of the largest salmon runs in the world. Depending on the season, your location, and your appetite for adventure, Alaska's world-class guides can hook you into any or all of the state's five salmon species. Your guides will be able to help you distinguish one from the other. However, if you prefer to brave the wilds on your own, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) provides online identification information as well as comprehensive hunting and fishing regulations.
You'll probably want to visit ADF&G's website anyway to apply for a nonresident fishing license. And make sure to keep that fishing license with you. After all, traveling physicians aren't the only ones with access to a float plane!