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Dr. Sheikh’s two greatest passions are practicing medicine and high-altitude alpine climbing. As a mother of four and a dedicated physician, it was nearly impossible to find enough time to prioritize her hobby. But then she discovered locum tenens.
Now with Caliber’s support, she creates her own schedule and plans locum tenens assignments around her climbing expeditions—some of which last two or three months.
Like most siblings, Dr. Sheikh was in constant competition with her older brother. Since he was on track to become a doctor, that became her goal as well. But what started as friendly sibling rivalry quickly evolved into her true calling.
“When my brother talked about why he chose medicine, he said, ‘To save one person, you’re also saving part of humanity,’” Dr. Sheikh recalls. “That really stuck with me.”
And when she tagged along on one of his rotations during medical school, she saw the truth to his words firsthand.
“My brother was in a maternity ward and his patient just delivered a baby. She thanked him over and over for saving their lives. I saw the gratitude she had for my brother even though he was just a student at the time. In that moment, she saw him as her hero, but he felt like a hero to me, too.”
Dr. Sheikh realized that being a physician wasn’t just work; it was so much more rewarding than that. She also wanted to help people and make a lasting impact on their lives. That drive propelled her through medical school.
When it came to choosing a specialty, Dr. Sheikh’s inquisitive nature and diagnostic approach naturally led her to hospitalist medicine.
“It's incredibly rewarding for me to piece together clues from a patient's symptoms, perform procedures, and be deeply involved in their care from admission to discharge,” she explains.
As a hands-on Hospitalist, Dr. Sheikh thrived in long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) settings. Both she and her husband were practicing Hospitalists when she decided to pursue a nephrology fellowship. Because she enjoyed the freedom and autonomy of treating her patients, Dr. Sheikh chose to become an Interventional Nephrologist and perform procedures independently.
However, as a mother of four, it was challenging to balance her family, her career, and her hobby as a mountaineer. Thankfully, her husband introduced her to locum tenens.
“My husband found Caliber and he took a few assignments before he settled on a full-time role. He suggested it to me, so I picked up a few shifts here and there in 2018 along with maintaining my procedural skillset working LTACH.”
Dr. Sheikh and her husband planned their respective shifts around their children’s extracurricular activities and occasionally picked up weekends to supplement their income. And a few years later, locums gave Dr. Sheikh even more opportunities—the schedule flexibility to pursue her hobby.
“High-altitude alpine climbing is different from traditional rock climbing; I encounter ice, rock, all different terrain. I've been climbing much more intensely since 2022, I started with K2 Base Camp and Gondogoro La, summitted Kilimanjaro, and then Everest Base Camp followed by 6,000-7,000 meter peaks in the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain range. My highest climb is Spantik, which is a 7,029 meter climb in Pakistan. Climbs of this intensity take a couple of months to complete, and I could never take that time off from a full-time job.”
Not to mention, mountaineering is an expensive hobby. Dr. Sheikh’s husband fondly teases her about the fact that she’s not saving up for brand-name purses, she’s saving for outdoor safety gear. With locum work, she can fund her expeditions and still prioritize being present for her family.
"Locum tenens gives me the flexibility I need as a busy mom and physician to pursue my passion as a mountaineer. It's the best deal for me because I can dictate my Hospitalist schedule and still maintain my skills working part-time in LTACH settings as a kidney specialist. It's all about finding that balance in your career, and Caliber really helps me achieve it."
While locum tenens work provides flexibility, Dr. Sheikh emphasizes the efficiency of Caliber’s communication.
“There’s a personal touch with Caliber and that’s why I recommend working with them. They remember my goals and availability, making it easy to tailor my work schedule around my climbing expeditions and family needs. They make sure everything is smooth, from scheduling to paycheck verification. If I'm traveling and need to log my hours, they’re on top of it, ensuring I get paid on time.”
Additionally, Dr. Sheikh highlights the benefits of locum tenens work for those exploring new opportunities. Although she primarily takes assignments close to her home in Chicago to stay near her family, she appreciates the adaptability of locum tenens.
“With locums, you can test the waters. You can see if a city or hospital system works for you. In that way, for some people, locums is a great way to start before transitioning full-time. You might not have ever imagined working in a particular place and then you discover that it’s the perfect location.”
Whether using locums to explore new practice environments, gain supplemental income, or achieve schedule autonomy, Dr. Sheikh underscores the importance of prioritizing both professional and personal aspirations.
“You have to find balance to avoid burnout. As a mom and physician, I quickly realized the importance of this. Locum tenens allows physicians like me to balance work, enjoy life, and pursue our passions. It provides the flexibility to set our own goals and schedules, ensuring we can work hard and still have time for fulfillment outside of medicine.”
At Caliber, we pride ourselves on empowering exceptional physicians like Dr. Shiekh to achieve balance in their careers. She’s a shining example of how locum tenens can provide the flexibility needed to pursue a rewarding career in medicine while also embracing life's adventures.
Interested in exploring how locum tenens can help you find balance? Search our job board or contact a recruiter today.
