Locum tenens physicians and advanced practice providers play a crucial role in healthcare delivery, and they have never been needed more than they are today. With provider shortages impacting patient care, locums providers serve as skilled and adaptable clinicians who can provide care wherever they’re needed most. The need is especially critical in underserved and rural areas, where it can be difficult to maintain adequate coverage in hospitals and clinics without the support of locum physicians.
That’s why Weatherby Healthcare created the Locum Tenens of the Year award, an annual opportunity to recognize physicians who are:
- Passionate about locum tenens
- Provide the highest quality of care
- Dedicated to serving the communities where they work and live
When announcing this year’s winners, Weatherby Healthcare President, Luke Woodyard, said, “Each of these physicians is among the best in their specialty and an outstanding representative of locum tenens. It’s our privilege to honor them for their contributions and dedication to caring for patients everywhere they serve.”
2023 locum tenens of the year winners
Sandeep Aggarwal, MD – Neurology
Dr. Aggarwal is a board-certified general neurologist with a sub-specialization in electromyography. He attended the University of Cincinnati and then graduated from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. After completing residency and fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital, he began working at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago in 1996 in various capacities, including as a staff neurologist and a clinical neurology instructor. He also owned a solo private practice for several years. In 2020, Dr. Aggarwal decided to take the leap to locum tenens. He has since become a full-time locum tenens provider and appreciates the flexibility and autonomy that locums provide him, as well as the ability to focus solely on patient care. During his time as a locum tenens physician, he’s chosen to work in rural areas in desperate need of specialists like himself. In addition to locums, Dr. Aggarwal recently participated in a two-week medical mission to India, where he provided care to patients in underserved communities outside of New Delhi. He is an avid reader, enjoys writing, and maintains an active lifestyle.
Michael Fisher, MD – Psychiatry
Michael Fisher is a board-certified adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, he went on to graduate from Arizona State University. He then attended Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and completed his adult psychiatry residency as well as a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Maricopa Medical Center (now ValleyWise Health) in Phoenix. Soon after completing his fellowship, he began working with Weatherby Healthcare as a locum tenens physician, where he has remained for four years. He currently serves patients in Minnesota during the week and travels to Wisconsin on the weekend to provide needed coverage at a high-volume facility. He is more than willing to step in and provide additional coverage where it’s needed most and has found new and unique ways of engaging his youngest patients. He appreciates the work/life balance locums provides along with the opportunity to help others who need it most. He is especially close with his family, many of whom have also chosen various healthcare professions.
Greg LaNouette, MD – Urology
Greg LaNouette, MD, is a board-certified urologist with more than 40 years of experience in both private and group practice. He grew up in Belgium and New Hampshire and attended Denison University before graduating from the University of Cincinnati Medical School, where he also completed his residency. He then spent 12 years at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa, California, where he also served on the board of directors for The Permanente Medical Group, one of the nation’s largest private group practices. He’s since worked in private practice and small group practices. Over the past nine years, he’s worked with Weatherby Healthcare, taking locum tenens assignments across the country, from Pennsylvania to California, in a variety of metropolitan and community-based hospital settings. Now based in Healdsburg, California, Dr. LaNouette enjoys tennis, skiing, travel, and spending time with his family, which includes his wife, two sons, and two grandsons.
Beatrice Zepeda, MD – Pediatric Hospitalist
Dr. Zepeda is a pediatrics hospitalist who has worked over 800 shifts with Weatherby Healthcare since 2018. She worked as a respiratory therapist for 20 years before making the decision to attend medical school. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Michigan State University in 2010 and a pediatric critical care fellowship at Duke University in 2013. She covers various settings of pediatrics from healthy newborns to critically ill children and enjoys working in rural communities to make an impact on the patients she sees. In her work as a locum physician, Dr. Zepeda embraces challenges and works to build rapport with the nursing staff and other physicians to ensure a seamless transition while covering. When not flying from assignment to assignment, Dr. Zepeda enjoys being at the beach, doing water aerobics, and spending time with family.
About Weatherby Healthcare
Weatherby Healthcare is a leader in locum tenens staffing for physicians and advanced practice providers. Established in 1995, the company is the recipient of numerous industry and workplace awards and is part of the CHG Healthcare family of brands, which is frequently ranked as a best place to work.
Interested in learning more about locum tenens? Give us a call at 954.343.3050 or view our open jobs.
