In this episode of Empowering Oncologists on OncoDaily, host Dr. Jasmine Kamboj sits down with Dr. Vidya Kollu, a board-certified hematologist-oncologist in Saint Paul, Minnesota, who has built a unique and intentional career through locum tenens practice.
The conversation explores the evolving challenges in oncology, including workforce shortages, rising cancer burden, and increasing physician burnout. Dr. Kollu highlights the urgent need for innovative, flexible career models that support both physicians and patients. She shares her inspiring journey from growing up in India and training in the United States to becoming a locum oncologist working across multiple healthcare systems.
Dr. Kollu discusses how locum tenens practice looks like in real life, how it supports rural and underserved communities where access to oncology care is limited, and how it allows her to deliver meaningful care in those communities while maintaining autonomy, flexibility, and work-life balance.
The episode also touches on important realities within the profession, including gender-based pay disparities and the lack of transparency in physician compensation. Dr. Kollu provides insight into the practical side of locum work: licensing (including IMLC), credentialing, EMRs, travel, and taxes. She shares practical advice for physicians considering locum work, including negotiation strategies, managing administrative complexity, and building a strong support team (CPA, agents, and peers).
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Kollu also speaks about founding Empower IMG, a community created to support international medical graduates who often face isolation and lack of guidance during their journey. Her goal is to create a space of mentorship, connection, and shared learning, helping others navigate the same path she once experienced.