Locum tenens leaders will convene again at NALTO’s Fall Fly-In conference on September 24 and 25. The annual Fly-In is the largest individual event in the locum tenens industry.
This dynamic experience unites locum pros from coast to coast for two days of networking, insider insights, and camaraderie.
Last year’s event smashed attendance records in Park City, Utah, drawing more than 180 locums agency leaders, staffing experts, vendors, hospital executives, and more than a few locum tenens providers. This year, NALTO traded the snowy ski slopes for the rolling hills of Austin, Texas.
Renowned for its vibrant music scene, outstanding barbecue, picturesque lakes, and the world’s largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats, Austin is a distinctive destination for this year’s industry meet-up.
According to conference chair Tanika Williams, Austin’s geography and popular tourist attractions made it the top pick over other contenders.
“We landed on Austin after bouncing between East and West Coasts the last couple of years,” Williams explained. “We wanted a central location that was not only conference-friendly but also offered attractions for people to enjoy during their downtime. Another key factor is choosing a place where, even if time is short, attendees can experience the local culture and have something fun to do.”
Let’s take a closer look at what attendees can expect at the Fly-In.
“We landed on Austin after bouncing between East and West Coasts the last couple of years. We wanted a central location that was not only conference-friendly but also offered attractions for people to enjoy during their downtime. Another key factor is choosing a place where, even if time is short, attendees can experience the local culture and have something fun to do.”
Fall Fly-In At a Glance
As with each Fly-In, expect a robust agenda packed with learning opportunities and networking sessions tailored to the booming locum tenens industry.
Tuesday
Kicking off at 3 p.m. on September 24 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin, attendees will check in before heading to the exhibit hall. New members and first-timers can mingle over drinks and hors d’oeuvres while connecting with industry vendors. Locumpedia will be there, too—don’t forget to swing by and say, “Hi!”
After checking in and dropping by the welcome reception, guests will be whisked to Otopia, the only rooftop pool, bar, and restaurant in downtown Austin’s West Campus District.
Wednesday
The conference kicks off in earnest at 8:45 a.m. with a keynote speech from Daniel Kuzmanovich, healthcare strategist at Advisory Board. Building on his March NALTO/NAPR keynote, he’ll challenge trends like the slowing growth of hospital-employed physicians and the rise of independent practices. He’ll also discuss the demand for physician partnerships and how care models can help ease the physician shortage.
Following the keynote, Sarah Kroll Rosenbaum and Montaye Sigmon from Akerman LLP will lead a session on the latest best practices for contracts in today’s regulatory landscape. They’ll provide a state-by-state update on conversion fees and offer a comprehensive overview of new legislation passed since our last gathering in March.
In the afternoon, Ryan Bernstein and Gina Sherick-Fritz of McGuireWoods will recap NALTO representatives’ most recent trip to Washington, DC, and discuss the opportunities and potential pitfalls of the next congressional session. Participants will learn new ways to support NALTO’s ongoing legislative efforts.
The day will wrap up with a closing keynote from JT Thoms of Jackson + Coker. Thoms will advise attendees to prioritize progress over perfection in their daily lives. Through group discussions and interactive activities, Thoms will urge the audience to leave the conference energized and ready to apply their newfound insights back at the office.
“I think that’s going to be a remarkable session and something different,” Williams added. “It’s always a challenge to find someone who not only disseminates great information but can also motivate people, and that was really something we were looking for with a keynote closing session.”
There will be many networking opportunities and roundtable discussions throughout the event, which Williams said are always a highlight among conference attendees.
“We typically have between five and seven topics, and this year we will have about 12. That’s really become one of the highlights of the conference.”
Check out the full agenda to plan your schedule.
“I think so often when you have a national organization within a subset of a larger industry, it can seem divided. I love that we don’t have that with NALTO. We want to make sure that everybody feels that love. We’re working together as an organization that wants everyone to win.”
Fostering Locum Tenens Collaboration and Community
Williams said that despite its rapid growth and recent success, the locum tenens industry still feels like a small, tight-knit community open to sharing ideas and perspectives. That friendliness is one of the things she finds most endearing about both the industry and NALTO.
“So many of our members collaborate with each other, have subcontractor agreements, and engage in partnerships that you don’t typically see elsewhere,” she explained. “It’s a great forum for people to garner those relationships to do that.”
Williams hopes attendees leave the conference with a deeper understanding of the industry and insights into the latest federal and state legislation that makes navigating the current landscape easier. She also wants new members and smaller agencies to experience the fellowship, expand their networks, make new friends, and forge new partnerships.
“I think so often when you have a national organization within a subset of a larger industry, it can seem divided. I love that we don’t have that with NALTO,” Williams said. “We want to make sure that everybody feels that love. We’re working together as an organization that wants everyone to win.”
