All Star Team

AUA2026: The Trials and Trends Shaping Modern Urology

At AUA2026, urology’s direction felt increasingly clear: more precise, less invasive, and more patient centered.

Across oncology, stone disease, BPH, and incontinence care, many of this year’s updates reflected a specialty refining existing therapies, advancing new procedural models, and reducing treatment burden without compromising outcomes.

From bladder-sparing oncology strategies to minimally invasive office-based care, urology continues moving toward treatment approaches shaped not only by clinical efficacy, but also by recovery time, long-term function, and patient quality of life. At the same time, workforce shortages and uneven access to care remain ongoing challenges.

Throughout the conference, the All Star Healthcare Solutions team spoke with urologists nationwide about the clinical, operational, and workforce realities shaping modern urology practice — while also following the latest research and technology updates firsthand.

Here are some of the trials, technologies, and broader trends that stood out most at this year’s meeting.

Top Takeaways at a Glance

• Urologic oncology continues moving toward more combination therapies, selective treatment intensification, and bladder-sparing strategies.
• Benign urology is increasingly focused on minimally invasive, office-based, and durable therapies that reduce recovery burden while preserving symptom relief.
• Quality-of-life and patient-reported outcomes are playing a larger role in defining treatment success, particularly in BPH and incontinence care.
• The future of urology may be defined less by how aggressively clinicians intervene and more by how precisely they match the right treatment to the right patient.
• Workforce shortages and uneven provider distribution continue shaping how and where urologic care is delivered across the country.

Bladder Cancer Care Continues Moving Toward Bladder Preservation

Several of the most closely watched oncology updates at AUA2026 focused not just on controlling disease, but on delaying or avoiding cystectomy altogether in carefully selected patients.

Expanded analyses from the POTOMAC trial supported durvalumab plus BCG in BCG-naïve high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, showing improved recurrence-free outcomes compared with BCG alone. The findings reinforce growing interest in combination approaches for patients at elevated risk of recurrence.

Meanwhile, interim phase 2 LEGEND data showed promising complete response rates with intravesical detalimogene voraplasmid in BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ, pointing toward another potential bladder-sparing pathway for patients with historically limited treatment options.

Additional pembrolizumab plus BCG findings in BCG-naïve very high-risk T1 NMIBC pushed that conversation even further. The phase 2 trial reported a 92% complete response rate at 6 months, with no muscle-invasive or metastatic progression observed during the 22-month median follow-up period.

Taken together, the updates reflected a continued shift toward preserving bladder function when appropriate — particularly for patients seeking alternatives to radical surgery.

Prostate Cancer Research Focused on Precision and Treatment Intensification

Prostate cancer updates at AUA2026 reflected a growing emphasis on identifying which patients truly benefit from more aggressive intervention — and where escalation may offer diminishing returns.

The phase 2 ARASEC study evaluated darolutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer using an external historical control design. The study showed improved progression-free survival, overall survival, and PSA response rates compared with ADT alone, supporting continued interest in treatment intensification strategies for appropriately selected patients.

Meanwhile, long-term follow-up data evaluating extended versus limited pelvic lymph node dissection during radical prostatectomy for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer offered a more nuanced picture. While extended pelvic lymph node dissection improved pathologic staging, it did not improve outcomes overall. However, investigators reported a possible biochemical recurrence-free survival benefit among patients with ISUP grade 3–5 disease, suggesting there may still be subgroups where a more extensive surgical approach provides meaningful value.

Additional phase 3 results for CAN-2409 in localized prostate cancer showed improved disease-free survival compared with placebo, along with lower rates of biochemical recurrence, salvage therapy, and metastasis. The strongest benefit appeared in intermediate-risk patients, supporting continued interest in aglatimagene besadenovec as an adjunct to standard radiation therapy.

Rather than moving uniformly toward “more treatment,” many of these studies pointed toward a more tailored approach: intensify therapy where the data support it, while avoiding unnecessary escalation where benefit remains uncertain.

Benign Urology Is Becoming Less Invasive — Without Sacrificing Durability

Some of the most noticeable momentum at AUA2026 came from therapies designed to reduce procedural burden while still delivering meaningful, lasting symptom improvement.

In stone disease, the SOUND pivotal trial met both co-primary endpoints for safety and effectiveness, supporting noninvasive, anesthesia-free lithotripsy as a viable office-based treatment option. If adopted more broadly, technologies like this could significantly change the patient experience surrounding stone management.

At the same time, the PUSH trial offered an important reminder that not every intervention produces the desired downstream outcomes. While the behavioral hydration program modestly increased urine volume in patients undergoing secondary stone prevention, it did not reduce recurrent stone events.

In BPH care, minimally invasive therapies continued showing encouraging durability data. The temporary Urocross implant evaluated in Expander-2 demonstrated sustained lower urinary tract symptom improvement through 24 months after removal, while three-year Zenflow data showed continued reductions in IPSS following treatment.

Urgency urinary incontinence research also reflected the specialty’s growing interest in lower-burden therapies. The INTIBIA trial — the first sham-controlled, double-blind pivotal study of an implantable tibial nerve stimulation device — showed significantly greater symptom improvement than sham treatment at three months, with durable benefit maintained through 12 months.

Across these studies, a broader trend emerged: many patients increasingly want treatments that minimize downtime, preserve quality of life, and fit more realistically into everyday life without sacrificing effectiveness.

Innovation Continues Expanding — Even as Access Challenges Persist

While AUA2026 highlighted increasingly sophisticated therapies and technologies, the meeting also underscored a much more basic challenge: many patients still struggle to access urologic care at all.

According to the 2025 AUA Census, approximately 62% of U.S. counties have no practicing urologist, while roughly 90% of urologists continue practicing in metropolitan or urban areas. The workforce also skews older, with a median practitioner age of 54, reinforcing concerns about long-term pipeline stability and geographic access disparities.

The contrast was difficult to ignore. Even as the specialty advances technologically, many communities continue facing long travel distances, delayed appointments, limited specialist availability, and mounting provider burnout.

Telehealth expansion, satellite clinics, and rural loan repayment initiatives may help improve access in some regions, but long-term workforce solutions will likely remain critical to the future of urologic care delivery.

Why More Urologists Are Exploring Locum Tenens 

As new technologies, treatment pathways, and care models continue evolving across urology, the demand for flexible physician coverage is growing alongside them.

Locum tenens urologists are uniquely positioned to experience the changing realities of urologic practice while helping address critical coverage gaps in communities that need it most.

With assignments across healthcare systems nationwide, locum physicians can support continuity of care, expand patient access, and bring specialized expertise to areas that may otherwise lack local urologic services. Many roles also offer exposure to new clinical environments, diverse patient populations, and evolving procedural and practice models — allowing physicians to broaden their experience while adapting to different approaches to urologic care.

At All Star Healthcare Solutions, our specialized urology consultants help physicians find locum opportunities aligned with their clinical interests, career goals, and preferred practice settings. Whether you’re looking to expand your experience, explore new practice environments, or gain more flexibility in your schedule, our team can help connect you with assignments nationwide. Explore our Urologist Salary Guide  to benchmark compensation and market trends and browse All Star’s open urology opportunities to find assignments that fit your schedule and expertise.

Data Sources Cited

1. AUA 2026 preview: Practice-changing trials in urologic oncology | Urology Times
2. AUA 2026 preview: Practice-changing trials in benign urology
3. Urology workforce stable but facing access and pipeline challenges, AUA Census finds | Urology Times

by All Star Team

What DDW 2026 Revealed About the Future of Gastroenterology 

From May 2–5, 2026, members of the All Star Healthcare Solutions Gastroenterology team attended Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) — one of the largest and most influential gatherings in the field. 

Across packed sessions, clinical discussions, and conversations throughout the exhibit halls, one message became increasingly clear: gastroenterology is entering a new era shaped by obesity medicine, precision therapies, AI integration, and earlier, more proactive approaches to patient care. 

Rather than being defined by a single breakthrough, DDW 2026 highlighted a broader transformation happening across GI practice. Discussions repeatedly centered around how physicians can deliver more personalized, preventive, and technology-driven care while managing rising patient complexity and increasing demand. 

From GLP-1 therapies and metabolic disease management to earlier intervention strategies in IBD and growing concerns around early-onset colorectal cancer, this year’s conference reflected how rapidly the field continues to evolve. 

If you couldn’t attend DDW this year — or simply want the high-level trends that dominated conversations throughout the conference — here’s what stood out most.

How GLP-1 Therapies Are Changing Gastroenterology 

Obesity medicine and incretin-based therapies remained some of the most discussed topics throughout DDW 2026. 

While GLP-1 medications have already transformed weight management conversations, many sessions focused on how these therapies are fundamentally reshaping the role of gastroenterologists. 

As incretin therapies increasingly overlap with MASLD/MASH management and endoscopic metabolic interventions, physicians discussed the growing convergence of obesity medicine, metabolic disease, hepatology, and GI care. Many conversations emphasized the expanding role gastroenterologists may play in long-term treatment coordination, screening, complication management, and multidisciplinary care models moving forward. 

Among the emerging endoscopic approaches drawing significant attention was duodenal mucosal resurfacing, which was presented as a potential “off-ramp” strategy following GLP-1 therapy. 

Key Takeaway: Obesity medicine is no longer adjacent to gastroenterology — it is becoming central to modern GI practice. 

IBD Treatment Continues Moving Toward Earlier, Personalized Care 

Inflammatory bowel disease remained another major focus throughout the conference, particularly as treatment strategies continue shifting toward earlier intervention and precision-based care. 

Discussions highlighted the growing movement away from traditional step-up treatment approaches in moderate-to-severe disease. Instead, researchers and clinicians discussed earlier use of advanced therapies aimed at improving long-term disease control and patient outcomes. 

Presenters also explored an expanding therapeutic pipeline that includes: 

• New biologic and small-molecule therapies  

• Combination treatment strategies  

• Biomarker-driven treatment selection  

• More individualized disease management approaches 

As therapeutic options continue expanding, gastroenterologists are navigating increasingly complex decisions around treatment sequencing, long-term monitoring, and personalized patient management. 

Key Takeaway: Treatment is becoming earlier, more targeted, and increasingly tailored to individual patient needs. 

Rising Colorectal Cancer Rates in Younger Adults Remain a Major Concern 

One of the most urgent conversations throughout DDW 2026 centered around the continued rise of colorectal cancer in younger adults. 

Presentations throughout the conference highlighted research projecting that rectal cancer mortality in younger populations could continue rising faster than colon cancer mortality if current trends persist. Other sessions examined how early-life exposures, environmental factors, diet, and lifestyle patterns may be contributing to earlier disease development. 

For many attendees, the rise in early-onset colorectal cancer represented one of the conference’s most significant public health concerns — particularly as physicians continue working to improve earlier detection and patient awareness. 

Recurring themes across these discussions included: 

• Greater awareness of early-onset colorectal cancer symptoms  

• Earlier risk identification and symptom-triggered evaluation  

• Prevention strategies that begin earlier in life  

• Ongoing patient and clinician education  

• Lower thresholds for referral and diagnostic workup in younger adults  

Key Takeaway: Early-onset colorectal cancer is becoming an increasingly important focus across screening, prevention, education, and diagnostic evaluation in GI care. 

AI and Precision Medicine Continue Expanding Across GI Care 

Artificial intelligence was no longer discussed as a future concept at DDW 2026 — it was increasingly framed as a practical tool being integrated into real-world gastroenterology care. 

Discussions explored patient-facing AI, predictive risk tools, and the growing role AI may play in shared decision-making and personalized care. Speakers also emphasized that successful AI adoption will depend on more than just accurate models. Workflow integration, physician oversight, patient understanding, and ethical implementation remained major themes throughout the conference. 

Beyond AI, several sessions highlighted the broader shift toward more individualized and precision-based GI care. A presentation on pancreatic cyst diagnosis explored multimodal diagnostic approaches combining imaging, molecular testing, and endomicroscopy to improve accuracy and reduce unnecessary procedures. 

Other sessions focused on IBS, SIBO, and chronic diarrhea management, where researchers emphasized moving beyond traditional trial-and-error treatment approaches toward more personalized diagnostic strategies. 

Researchers also presented emerging microbiome data examining whether restoring a more youthful gut microbiome could potentially reduce liver aging and liver cancer risk in animal models — reinforcing continued interest in the microbiome as a future therapeutic target. 

Key Takeaway: Gastroenterology continues moving toward more individualized, data-informed, and precision-based models of patient care. 

The Bigger Picture Emerging from DDW 2026 

Across nearly every specialty area, DDW 2026 reflected the same broader trend: gastroenterology is becoming more individualized, data-driven, and increasingly complex. 

As therapeutic options expand and patient demand continues to rise, physicians are balancing growing procedural complexity, evolving technologies, higher patient expectations, and increasing pressure around outcomes and efficiency. 

For many gastroenterologists, adapting to these changes may increasingly require broader clinical exposure, procedural diversity, and flexibility across different practice settings. 

Advance Your Gastroenterology Career with Greater Flexibility 

Locum tenens gastroenterologists are uniquely positioned to gain exposure to many of the clinical trends and evolving care models reshaping GI practice today while also helping health systems address growing patient demand and coverage needs. 

From advanced endoscopy programs and complex IBD management to emerging metabolic therapies and evolving diagnostic technologies, locum opportunities can offer valuable clinical variety, schedule flexibility, and career mobility. 

At All Star Healthcare Solutions, our specialized Gastroenterology team partners with physicians nationwide to help them explore opportunities aligned with their professional goals while continuing to deliver high-quality patient care. 

Missed us at DDW 2026? 

You can still connect with our team — submit your CV to get started, explore our open gastroenterology opportunities nationwide, or stay informed with our latest Gastroenterologist Salary Guide. 

Data Sources Cited 

1. Obesity Pharmacotherapy Enters a New Era as Incretins Reshape Treatment 
2. Too Common to Refer Away: The Urgency of MASLD/MASH for GI Practitioners 
3. Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing Shows Promise as Post–GLP-1 “Off-Ramp” Strategy 
4. Advanced Therapy Should Be the Default at Diagnosis for Moderate to Severely Active IBD 
5. Building the Arsenal to Fight IBD: New Drugs, Precision Medicine and Combinations 
6. Rectal Cancer Deaths Set to Outpace Colon Cancer Deaths in Young Adults 
7. Early Life, Lasting Risk: Rethinking the Timing of Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors 
8. Patient-Facing AI: Validation, Interpretation, Ethics and Workflow 
9. Putting the Pieces Together to Solve the Puzzle of Pancreatic Cyst Diagnosis 
10. Moving Beyond the “Fishing Expedition” in Chronic Diarrhea 
11. The Science of IBS and SIBO: Emerging Tools Refine Diagnosis and Personalize Care 
12. Restoring a Youthful Gut Microbiome Prevents Liver Cancer and Reverses Hepatic Aging in Mice 

by All Star Team

The Biggest Conversations Shaping Neurosurgery Careers at AANS 2026 

From May 1–4, 2026, members of the All Star Healthcare Solutions Surgery Subspecialties team attended the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio, connecting with neurosurgeons from academic medical centers, community hospitals, and private practices across the country. 

While the meeting showcased the latest clinical advancements, another theme consistently emerged:  

Many neurosurgeons are re-evaluating what long-term sustainability in the specialty truly looks like. 

Across conversations at our booth, physicians repeatedly discussed challenges related to workload, call burden, workforce shortages, compensation, and maintaining career flexibility in an increasingly demanding field. 

At the same time, many neurosurgeons were also exploring how alternative practice models — including locum tenens — could offer greater autonomy, scheduling flexibility, and long-term career balance. 

If you couldn’t attend AANS this year — or simply want a closer look at the conversations many neurosurgeons were having — here’s what stood out most. 

View on Instagram 

Neurosurgeons Continue Facing Growing Workforce and Burnout Pressures 

Across our conversations at AANS, several challenges surfaced repeatedly. 

For many physicians, these weren’t abstract workforce discussions — they were day-to-day realities affecting both their professional responsibilities and personal lives. 

Common themes included: 

• Heavy call schedules and unpredictable hours 

• Growing workload demands and patient volume 

• Compensation concerns relative to case complexity and intensity 

• Difficulty maintaining work-life balance 

• Staffing shortages and stretched coverage teams 

Current research underscores the severity of these challenges. 

Recent workforce projections published in the Journal of Neurosurgery suggest demand for neurosurgical care could increase by 18% through 2037, driven by an aging population and rising rates of neurological disease, while workforce growth is projected at just 2.4%. 

At the same time, a 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Neurosurgical Review found burnout affects nearly 45% of neurosurgical professionals, with excessive workload, long hours, sleep deprivation, and poor work-life balance identified among the most common contributing factors. 

Growing Interest in Flexibility and Alternative Practice Models 

Against that backdrop, many conversations naturally shifted toward flexibility and alternative practice structures — particularly locum tenens. 

In a specialty often defined by demanding schedules, trauma coverage, and high-acuity cases, many physicians were interested in how locum tenens could support greater control over their schedules and long-term career goals. 

What often began as casual booth conversations evolved into more practical discussions around: 

• Assignment structure 

• Call coverage expectations 

• Scheduling flexibility 

• Geographic preferences 

• Income supplementation 

• Career sustainability and burnout prevention 

Many neurosurgeons were especially interested in the ability to maintain involvement in complex clinical work while gaining more autonomy over how and where they practice. 

For some physicians, locum tenens represented an opportunity to explore different practice environments. For others, it offered a way to supplement income alongside an existing full-time role, reduce administrative burden, or create greater work-life balance. 

The conversations reflected a broader theme heard throughout AANS: flexibility is becoming increasingly important to many physicians across the specialty. 

Common Questions and Misconceptions About Locum Tenens 

Even with growing interest in locum tenens neurosurgery opportunities, several misconceptions consistently surfaced throughout our conversations. We took the time to set the record straight: 

One of the most common concerns centered around stability.  

Some physicians assumed locum tenens work is unpredictable or inconsistent. In reality, many assignments are scheduled well in advance with clearly defined timeframes, while long-term and repeat opportunities are becoming increasingly common as healthcare systems face ongoing coverage shortages. 

Another misconception was that locum tenens is primarily designed for physicians early in their careers or approaching retirement.  

However, many mid-career neurosurgeons are increasingly exploring locum opportunities to gain more schedule flexibility, experience different practice settings, and add greater variety to their careers without stepping away from complex clinical work. 

Physicians also frequently asked whether pursuing locum tenens requires leaving a current full-time position.  

While some neurosurgeons choose locum tenens full-time, others take assignments alongside existing roles to supplement income, support high-need hospitals, explore new practice environments, or help fill temporary staffing gaps. 

Physicians also asked practical questions about how locum tenens arrangements are structured.  

In most cases, locum tenens providers work as independent contractors rather than employees, which can offer greater flexibility when choosing assignments, schedules, and practice locations while maintaining more control over long-term career decisions. 

Overall, many physicians left those conversations with a broader understanding of how locum tenens can fit into different career stages, schedules, and long-term professional goals. 

Why Specialty-Specific Recruiting Matters in Neurosurgery 

Conversations at AANS also reinforced how important specialty-specific recruiting knowledge has become within neurosurgery. 

Physicians frequently discussed the importance of working with consultants who understand the realities of the specialty — from trauma call demands and subspecialty alignment to credentialing complexity and evolving workforce trends. 

Many neurosurgeons also emphasized that career goals are highly individualized. Some physicians are prioritizing compensation and procedural volume, while others are focused on geographic preferences, reduced burnout, or better long-term balance. 

Because All Star’s Surgery Subspecialties team works exclusively within surgical fields like neurosurgery, consultants develop a deeper understanding of both the clinical demands of the specialty and the factors influencing physicians’ career decisions. 

Those conversations also gave our team the opportunity to discuss the All Star Advantage, including: 

• Licensing and credentialing support 

• Travel and housing coordination 

• Malpractice coverage 

• Dedicated consultant guidance throughout the locums process 

For many physicians, those operational details play an important role in determining whether locum tenens feels realistic and manageable alongside a highly complex specialty like neurosurgery. 

Explore Neurosurgery Locum Tenens Opportunities 

If conversations at AANS 2026 made anything clear, it’s that many neurosurgeons are currently thinking about how to build more flexibility and sustainability into long-term practice. 

For some physicians, locum tenens is increasingly becoming part of that conversation. 

Whether you’re actively searching or simply exploring future options, locum tenens neurosurgery can offer opportunities for greater freedom and flexibility.  

If we didn’t get the chance to connect at AANS, it’s not too late — submit your CV or explore All Star’s open neurosurgery opportunities today. 

by All Star Team

Making the Most of Washington, D.C. During AUA2026 

AUA2026 (May 15 – 18, 2026) brings urology’s most influential voices — along with the All Star team — to Washington, D.C. for four days of breakthrough science, education, and connection. 

There’s no backdrop more fitting than the nation’s capital — a city defined by big ideas, pivotal decisions, and lasting impact. It’s the kind of place where progress feels tangible — and where even a short break can turn into something memorable. 

Whether you’ve got 20 minutes or a few hours to spare, here’s how to make the most of your time in D.C. 

When You’ve Got 20–30 Minutes  

Sometimes you don’t have time to plan — you just have a gap. That’s enough.  

Walk the Capitol Grounds  

Looking to reset between sessions? This is one of the simplest ways to do it. Expansive open space, clean architectural lines, and sweeping views of the Capitol create a sense of clarity and perspective. A little fresh air and movement go a long way during a full day indoors. 

Step Inside the Library of Congress  

A quick stop, but one that leaves a lasting impression. Ornate ceilings, historic reading rooms, and intricate details serve as a quiet reminder that there’s more to this moment than the conference itself. Even a few minutes here feel well spent. 

Catch a Glimpse of the White House  

You don’t need a full tour to feel the impact. A short walk along Pennsylvania Avenue, a pause at the gates, and the moment is unmistakable — you’re in Washington, D.C.  

When You’ve Got an Hour  

This is the sweet spot — the time window where you can actually settle into something without rushing it.  

Wander the National Gallery of Art  

Looking for something worthwhile without overcommitting? This is an ideal choice. More approachable than many of the city’s larger museums, yet impressive in all the right ways — with light-filled galleries, recognizable works, and space to explore without feeling overwhelmed. 

Choose One Smithsonian  

You won’t see everything — and you don’t need to. Choose one museum, spend an hour, and focus on what draws you in. It’s a simple way to step outside the rhythm of the conference and into something entirely different. 

Take in the United States Botanic Garden  

Tucked near the Capitol, this spot is easy to overlook — and well worth a visit. Warm, quiet, and filled with greenery, it creates an immediate sense of calm. Spend an hour here, and you’ll leave feeling noticeably more at ease. 

Explore Georgetown (Skip the Main Street, Find the Canal)  

Georgetown gets crowded fast — but a few steps off the main street, everything changes. The C&O Canal runs quietly behind the storefronts, shaded and calm, with brick paths that offer a welcome distance from the crowds. It’s the kind of place where your pace slows without effort. 

Visit the National Zoo  

If you’re looking for something outdoors that still feels engaging, the zoo is a strong choice — and perfect for families. Larger than expected, it offers plenty of space to walk, pause, and explore without feeling rushed, even in a short window. 

When You’ve Got a Few Hours  

If you find a longer stretch of time, this is where the city really opens up.  

Get Lost in Rock Creek Park  

There comes a point in any conference when everything begins to blur together. This is where you reset. Within minutes, the noise fades, the air shifts, and the rhythm softens. Follow a trail, wander for a bit, and give yourself space to disconnect — the difference is immediate.  

Head Out to the National Arboretum  

If you have the time and are looking for something quieter, this is well worth the trip. Sprawling grounds, tree-lined paths, and stunning gardens create a setting that feels far removed from downtown. Uncrowded and unhurried, it offers space to move — and a chance to slow down. 

After Sessions Wrap  

When the day winds down, the city shifts with it.  

Grab a Meal at the Wharf 

At the end of the day, head to D.C.’s waterfront to unwind. Walkable and easy to navigate, the Wharf offers a wide range of restaurants and open views of the Potomac — an easy place to grab a bite and ease into the evening. 

Take a Capitol River Cruise at Sunset  

There’s something magical about seeing D.C. from the water at the end of the day. The light softens, the skyline shifts, and the city feels quieter from a distance. It’s an easy way to close things out — unhurried, unplanned, and defined by a different vantage point. 

And One More Thing  

This is the one most people miss.  

The best moments here aren’t always scheduled — an unexpected event, a place you didn’t mean to find, something you almost skipped because you were tired.  

In May, D.C. makes those moments easy. Events like Passport DC pop up across the city, and if you can stay an extra day, Fiesta Asia (May 16) brings everything out into the streets — food, music, and a completely different pace from the conference.  

You just have to leave a little room for it.   

You’re coming to AUA2026 for the sessions — the science, the insights, and the conversations that move the field forward. 

But it’s often the moments in between that round out the experience — when you step outside, take a different turn, or make the most of an hour you didn’t expect to have. 

While you’re making your way through the conference hall, be sure to visit All Star Healthcare Solutions at booth #2568. We’ll leave the clinical work to you — but when it comes to urology opportunities (and a reminder to stay hydrated), that’s where we come in. 

We’ll also be hosting a giveaway for an Oura Ring — stop by to learn more or enter here for your chance to win.  

by All Star Team

12 Brain-Boosting Ways to Experience San Antonio During AANS 2026  

From May 1–4, 2026, San Antonio will host the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting (AANS 2026), bringing together the neurosurgical community — and the All Star team — for four days of innovation, collaboration, and transformation. 

It’s a schedule built for deep focus, rapid synthesis, and constant cognitive engagement — the kind that can leave even the most resilient prefrontal cortex quietly asking for a reset. 

San Antonio makes that easier than most cities. 

This guide, inspired by AARP's Six Pillars of Brain Health, is designed to help you stay sharp between sessions — with just enough movement, novelty, and actual downtime to keep your brain functioning at a high level through day four. Because if anyone understands the value of maintaining peak cognitive performance, it’s this group. 

Ongoing Exercise 

Start with movement — the simplest way to clear the system and set the tone for the day. 

1. Stroll the River Walk 

Vibrant, walkable, and lined with more activity than your hippocampus really needs to keep track of; the River Walk is chronically underrated as a morning ritual. A few miles along the San Antonio River before sessions is the closest thing to a neural warm-up outside the OR. 

2. Bike the Mission Trail  

Eight miles. Four Spanish colonial missions. This scenic stretch along the river is equal parts movement and a chance to clear your head — with built-in rest stops that just happen to be 300-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Structured enough to quiet the internal noise, and just removed enough from downtown to feel like a real reset. 

San Antonio River Walk 

Restorative Sleep 

After a full day of sessions, the goal shifts from input to recovery. 

3. Sunset at the San Antonio Botanical Garden 

Thirty-three acres of curated quiet. Enough visual variety to stay engaged, not enough stimulation to stay activated. Think of it as a gentle system shutdown — the kind your brain has been asking for since the second afternoon keynote. 

4. Evening GO RIO boat cruise 

A slow glide through the River Walk as the city dims down gives your default mode network a chance to finally clock in. The steady motion, quiet water, and soft lights do most of the work — you just have to let it. 

River Walk Cruise 

Eat Right 

At some point, you’ll need to refuel — strategically... or otherwise. 

5. Tacos at Mi Tierra Café y Panadería 

Open 24 hours since 1941, Mi Tierra Café y Panadería features vibrant murals, strolling mariachis, and some of the best Tex-Mex in the city. None of it fits the Mediterranean diet. All of it is exactly what your dopamine receptors ordered. 

6. Graze the Pearl District  

A Saturday morning (May 2) farmers market, riverfront restaurants, local bakeries, and enough variety to make "just one more stop" feel like a clinical recommendation. Graze, wander, and repeat until your next session pulls you back in. 

Pearl District 

Engage Your Brain 

Not everything has to be passive. 

7. Wander through the San Antonio Museum of Art 

Housed in a former brewery (yes, really), this museum spans 5,000 years of human creativity across cultures and continents — great for engaging your brain between sessions. Moving through it activates pattern recognition and visual processing — a different kind of workout for a brain that’s been running one mode all day. 

8. Descend into the Natural Bridge Caverns 

Sixty million years in the making, the Natural Bridge Caverns offer a full dose of novelty beneath the surface. Guided paths wind through dramatic underground formations in cool, low-lit silence — full sensory contrast to a conference hall running at full throughput. Call it cogitive-cross training at its finest.  

Natural Bridge Caverns 

Be Social 

The type that doesn’t involve name tags. 

9. Drinks at the Esquire Tavern  

One of the oldest bars in Texas, right on the River Walk, with a long wooden bar and a crowd that tends toward good conversation. The kind of place that turns "one drink after sessions" into a two-hour debrief nobody planned, and everyone needed. 

10. Ghost Tour Through Historic San Antonio 

Lantern-lit streets, centuries of history, and stories that engage your amygdala in all the right ways. The Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours wander past the Alamo and through the city's most haunted corners — equal parts history lesson and shared adrenaline. Nothing bonds a group faster than a little well-curated fear. 

The Alamo 

Manage Stress 

Eventually, the system needs a reset. 

11. Find Stillness at the Japanese Tea Garden 

Stone bridges, koi ponds, shaded paths, and a pace that politely refuses urgency. Built inside a former quarry and consistently under-visited, it’s one of the city’s best-kept secrets — and one of the easiest ways to fully shift into parasympathetic mode. And, beautiful enough to make you forget you have a 7 a.m. panel. 

12. Mokara Spa on the River Walk 

Right on the River Walk and fully committed to lowering your baseline cortisol, this spa offers relaxing massages, rejuvenating facials, and an environment perfect for a brain that hasn’t stopped firing since breakfast. 

Japanese Tea Garden 

Stop by Booth #1060 at AANS 2026 

Whether you’re logging steps, keeping your mind engaged, or giving your nervous system some well-earned time-off, San Antonio makes it easy to give your brain exactly what it needs during AANS 2026.  

And inside the conference hall, be sure to visit All Star Healthcare Solutions at booth #1060 — we’d love to connect, talk locum tenens neurosurgery opportunities, or compare favorite River Walk detours.  

We’re also giving away an Oura Ring in celebration. Fill out the form to enter for your chance to win. 

If this conference has you thinking about what’s next, browse our current neurosurgery openings nationwide. 

by All Star Team

A Gastroenterologist’s Guide to Chicago During DDW 2026 

Digestive Disease Week (DDW 2026) is right around the corner (May 2–5), bringing thousands of gastroenterology and hepatology professionals — along with the All Star team — to the Windy City for four days of new insights, meaningful connections, and enough microbiome talk to make you rethink at least a few meal decisions. 

It’s a big conference — and Chicago is exactly the kind of city that can keep up.  

Step outside the convention center and the shift is immediate — open water, skyline views, and a city that doesn’t really slow down. It’s the kind of place where even a short break can feel like a reset — especially in the middle of a packed few days. 

Here are 14 ways to spend your off-time — all chosen, of course, with GIs in mind. 

Manage Your Motility 

1. Take a walk (or a run) along the Lakefront Trail 

Eighteen miles along Lake Michigan, flat, scenic, and surprisingly peaceful for a major city. Early morning is best — fewer people, cooler air, and just enough time to convince yourself you’re making “healthy choices” before conference snacks enter the picture. 

2. Explore the 606 trail above the city 

An elevated rail-to-trail path cutting through four neighborhoods and culminating in a beautiful green space. Two and a half miles, lined with art, locals, and actual Chicago life. It moves faster than most transit studies and is infinitely more interesting than pacing your hotel gym. 

3. Stroll the Chicago Riverwalk 

One of the easiest ways to step out without overthinking it. Follow the river, grab a drink, and take in the architecture from street level — no tickets, no planning required. It’s the kind of place where a quick break actually feels like one. 

Chicago Riverwalk 

Activate Rest-and-Digest  

4. Head to Millennium Park at dusk 

Touristy during the day, surprisingly calm in the evening. The skyline softens, the crowds thin, and for a moment, no one is asking you about prep protocols. Walk past the Bean, find a spot to sit, and let the pace of the day slow down a bit before heading back. 

5. Walk through Lincoln Park (and stop by the zoo) 

A quieter kind of break — tree-lined paths, open space, and a free zoo that’s worth a quick pass-through. It’s an easy way to get outside, clear your head, and feel like you’ve stepped out of the conference rhythm for a bit. Also, a solid option if you’re traveling with family. 

6. Unwind at Aire Ancient Baths 

Low lighting, warm pools, silence — the kind of environment that makes you forget you’ve been networking all day (and sitting in conference chairs). It’s not medical, but it feels adjacent. If you’re looking for the closest thing to fully shifting into rest-and-digest mode without submitting a protocol for approval, this is it. 

7. Step into the Garfield Park Conservatory 

A greenhouse escape filled with tropical plants, quiet paths, and air that feels noticeably different from the conference hall. It’s warm, calm, and just removed enough from the pace of downtown to feel like a true reset. An easy way to step out, slow down, and give your system a break before heading back in. 

Millenium Park  

Let’s Talk About Food (We Have To) 

8. Commit to Chicago deep dish (choose wisely) 

Pequod’s if you want caramelized crust and strong opinions. Lou Malnati’s if you want tradition. Giordano’s if you like it stuffed. Is it low-FODMAP? No. Is it worth it? Yes, no question. Think of it as a controlled exposure... and adjust your antacid regimen accordingly. 

9. Start your morning at Green City Market (Saturday, May 2) 

If you’re arriving early, this is your redemption arc. Local produce, fresh bread, actual fiber. The kind of place where your microbiome feels seen. 

10. Plan one proper dinner in the West Loop 

One of the best food neighborhoods in the country. High-end, casual, everything in between. If DDW is about precision medicine, this is precision eating — and your gut will absolutely log it as a meaningful event. 

Giordano’s 

Feed Your Other Brain 

11. Take a Chicago Architecture Boat Tour 

Ninety minutes on the river at a pace that would normally trigger a motility consult — which is exactly why it works. Sit down, look up, and let someone else do the explaining as the city unfolds around you. It’s equal parts relaxing and impressive, and a rare chance to experience Chicago without rushing through it. 

12. Spend an hour (or two) at the Art Institute of Chicago 

Five thousand years of art across an entire afternoon if you let it. Quiet, slow, and appealing to your creative brain instead of your conference one. Your enteric nervous system won’t care — but your other brain will.  

Art Institute of Chicago  

Good Gut Feelings 

13. Catch a Cubs Game at Wrigley Field 

They're playing at home all four days. You’ll be surrounded by strangers who will become temporary friends by the third inning and amateur analysts by the seventh. It’s communal, chaotic, and very Chicago — with just enough late-inning tension to give even a gastroenterologist a case of stadium-induced “butterflies.” 

14. See a show Second City 

Legendary Chicago improv and sketch comedy that’s sharp, fast, and genuinely funny — the kind of place that launched more than a few careers you definitely recognize. It’s social in the best way, not the business-card way. Laughing until your abdomen hurts is, technically, excellent core engagement. We’re counting it. 

Wrigley Field  

Stop by Booth #1947 at DDW 2026 

DDW moves quickly — and much like GI, balance makes all the difference. 

Move when you can. 

Indulge when it’s worth it. 

And give yourself time to reset along the way. 

And while you’re there, make sure to connect with All Star Healthcare Solutions at booth #1947. Whether you’re exploring locum tenens opportunities or just want to debate Chicago’s best deep dish, we’re here for both.  

We’re also celebrating DDW with a giveaway — enter for a chance to win a pair of AI-assisted Ray-Ban Meta Glasses. 

If this trip has you thinking about what’s next, explore our current gastroenterology openings nationwide — and download our 2026 GI Salary Guide for a closer look at what your peers are earning today. 

by All Star Team

10 Best Locum Tenens Agencies and Companies in 2026

The U.S. locum tenens market was valued at approximately $9.6 billion in 2025, according to Staffing Industry Analysts, and it continues to grow as physician shortages are projected to reach as many as 86,000 by 2036, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), driving sustained demand for interim and temporary staffing.

For physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and CRNAs considering locum work, there is no shortage of agencies competing for your attention. The quality of the agency you choose shapes nearly every aspect of the experience: the positions you can access, how smoothly credentialing goes, what your malpractice coverage actually includes, and whether you feel like a person or a placement metric.

At All Star Healthcare Solutions, we have spent more than two decades helping physicians and advanced practitioners navigate exactly this decision. This guide reflects what that experience has taught us about evaluating agencies — covering ten of the most established firms in the market, large national players and specialty-focused independents alike, followed by a practical framework to help you make a more informed choice.

What Is a Locum Tenens Company?

A locum tenens company is a staffing agency that connects physicians and advanced practitioners with healthcare facilities that need temporary or interim clinical coverage. Also called locum tenens agencies or locum tenens staffing firms, these companies earn a placement fee from the facility, not the provider. That fee structure matters: providers pay nothing for agency services, and understanding it helps explain why agencies are motivated to find assignments that facilities will actually hire for. Full-service locum tenens agencies typically handle:

• Credentialing and licensing support across multiple states
• Malpractice insurance for the duration of assignments
• Housing and travel logistics
• Dedicated consultant support throughout the process

The alternative is arranging locum work indepedently as a 1099 contractor without an agency. Going independent gives providers more direct control, but it requires managing state medical licensing, sourcing your own malpractice coverage, negotiating directly with facilities that often prefer to work through vetted agency partners, and handling the full self-employment tax burdens.

Top Locum Tenens Companies in 2026

All Star Healthcare Solutions

Best for: Providers who want national reach with specialty-specific consultant expertise and the flexibility to move between locum and permanent placement as their career evolves

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Boca Raton , Florida, All Star Healthcare Solutions has built a 22-year track record placing physicians and advanced practitioners across 85+ specialties in all 50 U.S. states and territories. The network spans more than 150 hospital systems and more than 1,600 healthcare facilities, and All Star is ranked among the top locum tenens staffing firms in the country nationally. NALTO member. In May 2025, All Star strengthened its national footprint through the acquisition of Integrity Locums, a relationship-focused staffing firm that expanded both capacity and geographic reach.

Two factors distinguish All Star’s positioning in this market. First, All Star operates on a specialty-team model. Providers work with a consultant who is a dedicated expert in their specific specialty, not a generalist managing a mixed caseload across multiple disciplines. For a cardiologist, that means working with someone who understands the credentialing timeline, the market rates, and the specific clinical environment expectations for cardiology locum assignments.

Second, and uniquely among the agencies profiled in this guide, All Star offers both locum tenens and permanent placement. For a physician who enters locum work and later decides to explore a permanent role, All Star Healthcare Solutions can support that transition. This is a full-service career partnership rather than a transactional placement.

The All Star Advantage service model is backed by a team environment that has earned the company repeated "Best Places to Work" and "Top Workplace" recognition, along with the ClearlyRated 2026 Best of Staffing Talent award - based on verified satisfaction scores from providers who have worked with the agency, not self-reported submissions. All Star's consultant engagement and retention rates directly affect the quality of support providers' experience. Full-service support includes credentialing, licensing, travel and housing logistics, and malpractice coverage (type not publicly confirmed; ask your consultant before signing).

What sets All Star apart: Where the largest conglomerates compete on sheer volume of open positions, All Star’s value proposition is quality of match. Specialty-specific consultants, a 99.5% rematch rate, and a service model built around long-term provider relationships mean placements tend to be better fits, not just faster fills. Providers who want a high-touch agency relationship and a clear path between locum and permanent work will find All Star’s model well-suited to that goal.

CompHealth

CompHealth is the locum tenens division of CHG Healthcare, one of the largest healthcare staffing networks in the country. Active across more than 100 specialties and a wide range of healthcare roles, CompHealth works with hospital systems nationwide—including some exclusive contracts—maintaining a broad national inventory. Full-service support includes credentialing, licensing, claims-made malpractice coverage with tail, housing coordination, and travel logistics. 

AMN Healthcare

AMN Healthcare is one of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the United States, with a locums division covering hospital medicine, radiology, emergency medicine, surgery, and additional specialties. Institutional depth in large health systems and academic medical centers is a distinguishing strength. W-2 employment arrangements are available for some providers. Full-service support covers licensing, credentialing, travel logistics, and malpractice coverage. NALTO member.

Weatherby Healthcare

Weatherby Healthcare operates within the CHG Healthcare family with an identity built around recruiter quality and provider satisfaction. A dedicated recruiter is assigned to each provider. Specialty coverage spans both physicians and advanced practitioners. Full-service support includes licensing, credentialing, housing, travel, and malpractice coverage. NALTO member.

Medicus Healthcare Solutions

Medicus Healthcare Solutions is an independent locum tenens agency with core strengths in hospital medicine, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. Its independence keeps organizational focus squarely on locum tenens staffing rather than a broader staffing portfolio. Provider satisfaction scores are consistently strong in physician community forums, particularly among hospitalists. Services include licensing, credentialing, travel logistics, and malpractice coverage. NALTO member.

Hayes Locums

Hayes Locums has built a strong reputation among advanced practice providers alongside its physician staffing. A personal recruiter model means providers work with a dedicated contact throughout the process. Full-service support includes licensing, credentialing, travel, housing, and malpractice coverage. NALTO member.

Global Medical Staffing

Global Medical Staffing is the only major U.S.-based agency specializing in international placements, operating within the CHG Healthcare group. Primary markets include Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom. Services cover international medical licensing, relocation coordination, cultural and clinical acclimation support, visa and credential verification, and jurisdiction-appropriate malpractice coverage. For providers pursuing international work, no comparable U.S. agency offers this infrastructure. NALTO member.

Jackson + Coker

Jackson + Coker has operated in the locum tenens market for more than 45 years. Its Earned Privileges program expedites re-credentialing for providers returning to facilities where they have previously worked, reducing one of the most time-consuming elements of repeat placement. Multi-specialty coverage spans physicians and advanced practitioners. Full-service support includes credentialing, licensing, travel, housing, and malpractice coverage. NALTO member.

Vista Staffing Solutions

Vista Staffing Solutions, part of the AMN Healthcare family, focuses on federal government and government-contracted healthcare facilities. VA hospitals, Indian Health Service sites, and Department of Defense facilities carry compliance and credentialing requirements that generalist agencies handle less efficiently. Vista’s dedicated government division manages these requirements directly. Multi-specialty coverage is available for non-government placements. Services include licensing, credentialing, travel logistics, and malpractice coverage. NALTO member.

Barton Associates

Barton Associates extends beyond physician and advanced practice staffing to include dental clinicians, a breadth most agencies on this list do not offer. Active across more than 100 specialties with national coverage, Barton serves physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dental providers through a personal recruiter model. Full-service support includes credentialing, licensing, travel, housing, and malpractice coverage. NALTO member.

How We Evaluated These Locum Tenens Agencies

Selecting agencies for this guide involved evaluating each firm across a consistent set of criteria relevant to providers, not to facilities or investors.

Specialty coverage breadth and geographic reach matter because an agency with limited active inventory in your subspecialty may have fewer opportunities available to place you, regardless of how highly reviewed its recruiters are. Recruiter quality and responsiveness were weighted based on verified provider satisfaction scores from ClearlyRated, which collects reviews through independently administered surveys rather than self-reported submissions.

How to Choose the Right Locum Tenens Agency

There is no single best locum tenens agency for every provider. The right fit depends on your specialty, the geographic markets you want to work in, the type of service relationship you value, and whether your career goals are locum-only or include a path toward permanence. The criteria below apply to any agency on this list, or any agency you evaluate outside of it.

NALTO Membership, BBB Ratings, and Provider Reviews

Start with NALTO membership. NALTO.org maintains a publicly searchable member directory, and membership commits an agency to a code of conduct covering pay transparency, contract ethics, and professional standards. It is not a guarantee of quality, but it is the fastest single filter for eliminating firms that have not agreed to basic industry accountability.

BBB accreditation serves as a complaint-resolution signal: it reflects whether an agency participates in a structured process when providers or facilities have disputes. ClearlyRated “Best of Staffing” recognition is the most provider-specific quality indicator available: it is based on independently verified surveys from providers who have actually worked with the agency, not self-submitted testimonials. Google reviews and physician forum discussions (Doximity, SDN, Reddit’s r/medicine) provide a supplemental layer of unfiltered provider experience.

Pay Transparency and Contract Terms

Before signing anything, get every compensation element in writing. Base pay rate is only the starting point; overtime and on-call rates, per diem amounts, and expense reimbursements all affect the real value of an assignment.

On the contract side, scrutinize these terms carefully:

• Cancellation terms: What happens if the facility cancels your assignment with short notice?
• Non-compete or radius restrictions: Some are geographic and enforceable.
• Arbitration clauses: These affect your legal options if a dispute arises.
• Indemnification language: This determines who bears liability in specific circumstances.

Comparing at least two or three agencies on paper before committing is worth the time. First-time locum providers should consider having a healthcare attorney review the contract before signing. For context, credentialing timelines typically range from 60 to 120 days for most hospital-based specialties, so plan accordingly when evaluating assignment start dates.

Red Flags to Watch For:

• Pressure to sign before receiving written contract details
• Vague or verbal-only pay breakdowns
• Non-compete clauses with no defined geographic limitation
• Agencies that cannot clearly state whether malpractice coverage is occurrence-based or claims-made

These are not minor administrative oversights. They have direct financial and legal consequences.

Specialty Fit and Job Volume

Before committing to an agency relationship, ask specific questions about current inventory: 

• How many open positions does the agency have in your specialty right now?
• Which states are they actively placing in today, not six months ago?
• Do they hold exclusive contracts with hospital systems, and if so, which ones?
• What is the typical credentialing timeline for your specialty through this agency?

An agency with exclusive facility contracts in your specialty gives you access to positions that providers working through competing agencies simply cannot see. Credentialing timelines matter especially in high-demand specialties where facilities are moving quickly to fill coverage gaps.

Locum Tenens Agency Quick Reference Guide

The table below summarizes each agency’s core positioning to help providers narrow their options at a glance.

Next Steps for Providers

The right locum tenens agency depends on where you are in your career, what specialty you practice, and what kind of service relationship matters to you. Use the comparison table above to narrow your shortlist, then contact two or three agencies directly to ask about current inventory in your specialty and preferred states. Ask specifically about malpractice coverage type, credentialing timelines, and cancellation terms before signing anything.

For providers who want a national agency with specialty-specific consultant expertise and the flexibility to move between locum and permanent placement as their career evolves, All Star Healthcare Solutions offers full-service support at every stage, from first assignment through long-term career planning.

by All Star Team