Rehabilitation physician Dr. Val Jones has spent her career helping people regain independence after life-altering injuries and illnesses.
When her own family faced a serious health crisis, she turned to locum tenens work for the flexibility to continue practicing medicine while prioritizing care at home.
That choice reshaped the trajectory of her career and ultimately made it possible for her to launch a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to adaptive sports and travel for people with disabilities.
Dr. Jones’ path to nonprofit leadership began with a personal tragedy. When her husband was given three years to live by his cardiologist, she focused on ensuring he could remain at home while she continued her medical career.
Through locum tenens work, she had greater control over her schedule, allowing her to care for him at home while continuing her career. She was able to support her husband and spend 14 years with him, well over his predicted life expectancy.
When her husband eventually passed, she knew she wanted to help others in her next chapter. She had saved a significant portion of her earnings from her locums work and knew she wanted to make an impact with the sort of people she worked with every day as a rehabilitation physician.
The result was Accessible Alpine Adventure Tours, a nonprofit organization that offers adaptive sports travel trips to people who rely on wheelchairs or specialty equipment for mobility.
With a special focus on veterans, Dr. Jones’ charity provides memorable sporting experiences in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. Drawing on her experience as a rehabilitation specialist, she designed these trips around adaptive equipment that allows participants greater independence and access.
Take, for example, the mountain biking trip organized by Accessible Alpine Adventure Tours in Switzerland. The region’s rugged terrain and historic accommodations would typically make participation difficult for people with disabilities. However, the charity provided crucial support staff and specialized biking equipment to give participants a truly memorable experience.
Another memorable trip involved kayaking in Lofoten, Norway. With trained support staff and adaptive equipment, the organization helps participants safely navigate environments that are not traditionally accessible.
Taken together, Dr. Jones’ story reflects the broader potential of locum tenens work when physicians are given the flexibility to align their careers with personal priorities and long-term goals. For her, that flexibility created the space to care for a loved one, plan for the future, and later channel years of clinical experience into a mission-driven organization serving others.
NALTO is grateful to Dr. Jones for sharing her journey and for demonstrating how locum tenens can support sustainable medical careers while extending impact far beyond the clinical setting. Learn more about Accessible Alpine Adventure Tours and its work to expand access to adaptive travel experiences for people with disabilities.
