Table 2:

Themes and subthemes

Theme	Subthemes
1. Choosing rural practice	Baseline interest in what rural has to offer Familiarity and comfort with a community Influence of practice incentives
2. Preparedness for practice	Lack of business knowledge for medical practice Adequacy of knowledge base for full-scope practice
3. Navigating work–life balance	Impact of overscheduling Distance to friends and family Conflict between career and family Importance of being integrated into the broader community
4. Navigating transition to practice	Developing confidence and managing uncertainty Role of mentorship Using other early-year physicians to bridge knowledge gaps
5. Challenges during transition to practice	Navigating community expectations and generational changes in practice styles Experiencing rural-specific challenges
6. Successes during transition to practice	Rewarding experiences and feeling fulfilled Collegiality
7. Locuming	Value of locuming
8. Rural emergency department practice	Unique challenges of emergency department practice Emergency department support and backup