Project explores barriers to NHS career progression facing international medical graduates
Grant and Award Announcement
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 15-Dec-2025 16:11 ET (15-Dec-2025 21:11 GMT/UTC)
A three-year project, led by the University of Plymouth and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is exploring why some international medical graduates see their careers blossom once they start working in the NHS while others do not. The ‘SUP IMG’ project started this summer, building on research carried out for the General Medical Council which found that less than 5% of graduates who complete their training overseas join specialist or GP registers on arrival, and few – 11.6% within five years and 27.2% within 10 years – go on to become consultants or GPs. By contrast, around 75% of UK graduates become consultants or GPs over the same timeframe.
A new study published in Chinese Neurosurgical Journal by researchers in Nepal and Turkey reveals how social media has become a powerful force reshaping neurosurgical practice worldwide. Platforms like Neurosurgery Cocktail now facilitate real-time case consultation, global mentorship, academic collaboration, and rapid knowledge exchange. The findings highlight both the transformative potential and the challenges of digital engagement in modern neurosurgery.
Lori Lerner, MD, associate professor of urology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, is the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Contribution Award from the American Urological Association (AUA).
Lerner, who also is chief of urology and deputy chief of surgical service at the VA Boston Healthcare System, received this honor for advancing novel surgical technologies and education related to benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as BPH. Each year, the AUA honors the contributions of physician researchers and educators to the field of medicine, the specialty of urology, and the AUA.