Hospital welcomes new intake of doctors

The intake includes the first graduates from the University of Sunderland

More than 90 newly-qualified doctors have begun work at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

After five years at university medical schools, they will now undertake two years of foundation training in medicine, surgery and community placements.

They will then progress to speciality training and could potentially become GPs or consultants.

The intake of 93 is higher than last year and includes the first graduates from the University of Sunderland, which opened its medical school in 2019.

Dr Nigel Stout, who leads the Trust’s Foundation Programme faculty, said: "We offer a special welcome to those who have graduated from the University of Sunderland’s School of Medicine.

"The creation of this alone has allowed us to expand the number of foundation places we offer and this will grow as the years progress and greater numbers of students graduate."

Dr Laura Giles (left) and Dr Surena Sahota are two of the first set of graduates of the medical school at Sunderland University

Laura Giles, a new recruit who was brought up in Sunderland, said: "It wasn’t a thing that was common where I grew up, but I decided, after doing some work experience at the hospital, it was the career for me.

"It means a lot to me and my family and I just feel really grateful to give back to the community I was brought up in.

"I just feel I can relate a little bit more to the patients and their history."

Fellow graduate Surena Sahota, from Washington, said: "I'm really excited. It truly is like living a dream come true.

"I’ve been on wards as a student but now I’m coming back as a doctor”.