Where did you complete your fellowship and duration?
From January to December 2024, we lived and worked as a family in Newcastle upon Tyne, in North East England. I undertook a part-time (60%) fellowship in colorectal surgery at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, while also taking part fully in the “on-call rota”. My husband completed a full time (100%) fellowship in endourology as a “Stone-fellow” at the Freeman Hospital. Our children, who were 1.5 and 3.5 years old at the time, attended nursery three days a week.
At what time in your career?
We undertook the fellowship after having already worked as specialists and established senior physicians and just before fully committing to our respective subspecialities. It was also an ideal time personally, as our children were still young and not yet of school age.
How was the fellowship funded?
The fellowship was supported by NHS funding, with salaries reflecting our levels of training and clinical specialization. In addition, my husband received supplementary financial support from his employer in Switzerland, which helped to facilitate our year abroad as a family.
How did you secure this fellowship?
I was able to secure my fellowship through strong international connections. It was tailored to suit both timing and our personal and professional needs. The framework for our stay was established through my husband’s fellowship, which he obtained in response to a formal call for applications. His position was offered by the Trust with the support of the Royal College of Surgeons.
What are you learning through this fellowship?
The fellowship offered us valuable insight into how a different healthcare system is organized and operates – and above all, how things can be done differently. It was both fascinating and highly instructive. From a professional perspective, we gained exceptional exposure to our respective fields. Owing to the centralization of specialist services in England, we encountered and operated on many complex and rare cases – some of which we might never have seen in Switzerland.
What motivated you to pursue a fellowship?
The motivation for undertaking a fellowship was twofold: firstly, to continue our professional development by learning new surgical techniques and gaining experience within a different healthcare system; and secondly, to enjoy an enriching and adventurous year together as a family in an English-speaking country.
Future Plans?
We gained enormously from a clinical perspective, learning a great deal through observation - and even more through hands-on surgical experience. We were also able to demonstrate that we could not only adapt to a different healthcare system but thrive within it and continue to practice high-quality medicine. Along the way, we met interesting people, our children learned to speak English, and we enjoyed a truly memorable year together.
Would You Recommend It?
We would wholeheartedly recommend undertaking a fellowship to anyone interested in exploring a different healthcare system, advancing their clinical skills, and stepping outside their comfort zone into something new and unfamiliar. Financial considerations should take a back seat during such a clearly defined period, as the focus is firmly on personal and professional growth. It is important, however, to ensure you are not too heavily embedded in “on-call rota” and other service duties, as this can be demanding in terms of time and may limit the educational value of the experience.
