For many students considering studying medicine in Europe, one of the biggest questions is what happens after graduation. Can you successfully return to the UK and build a career in the NHS?
Dr. Deelan Vadher’s story demonstrates that the answer is yes—but success requires preparation, persistence, and planning long before graduation.
After studying medicine in the Czech Republic and returning to the UK, Dr. Vadher successfully secured work within the NHS and has since built a career in surgery. Along the way, he developed an impressive portfolio through leadership, research, teaching, and extracurricular activities that strengthened his specialty applications and opened doors for future opportunities.
His experience offers valuable lessons for every international medical student hoping to maximise their career prospects.
Meet Dr. Deelan Vadher
Dr. Deelan Vadher graduated from medical school in the Czech Republic before returning to the UK to begin his NHS career.
Working as a senior house officer in East London with a background in surgery, he has firsthand experience navigating the challenges international medical graduates face when entering the UK healthcare system.
Rather than relying solely on academic performance, he intentionally built a strong portfolio throughout medical school by pursuing leadership positions, founding organisations, participating in conferences, winning awards, and developing research experience.
Why Dr. Vadher Focused on Building His Portfolio Early
Looking Beyond Medical School Exams
Dr. Vadher explains that many UK medical students receive early guidance on career planning and specialty applications. International students often have to discover these opportunities themselves.
Because of this, he encourages students studying medicine abroad to begin preparing as early as possible rather than waiting until graduation.
Making the Most of Every Opportunity
During medical school, he became heavily involved in extracurricular activities that developed transferable skills and strengthened his CV.
These included:
- Leadership positions within university organisations
- Founding student initiatives
- Public speaking through Model United Nations
- Organising projects for international students
- Winning prizes and recognition
- Teaching and mentoring other students
Each experience helped demonstrate initiative and commitment beyond academics.
Developing Confidence Through Leadership
Public Speaking Became a Valuable Career Skill
One of Dr. Vadher’s earliest non-medical activities was participating in Model United Nations.
Although unrelated to medicine, he credits it with significantly improving his confidence and communication skills—qualities that later became valuable during NHS interviews and professional interactions.
He believes students should actively seek experiences that improve their ability to present ideas and communicate effectively.
Creating Better Opportunities for International Students
While studying in the Czech Republic, Dr. Vadher noticed that international students received less institutional support than local students.
Instead of accepting the situation, he helped establish organisations and initiatives designed to improve opportunities for fellow international medical students, demonstrating leadership and problem-solving abilities that later strengthened his professional portfolio.
Transitioning From the Czech Republic to the NHS
Preparing Before Graduation
Before completing medical school in December 2022, Dr. Vadher sat his English language examination and recommends future graduates do the same.
Taking exams such as IELTS or OET before graduation removes unnecessary pressure once medical school finishes and allows graduates to focus on registration and job applications.
Securing GMC Registration and Applying for Jobs
After obtaining full registration in early 2023, he immediately began applying for NHS positions while simultaneously registering with locum agencies and professional organisations.
A few months later, he secured his first role in Bradford before later relocating to London, where he continued working while completing the requirements needed for future specialty training applications.
The Reality of Applying for NHS Jobs
Rejection Is Part of the Process
Dr. Vadher openly discusses experiencing multiple rejections when applying through NHS Jobs.
Many advertised positions required previous NHS experience, making it difficult for newly graduated international doctors to compete immediately.
Rather than becoming discouraged, he continued applying persistently until opportunities became available.
Persistence Makes the Difference
His advice is simple:
- Keep applying.
- Stay flexible about location.
- Consider locum work and trust-grade positions.
- Explore IMG recruitment agencies where appropriate.
- Accept that timing and persistence both play important roles.
According to Dr. Vadher, opportunities exist, but graduates must remain proactive and resilient throughout the process.
Understanding the Different Routes Into NHS Practice
There Is More Than One Path
Dr. Vadher explains that graduates from European medical schools have several options after obtaining registration.
These may include:
- Foundation Programme alternatives
- FY2 Standalone programmes
- Locum positions
- Junior Clinical Fellow posts
- Trust-grade doctor roles
- IMG recruitment pathways
- University partnership programmes
While the routes differ, they ultimately lead toward obtaining the evidence needed for future specialty applications, such as Foundation Programme completion or a CREST form.
Choosing a Medical Specialty
Eliminate Before You Decide
One of the most practical pieces of advice Dr. Vadher offers concerns choosing a specialty.
Rather than trying to identify the perfect career immediately, he recommends experiencing different specialties and crossing unsuitable options off the list.
He personally believed orthopaedic surgery would be his future until spending significant time observing the specialty convinced him otherwise.
His experience reinforced the importance of gaining real clinical exposure before making long-term career decisions.
Experience Matters More Than Assumptions
Students should use clinical placements to:
- Observe ward life
- Attend clinics
- Watch procedures
- Speak with doctors
- Understand day-to-day responsibilities
- Evaluate work-life balance
Only firsthand exposure can reveal whether a specialty truly fits your interests and personality.
How Medical Students Can Build a Competitive Portfolio
Gain UK Clinical Experience Whenever Possible
Dr. Vadher strongly recommends organising UK placements during holidays whenever opportunities arise.
Why UK Experience Helps
Working alongside NHS teams familiarises students with:
- NHS systems
- Clinical documentation
- Communication styles
- Ward workflows
- Patient management approaches
This experience also demonstrates commitment to working within the UK healthcare system.
Become Involved in Research and Audit
Research and quality improvement projects remain valuable additions to specialty applications.
Finding Opportunities
Students should proactively approach consultants or registrars during placements and ask about ongoing projects.
According to Dr. Vadher, many departments already have audits or quality improvement initiatives that students can join with relatively little delay.
Learn Research Skills Independently
He also recommends using online learning platforms and educational resources to understand:
- Systematic reviews
- Different research methodologies
- Medical writing
- Academic publishing
Acquiring these skills makes students more attractive collaborators when approaching researchers.
Present Your Work
Publishing research is valuable, but presenting it at conferences provides additional recognition and strengthens future specialty applications.
Even audits completed during placements can often be converted into poster presentations or conference submissions.
Pursue Academic and Leadership Awards
Dr. Vadher encourages students to apply for every suitable award available.
Sources of Valuable Recognition
Potential opportunities include:
- University scholarships
- Dean’s awards
- Essay competitions
- Conference prizes
- Student society awards
- National medical competitions
He specifically highlights Royal Society of Medicine student prizes as opportunities that often receive relatively few applicants despite carrying significant value for portfolios.
Develop Teaching Experience
Teaching forms an important part of many specialty applications.
Students can strengthen this area by:
- Mentoring junior colleagues
- Tutoring pre-clinical students
- Organising teaching sessions
- Collecting structured feedback
- Obtaining formal recognition from consultants or professors
Dr. Vadher stresses that medical school provides the ideal opportunity to build teaching experience before the demands of junior doctor life reduce available free time.
Practical Advice for Every Stage of Medical School
Preclinical Years
During the early years, students should concentrate on mastering foundational sciences while keeping future portfolio development in mind.
Strong knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology forms the basis for later clinical success.
Clinical Years
Clinical students should maximise ward exposure, ask questions, spend time with doctors, and begin identifying specialties that genuinely interest them.
Networking, conferences, leadership opportunities, and UK placements become increasingly valuable during this stage.
Final Year
For final-year students, Dr. Vadher advises prioritising examinations while simultaneously preparing for:
- IELTS or OET
- GMC registration requirements
- Job applications
- Future NHS employment opportunities
Planning ahead reduces unnecessary delays after graduation.
Dr. Deelan Vadher’s Message to Future Doctors
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Dr. Vadher’s journey is that success after studying medicine abroad is rarely accidental.
It comes from consistently building experience, seeking opportunities, staying organised, and refusing to be discouraged by setbacks.
As he explains, flexibility, persistence, preparation, and proactive planning give international graduates the best chance of successfully launching rewarding careers within the NHS.