‘How GP fellowships worked for me – and why they might be right for you too’

Following on from our look into the New to Practice Fellowship, Dr Ana-Maria Al-Soodi argues the case as to why fellowships can be instrumental in introducing newly qualified GPs to profession and wider healthcare system

As I approached the end of GP training, I found myself facing the same question that many newly qualified GPs quietly worry about: Am I actually ready for this?

Not clinically – all the training prepares us well for consultations and decision-making – but professionally. The sudden shift from structured supervision to full independence can feel abrupt, and the expectation to simultaneously build resilience, develop a portfolio career, and navigate an increasingly complex NHS, can be overwhelming.

Like many trainees, I initially viewed fellowships as an optional extra – interesting, but perhaps unnecessary if your goal was simply to ‘get on with being a GP’. But, having now undertaken two fellowship programmes, my perspective has shifted completely. I now see fellowships less as an added luxury and more as one of the most practical and protective ways to transition into long-term general practice.

The expanding fellowship landscape

Fellowships in general practice have expanded rapidly, largely in response to workforce pressures, recruitment challenges and early career burnout. The New to Practice Fellowship, previously mandated by NHS England and still continued by some ICBs, aims to support newly qualified clinicians while strengthening retention and career satisfaction in primary care.

While fellowship structures vary, they generally provide protected development time, mentorship and exposure to leadership or educational roles alongside clinical work. Increasingly, they reflect the reality that modern general practice requires skills far beyond consulting alone.

The New to Practice Fellowship – a supported landing

Fellowships are coordinated locally through training hubs and ICBs, meaning that developmental opportunities are often tailored to local system needs.

One of the most valuable aspects of my New to Practice Fellowship experience was structured mentorship and peer networking. These networks create safe environments where early career clinicians can openly discuss uncertainties, workload pressures and career direction. For me, this support normalised many of the anxieties that new GPs rarely admit publicly.

Perhaps most importantly, the programme actively recognises that early burnout is a genuine risk. By embedding structured professional development and peer support, it encourages sustainability and portfolio career development at a stage when many GPs are still defining their professional identity.

Educational/career development fellowships – stepping into leadership and education

If the New to Practice Fellowship provides a supported landing, then the Educational/Clinical/Career Development Fellowship feel like a natural progression into system leadership and educational development. The one-year programme I am completing focuses specifically on innovation in primary care education while allowing fellows to remain embedded in clinical practice.

The programme is strongly aligned with national workforce priorities, supporting projects such as technology enhanced learning, expansion of training capacity and supporting international graduates/addressing differential attainment. Fellows negotiate project focus with mentors, allowing work to reflect both system priorities and personal career interests.

From personal experience, this fellowship significantly expanded my understanding of how primary care education shapes workforce sustainability. It also strengthened skills in leadership, project management and system collaboration that are rarely developed during standard clinical training.

Why fellowships matter more than we admit

General practice remains professionally rewarding but increasingly demanding. Fellowship programmes support the transition from training to full autonomy, allowing clinicians to develop confidence gradually.

For me, protected time was transformative. Without it, it is easy to fall into survival mode, focusing solely on appointments, administrative workload and daily pressures. Fellowships legitimise development time, which is often the first casualty when clinical intensity increases.

Mentorship is equally powerful. Having access to experienced GP mentors provides reassurance and perspective that formal training cannot always replicate. Peer networks created through fellowships also help reduce professional isolation and often continue long after programmes end.

Perhaps most importantly, fellowships expose GPs to the wider healthcare system. Today, general practice increasingly requires understanding integrated care structures, workforce planning and service redesign. Fellowship projects provide early exposure to these areas and encourage GPs to influence system change rather than simply respond to it.

A career investment

Modern general practice demands adaptability, leadership and educational engagement. Fellowships offer something increasingly rare in healthcare: protected time to think, develop and shape sustainable careers. For newly qualified GPs uncertain about their next step, fellowships should not be viewed as optional extras. They may represent one of the most effective investments clinicians can make in both their careers and the future of general practice.

Dr Ana-Maria Al-Soodi is a GP in Hampshire