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Navigating a New System: Helping New Resident Doctors Adapt, Learn, and Lead

Abidemi OGUNSOLA, Anjla SHARMAN and Pooja SHandYE

An increasing number of General Practice (GP) Doctors are entering training with limited experience working within the country chosen for training. These Doctors are often international medical graduates from non-primary care settings and frequently require additional support to adapt to the structure and primary care working culture. Recognising this transition challenge, we developed and piloted a structured learning programme to support GP Doctors with fewer than six months of experience working in the country at the start of their training. The pilot provided a 4-month placement where Doctors had some of their clinical time replaced with additional education time on key GP domains and contextual topics. In preliminary findings, trainees reported significantly increased confidence in navigating the local systems, understanding the GP role in the wider healthcare structure, and engaging safely with primary care processes. Qualitative feedback highlighted the value of peer discussion, contextual learning, and space for reflection. This pilot demonstrates that a structured, early orientation programme and contextual learning can ease the transition for Doctors new to the country and improve their confidence and engagement. Embedding such initiatives into medical education could enhance educational equity and patient safety, not only regionally or nationally but also internationally.Share challenges and strategies to support learners new to the region. Explore the rationale and design of the structured learning pilot. Review key findings from pilot evaluation. Discuss how similar models could be adapted for use across regions.Presentations outlining pilot, rationale, curriculum content, and evaluation findings. 30 minutes Group discussion and to share good practices and identify barriers to implementation. 30 minutesRecognise the challenges faced by new GP trainees and analyse contextual factors. Engage in international and cross‑regional learning by sharing innovations, experiences, and good practice examples Reflect on local onboarding and induction processes,Structured learning intervention can support new trainees with limited local experience, improving early adaptation and well-being. Further evaluation with larger cohorts will help refine content and assess long‑term impact on performance and patient care.