GP partner — Dr Toyosi Adeniji

After completing her medical degree in Romania Dr Adeniji is a GP partner in Northampton, a Primary Care Network lead for health inequalities and chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) First5 Community

What degree did you study and where?

I completed my medical degree at the Ovidius University of Constanta, in Romania. I loved my university experience, I met amazing people and learnt so much about the culture and different health systems. I now speak Romanian and it has led me to work on projects to help people in the UK access healthcare who don't speak English.

What attracted you to a career as a GP?

I was attracted by the flexibility and variety that being a GP offers. You can mix and match your interests with clinical work, in my case this includes teaching, medical leadership, gastroenterology and influencing healthcare policy.

How did you get your job?

After completing medical school, I started my foundation training in the UK at Bedford Hospital, which involves two years of rotations or placements in different clinical settings. This is usually your first paid job as a doctor. I did placements in general surgery, cardiology, vascular surgery and palliative medicine.  

I then applied for general practice specialty training, which takes three years to complete. The general practice training involves some hospital placements as well as GP placements. My placements were in paediatrics, general medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as general practice. This gives you a good foundation to understand how different specialities work.  

I was offered partnership about eight months before the end of my training, in the practice I was training in. I have been a GP partner since then. However, you would normally apply for a range of places towards the end of your training to get a job.  

What’s a typical working day like for you?

On my clinical days, I see patients in the surgery, carry out home visits and work on admin such as writing letters and checking blood tests. I also supervise registrars and nurses and help other members of the team by answering questions.  

On my special interest days, I work on medical leadership and gastroenterology. 

What has been your proudest moment as a doctor?

Three moments come to mind. Achieving my fellowship with the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. To reach this milestone at such an early stage in my career was incredibly exciting.  

The second was becoming a partner at my surgery. Being younger, being black and being an international medical graduate, I was incredibly proud to have a hand in changing the narrative around who is seen as a GP partner.  

And thirdly, becoming the RCGP First5 Chair, the college community for GPs in their first five years of independent practice. My aim in this role is to work collaboratively to change things for the better. 

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

I really enjoy the leadership aspects of my job, I love leading on community initiatives or projects that bring about change, especially those that mean a lot to my patients. 

What are the challenges?

The thing that I find challenging is setting boundaries between my work and family life. But I navigate this with the support of my husband. I try to make sure I don't check emails on holidays and that I have supportive networks around me.

I also find that being organised helps with setting boundaries. This is also important to help you through exams and studying as well as working.  

What type of person would suit a career as GP?

It is important to be someone who pays attention to detail and has really good listening and communication skills. Also, someone who enjoys continuously learning. Guidelines change and doctors need to take on development opportunities to stay up to date.

What advice can you give to aspiring GPs?

I would say you already have a lot of the qualities you need and there are so many opportunities around you. Engage with all the leadership opportunities you can and build transferable skills. You also need to make sure that your drive and passion comes from you, not your parents. There will be hard times, but if you have that passion, you will always be able to go back to your core reason for becoming a doctor. Enjoy the journey.

Find out more

• Learn more about the role of a general practice doctor. 
• Discover what you can do with a degree in medicine. 
• See what the healthcare sector has to offer.