30 July 2026
"We are proud that almost a quarter of this year’s graduates will continue their training with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust"
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation has welcomed University of Sunderland graduate student doctors.
Twenty-three of the new cohort completed their degrees at the University's School of Medicine.
A further 22 who studied at Newcastle University’s School of Medicine are joining the Trust in this intake of FY1 doctors.
This means many joining STSFT will have already spent part of their five-year course gaining experience with the Trust or other NHS organisations across the region.
Those beginning their foundation years will spend their next two years on a programme of placements with the Trust’s medicine, surgery and community services.
After this, they will move on to speciality training. This is where they decide on their interests and career plans. They can become GPs, which will take another three years of training or a consultant, which will need seven to 10 years of further training.
Dr Elsa Randles is Head (interim) of the University of Sunderland’s School of Medicine.
She said: “It is immensely rewarding to see our graduates applying the skills, knowledge and clinical experience they have developed during their studies as they begin the next stage of their medical careers.
"We are proud that almost a quarter of this year’s graduating cohort will continue their training with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, helping to strengthen the future healthcare workforce in our region.”
As they took their first step on their journey, the student followed a day of welcome sessions.
Dr Nigel Stout, who is a Consultant Physician with the Trust, led the introductions.
Dr Stout said: “We are delighted to see these graduates join us in this intake of Foundation Doctors.
“They have spent five years studying to get to this moment, building their knowledge, sharpening their skills and gaining practical experience. Now they will put that to use every day.
“Life as a doctor takes dedication, but it is rewarding and we know the next two years will help them take the next steps of their career.”