Progressing: Tom

Posted on: 8 October 2025 by Richard Finch in Class of 2024

Tom Padley is a Class of 2024 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) graduate, now working as a Foundation Year One Doctor at St George’s Hospital (NHS England).

How did you hear about your role?

As a medicine graduate I always knew I would be working in the NHS, however where and in which specialities was a mystery until last year.

Last year and for the first time in the history of the UK foundation programme, the allocation was a randomised preference based process meaning that although you could express a preference for where you would like to be placed (be that in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), it would not depend on your performance in exams. I was very fortunate to be allocated to the London Foundation School and then to St George’s Hospital for my first year of clinical practice, my personal first choice.

How did you get to where you are now?

I initially realised that I wanted to be a doctor at the age of 16 - I’d done some experience in both GP and hospital settings on the Isle of Man where I grew up which motivated me to apply to medical school. My parents, who both work in the healthcare industry as opticians, have always been my sources of motivation particularly through the difficult times of medical school and now as a doctor. Long working hours and needing to de-stress can also be challenging for partners, and my partner Celia (who is a very successful Liverpool economics graduate) is a constant supporting voice for me.

Your favourite experience as part of your current role?

My favourite experiences are always seeing patients walk out of the hospital much better than when they arrived. Depending on the clinical, patients can remain on a single ward for months where doctors, nurses, and other members of the multidisciplinary team build close relationships. I saw this most often during my rotation in geriatrics, with teams working tirelessly not only to help the patient get better from a medical perspective, but also managing complex social issues, ensuring patients leave the hospital with the support they need to thrive after discharge and prevent readmission.

After getting to know patients and their families for long periods of time, it is extremely rewarding to see them leave the hospital.

The most challenging part of your graduate journey?

Given the nature of the role, it is normal to have good days and bad days. Bad days can happen when you yourself don’t quite get the management plan right or a patient doesn’t recover as expected from an illness. The most important takeaway from these times is the learning experience which can be invaluable when managing patients in the future. 

What's your #1 piece of advice for future grads?

I would say to not judge yourself by your mistakes, but judge yourself by your successes.

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