The Whole Patient Journey: Dr. Deepthi Lavu on Family Medicine, Big Data, and International Inspiration
“I hope to learn from best practices in European primary care settings and use that knowledge in the UK to improve care and make changes for early cancer diagnosis”.
“My main goal during the award is to improve early cancer diagnosis and reduce cancer health inequalities in primary care by utilizing big data, which is also the focus of my new Doctoral Fellowship”
Click here to watch the video recording.
Interview with Dr Lavu
The WONCA Europe Scholarship Awards are recognised as a distinguished initiative designed to support and nurture the next generation of leaders in Family Medicine. We are delighted to announce that this year’s impressive recipient is Dr. Deepthi Lavu from the United Kingdom (UK).
Dr. Lavu has already proven a remarkable dedication to the field of family medicine and primary care research, and WONCA Europe is enthusiastic about contributing to her ongoing professional development.
To offer insight into her trajectory we interviewed Dr. Lavu. She shared reflections on her career path, her reasons for seeking the award, and her ambitious strategy for putting the scholarship funding to use. She also took time to reflect on her inspiring family medicine mentors. This interview is available as both video segments and a brief written summary, all edited and collated by Dr. Charlotte Morris, the WONCA Europe European Young Family Doctor’s movement (EYFDM) Liaison Officer.
Q1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your career
I'm Dr. Deepthi Lavu, an Academic General Practitioner based in the United Kingdom, and the proud winner of the 2025 WONCA Europe Scholarship. My medical journey began in India, where I got my qualification from the Deccan College of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad. After moving to the UK, I initially focused on obstetrics and gynaecology, achieving membership to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). I later switched my focus to primary care because it allowed me to follow my patients' journeys more fully.
I've always been keen on research. As a doctor in training, I was awarded Academic Clinical Fellowships and over time had the opportunity to collaborate internationally with teams in places like Canada, Mauritius, and the Czech Republic. More recently, I received the Wellcome NIHR School of Primary Care Research Doctoral Fellowship, which lets me pursue my research passion: health inequalities in primary care cancer management. In addition to my clinical and academic work, I'm heavily involved with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), currently serving as an elected representative for General Practice Doctors in Training and, as of this year, an elected member of the RCGP Council for the next three years.
Q2. Why did you apply for the WONCA scholarship?
I’ve always admired WONCA's prestige and impact. My recent research involved looking at international data, specifically from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnerships, while studying health inequalities in cancer management. This work really sparked my interest in deepening international connections to better inform our shared health policies.
I'm eager to explore early cancer diagnosis from a global perspective to foster shared learning and discover equitable solutions for improving cancer outcomes worldwide. Since I grew up in India and have always admired the World Health Organisation (WHO), this scholarship is an invaluable opportunity to expand my global network and potentially even link my work with the WHO.
Q3. Have you been involved with WONCA or the European Young Family Doctors movement before? Can you tell us about this?
While I hadn't been to any of the major WONCA World or European conferences, I did attend the WONCA Europe Special Interest Group (S.I.G.) General Practice Research on Infections Network (GRIN) conference in Cardiff (U.K.). It left a lasting impression on me because of its supportive, collaborative, and fun atmosphere. I’d never been to a conference quite like it.
I feel WONCA is ultimately about the people and their impact. I reached out to some members of the European Young Family Doctor Movement (EYFDM) out of the blue, and they were all incredibly helpful. I have to mention Dr. Kerry Greenan, Dr. Margarida Gil Conde, Ana Luisa Neves, and my co-winner, Ikbal Humay Arman from Turkey. Their willingness to share and offer support is a brilliant example of WONCA's true spirit of uplifting others in the profession.
Q4. Describe your plans for the award (your project, supervisors, where you will be based etc)
My main goal during the award is to improve early cancer diagnosis and reduce cancer health inequalities in primary care by utilizing big data, which is also the focus of my new Doctoral Fellowship.
My WONCA project supervisor is Dr. Victoria Tzortziou Brown, the incoming chair of the RCGP Council. I plan to use the scholarship to initiate and establish links with various groups, particularly within the Young Doctors Movement and cancer teams across WONCA and its collaborating organizations. I hope to learn from best practices in European primary care settings and use that knowledge in the UK to improve care and make changes for early cancer diagnosis. My ultimate vision is that these connections will form the basis for long-term, impactful collaborations.
Q5. How do you think the scholarship will help your career?
This is a massive opportunity for me. The scholarship will provide me with vital connections, the chance to visit centres, and the ability to learn at international events. It genuinely opens doors I wouldn't have been able to knock on otherwise.
It will help me develop essential skills for cross-organizational, international, and cross-cultural engagement, teaching me the language required for discussions across nations. It will give me a wider perspective on the UK healthcare system and provide the platform, networks, and learning necessary to make my work impactful not just in the UK, but globally.
Q6. Can you tell us about a family medicine doctor who inspires you? Why?
This is a hard question because so many doctors inspire me! However, two people immediately come to mind: my grandparents, who were both doctors in India. I am proud to be related to them. They were doctors who served their people for very little in return, and that dedication has had a significant impact on me.