Bridges & Breakthroughs: International Medical Graduate’s (IMG’s) Preclinical Research Experience

Author: Shivani Chaudhary (M.B.B.S, M.S General Surgery)

Today, I want to share a deeply personal journey of resilience and perseverance which happened during my 2.5 years of preclinical neuro-oncology research. My research years began after I had already completed three grueling years of general surgery residency training, followed by a year of service at a community health center as part of my commitment to the Indian government. The excitement of landing a funded research position in a field I was passionate about was palpable, but I had no idea what challenges lay ahead.

The first three months were a whirlwind of emotions that ranged from exciting yet intimidating. I was thrust into the entirely new realm of glioblastoma research, where I had to master unfamiliar techniques and learn a completely new scientific language. I even had to confront my deep-seated fear of handling mice. There were days when self-doubt crept in, making me question whether I had made the right choice. Was I moving forward? Where would this path lead?

Transitioning from operating on humans to working with mice felt like a step back. There was no instant gratification in my work, no immediate patient interaction to provide a sense of purpose. The complexity of new vocabulary, procedures, and analytical tools mirrored my experience as a first-year resident, where everything felt overwhelming. I struggled to stay engaged during lab meetings, often understanding only fragments of the data being presented. I tried to build technical competence while staying motivated. I found myself frequently trying to compare this unfamiliar path to the structure and familiarity of the clinical training I had left behind.

As a woman in surgery and an international medical graduate, this uncertainty carried an additional, often unspoken weight. Stepping away from a traditional clinical trajectory made me question not only my decisions but also how they might be perceived by others. In spaces where I was often one of the few, I felt a constant pressure to prove that I belonged both in the lab and in the surgical field I hoped to return to.

Fast forward two years, I am now so grateful that I didn’t give up. Despite the challenges and failures, I pushed through, fueled by my devotion to neurosurgery, commitment to excellence, and belief in the potential of my work. Over time, I transformed from someone hesitant in the lab to someone who can now confidently perform complex experiments and think critically about the scientific questions. What once felt unfamiliar gradually became part of my skill set. Every challenge tested my resolve. I have learned that meaningful work and expertise in a niche area, whether in the operating room or the laboratory, requires patience, humility, and persistence. Even when progress is slow and feels invisible, it still has significance. With the support of the right mentors and with relentless  and concerted effort, I have slowly found my footing in glioblastoma and immunotherapy research.

Today, my determination is shaped not just by ambition, but by perspective. This journey taught me that resilience is more than enduring hardship. It is the willingness to continue showing up, even when progress feels slow and uncertain. For those navigating unconventional paths, especially women in surgery, I hope this serves as a reminder: your trajectory does not have to be linear to be meaningful. And for anyone who belongs to any other marginalized group as well, like I did as an IMG, this reminder is even more poignant.

I’ll leave you with a thought that has stayed with me throughout this journey: consistent effort, even in uncertain moments, has a way of shaping outcomes over time. I once measured progress by immediate results; now, I measure it by my ability to bounce back and then to keep moving forward.

Shivani Chaudhary is an international medical graduate from India. She completed her medical degree and a residency in General Surgery at M.S. University, Baroda, India. She is currently in her third year as a Research Scholar in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on advancing understanding of novel iNK-based immunotherapies and HSV-based oncolytic virotherapy for glioblastoma.

Shivani is passionate about combining clinical skills with translational research experience to become an Academic Neurosurgeon-Scientist, to develop improved treatments for patients with brain tumors.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, caring for her plants, practicing Kathak (Indian classical dance), listening to audiobooks, and spending quality time with loved ones.