When Anushka Deogaonkar, MBBS, arrived at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) in June 2025 as an international medical graduate, she set her sights on building the credentials necessary to pursue residency training in the United States. She brought with her an already impressive research background, with nearly 10 publications to her name.
Deogaonkar came to GW SMHS from her home in India as part of the International Medicine Programs (IMP) Medical Research Fellowship Program (MRFP). Through the MRFP, international medical graduates (IMGs) develop relationships with medical faculty mentors who provide individualized guidance on research, professional development, and the residency application process. Participants build skills in critical appraisal, research design, and the broader medical research process, often leading to conference presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Since its launch in 2012, IMGs in the program have collectively produced approximately 285 publications.
Since her arrival, Deogaonkar has worked closely with her mentor, Marie Borum, MD, EdD ’03, MPH ’95, director of the Division of Gastroenterology and professor of medicine. Over the past nine months, her research output has grown significantly, and she now boasts 36 publications. She recently spoke with IMP about her research experiences and what she has gained from her time in the MRFP.
Deogaonkar describes her work as research that “addresses barriers to health care and brings disparities to the forefront.” Under Borum’s mentorship, she has contributed to several gastroenterology-focused projects, including studies on the use of artificial intelligence by patients with inflammatory bowel disease, geographic differences in flare rates, and a focus group study with the Latin American Youth Center exploring barriers to care for Spanish-speaking individuals.
Through these experiences, Deogaonkar has developed a deeper appreciation for the “snowball effect” of research — where one project leads to new questions and future areas of inquiry. She has learned that strong researchers not only ask questions continually but also transform those questions into meaningful projects that generate impactful insights.
She also emphasizes the collaborative nature of the fellowship, having worked alongside medical students, residents, and fellow researchers. In addition to her publications, Deogaonkar presented at her first U.S. conference — the Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Conference in Orlando, Florida — in December 2025. Reflecting on the experience, she noted that working on a research team “grounds you in a community that shares the same interests and passion for the work you’re doing.”
As her fellowship comes to a close, Deogaonkar values how her research with Borum remains connected to the community and grounded in clinical practice. In summer 2026, she will begin her first year in the GW Internal Medicine Residency Program, where she looks forward to continuing to integrate research and evidence-based medicine into her clinical work.