Advancing Healthcare Innovation: Hosting PhD Medical AI Interns from the University of Leeds
At OneMedical Group, we knew we wanted to tap into fresh academic expertise, which is why we turned to the University of Leeds to help bring cutting‑edge research into real NHS delivery.
Over the course of their internships, two PhD‑level Medical AI researchers worked alongside our digital, clinical, and operational teams to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance patient pathways, improve efficiency, and support future models of care.
This collaboration has delivered far more than technical outputs. It has strengthened our organisational capability, challenged our thinking, and accelerated our understanding of what responsible, effective AI adoption looks like in primary care settings.
Owen Johnson, Associate Professor AI and Digital Health at AI-Medical at the University of Leeds said "it has been fantastic to see how our PhD students have gained so much from our partnership with OneMedical Group - they have had the chance to think hard about practical challenges implementing AI within clinical practice working alongside OneMedical Group's professional teams. For AI to be successful in the UK NHS we need many more collaborations like this".
The interns undertook a series of projects rooted in real operational pressures across our services. By analysing patterns in frequent attenders, they helped us understand which patient groups return most often and why, highlighting opportunities for more proactive, personalised support. Their work on ‘Did Not Attends’ uncovered behavioural and demographic drivers behind missed appointments, informing how we might redesign communication and follow‑up processes to reduce avoidable gaps in care.
At The Light Surgery in Leeds, they engaged directly with clinical teams to understand their insights and challenges, strengthening the link between lived experience and digital problem solving. They also explored how technology could streamline high‑volume administrative tasks, such as “to whom it may concern” letters to help reduce pressure on GPs and administrative teams while improving turnaround times for patients.
Finally, their work on outbound referrals examined how we might accelerate referral pathways and use data to identify the types of referrals people need. This also helps us see where delays might happen, which conditions take longer to process, and how we can make the whole journey quicker and smoother for patients.
Together, these projects demonstrate how applied AI research can highlight system inefficiencies, shape better workflows, and free up clinical time to focus on what matters most: patient care.
Over the course of their internships, two PhD‑level Medical AI researchers worked alongside our digital, clinical, and operational teams to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance patient pathways, improve efficiency, and support future models of care.
This collaboration has delivered far more than technical outputs. It has strengthened our organisational capability, challenged our thinking, and accelerated our understanding of what responsible, effective AI adoption looks like in primary care settings.
Owen Johnson, Associate Professor AI and Digital Health at AI-Medical at the University of Leeds said "it has been fantastic to see how our PhD students have gained so much from our partnership with OneMedical Group - they have had the chance to think hard about practical challenges implementing AI within clinical practice working alongside OneMedical Group's professional teams. For AI to be successful in the UK NHS we need many more collaborations like this".
The interns undertook a series of projects rooted in real operational pressures across our services. By analysing patterns in frequent attenders, they helped us understand which patient groups return most often and why, highlighting opportunities for more proactive, personalised support. Their work on ‘Did Not Attends’ uncovered behavioural and demographic drivers behind missed appointments, informing how we might redesign communication and follow‑up processes to reduce avoidable gaps in care.
At The Light Surgery in Leeds, they engaged directly with clinical teams to understand their insights and challenges, strengthening the link between lived experience and digital problem solving. They also explored how technology could streamline high‑volume administrative tasks, such as “to whom it may concern” letters to help reduce pressure on GPs and administrative teams while improving turnaround times for patients.
Finally, their work on outbound referrals examined how we might accelerate referral pathways and use data to identify the types of referrals people need. This also helps us see where delays might happen, which conditions take longer to process, and how we can make the whole journey quicker and smoother for patients.
Together, these projects demonstrate how applied AI research can highlight system inefficiencies, shape better workflows, and free up clinical time to focus on what matters most: patient care.