We are the thousands of Resident Doctors, serving Kiwis in hospitals and clinics all over the country.

We’re the listening ear at the GP, and the steady hand in surgery. Racing from the Emergency Department to daycare pick-up, and squeezing in phone-calls to family between on-call nights. In our job, a 9-hour day is the short shift, and a bad day at work could mean the worst day of someone else’s life. But still, we wouldn’t be anywhere else.

Some of us come from a long line of doctors. Some of us used to be police officers, or teachers, or paramedics. Some of us loved science at school, and some of us… well, not so much. Many of us trained for years here in New Zealand, which means we’re more likely to stay here and help Kiwis for years to come.

All our paths look different. But if you ask why we’re here, our reasons are almost always the same. To be part of something bigger than ourselves. To make a difference - not just for one person, but for whole communities. To help someone through today, and give them so many more tomorrows.

We’ve spent 1,000 hours prepping for each exam, and more than 10 years studying. We work 40, 50, 60 hour work weeks, and make life-altering decisions every 5 minutes. And if it means saving just one life, it will all have been worth it.