From building sites to hospital wards: Tradie graduates as a surgeon after juggling tools and textbooks for years
A young tradie who balanced life on construction sites with rigorous studies has achieved a remarkable career transformation by earning a doctorate in medicine.
Joshua Brown, 25, graduated from the University of Auckland in New Zealand in December with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery.
Dr. Brown grew up in Auckland and never imagined a future in medicine.
“I always wanted to be a builder,” he said. ‘At school I took subjects such as wood technology and technology. It really appealed to me from a young age and I thought I had planned my life well.’
But everything changed when his family introduced him to Whakapiki Ake, an initiative of the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences aimed at increasing the number of Māori and Pacific people in healthcare.
‘When Dad encouraged me to attend a Whakapiki Ake session, I thought why not give medicine a try? At least I have my construction training to fall back on if things don’t work out,” Dr. Brown said.
Dr. Brown began pursuing a certificate in health sciences in 2018.
“The more I studied, the more passionate I became,” he said. “It wasn’t just about meeting assignment deadlines, it was a genuine desire to learn.”
New Zealander Joshua Brown became a doctor after taking part in an initiative at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
The former tradie turned doctor says his decade on construction sites taught him skills he now uses every day in the hospital (stock image)
He shared that his passion grew with every step of his studies, which fueled a genuine desire to learn and ultimately motivated him to complete the PhD.
‘During my studies I continued to work as a laborer between Glover Homes and NZ Builders. I’ve been doing this for the past ten years.
‘They are both really great teams and, surprisingly, they have taught me skills and qualities that I use every day in hospital.’
‘Working in the trades from an early age has significantly helped my ability to connect and interact with people from different backgrounds, which has definitely played a huge role in helping me get through medical school.’
In his final year, Dr. Brown completed his internship at Middlemore Hospital.
In 2025, he will officially start working there as a physician’s assistant and leave his working days behind him for good.
Dr. Brown pictured with his father, Mike Brown, and partner, Caitlyn Wheeler
Dr. Brown said he was excited about his future and hoped to specialize in emergency medicine, particularly in helping Māori and Pacific people who face systemic inequalities in New Zealand’s healthcare system.
“I want to say a huge churr to my whānau because I would never be where I am today without their endless help and support,” said Dr. Brown.
“They all pointed me in the right direction to find my ‘why’ in life, a profession where I can lead by example and care for our people every day.”