When Dr Mike Duggan started medical school with the UQ-Ochsner MD Program he had not even heard of Brisbane. But the chance to study medicine in both Australia and the United States and start in January was too good to pass up.
“I thought the opportunity to be in two different places during those four years especially one outside the United States would be a great opportunity for both my medical education and personal growth."
He spent his first two years living in South Brisbane enjoying the leisurely lifestyle and convenience to The University of Queensland's campus at St Lucia.
Today, Mike is a third-year pediatrics resident at UCLA Health and is applying for a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology. His journey has been shaped by early influences as both his father and grandfather were pediatricians and experiences before and during medical school. Working at Massachusetts General Hospital after college exposed him to children with diverse medical needs from autism spectrum disorders to complex sleep studies and this experience reinforced his interest in childrens health.
Life as a Pediatrician in Training
Mike is quick to point out that pediatrics is more than just checkups and vaccines. While preventative care is a cornerstone of the specialty his work also involves caring for critically ill children in the pediatric ICU often for weeks or months at a time.
He credits his clinical rotations at Ochsner Health in New Orleans with sharpening his communication skills especially in navigating sensitive conversations with families about preventative care chronic conditions and treatment decisions.
Matching into Residency
When it came time to apply for residency Mike knew exactly where he wanted to be in Southern California. With family ties to the region and a love for the outdoors, UCLA was his top choice.
He advises future applicants to focus on a few meaningful extracurricular activities rather than spreading themselves too thin. For Mike that meant outreach work in New Orleans through Habitat for Humanity and his involvement with Medicine in Motion, a national nonprofit promoting physician wellness.
Match Day found him on a ski slope in Colorado opening the email that confirmed he would be heading to UCLA.
Looking Ahead
Now as he prepares for fellowship, Mike is drawn to the variety the field of gastroenterology offers. He balances outpatient continuity of care with inpatient procedures like endoscopies and colonoscopies. He is also passionate about nutrition education and global health with plans to travel to Mozambique to work on pediatric malnutrition in early 2026.
Mike encourages current medical students to keep pediatrics on their radar when it comes to life after med school.
“It is incredibly rewarding. There is nothing better than discharging a child knowing they will be running around and happy with their friends."
Watch the full interview with Dr Mike Duggan and Nicole Ruggiero on our YouTube channel to hear more about his journey, his day-to-day life in residency, and his advice for future pediatricians, and keep an eye out for our next Alumni chat.
