The journey to becoming a doctor has been a long one for Torres Strait Islander man T'kido Titasey.
Born in Atherton, north Queensland and growing up on Thursday Island, Dr Titasey set his heart on practising medicine from a young age.
"I realised that we're quite disadvantaged up there and a lot of my family are sick with chronic diseases that increase mortality and morbidity dramatically," he told AAP.
"I knew I wanted to do something in health and I was pretty hell bent on being a doctor when I was younger."
He started studying medicine at James Cook University in 2013, but dropped out of the course.
"I was a bit young and immature and enjoyed college life more than I did the study," Dr Titasey said.
"I had a few family issues that unfolded and I couldn't get through, so I did nursing and loved it."
As a nurse, he spent time at Townsville Community Hospital, where a number of Indigenous patients had cardiovascular issues.
Driven to know why there were such a disproportionate number of Indigenous patients, and supported by his wife and family to take the leap, he applied for his second chance at being a doctor.
After years of hard work, graduating from the University of Queensland with his Doctor of Medicine in early-December felt "unreal", Dr Titasey said.
It was his mentors at university and his family, who supported and cheered him on through the difficult moments, that kept him going.
"I've had some pretty rough days during med school, and that's to put it lightly. It hasn't been easy, but they're always there in your corner, listening to you, encouraging you to keep going and doing whatever they can to make sure you succeed," he said.
Dr Titasey is thinking about pursuing ophthalmology, treating issues affecting the eye and vision.
While it's a change from his cardiac background, he'll be able to take the skills he honed as a nurse into his future practice.
"As a nurse you learn to ... really see the person, not just their medical condition," he said.
"We learn how to interact with patients and families, we learn how to work really well in a team environment and they're also essential skills that you need to work as a doctor."
Dr Titasey hopes to see more Torres Strait Islander people in the field.
Before he graduated he was one of three Torres Strait Islander students taking on the degree at the University of Queensland.
"I just really want to encourage any Torres Strait Islanders to give it a crack, because the feeling that I got when I was back in TI [Thursday Island] as a final-year medical student ... it's the most rewarding experience," he said.
