Dr Andy Patel grew up in the rural United States, where he completed his medical training at the University of Missouri. For several years, he practiced as a GP outside of Seattle, but later split his time between a Native American tribal clinic, an addiction clinic for the homeless and a teaching residency for new family physicians. His favorite aspect of medicine is the opportunity to come to know his patients and their families.
He joins his wife, Dr Pooja Patel, also a GP at family doctors, after their recent move to Tauranga. Outside of work, he enjoys tramping, cycling, writing and science fiction, but mainly prefers to spend his time with his wife and two boys.