David grew up in Christchurch and obtained his primary medical degree from the University of Otago. He then undertook his postgraduate physician training in the Manawatu and Waikato regions, gaining a range of experience in a number of specialties including Cardiology (heart), Oncology (cancer), Renal (kidneys) and Emergency Medicine. His experience in Palliative Care helped him to develop his interaction with patients and to keep the focus on the patient as a whole rather than just the disease.