Many fourth, fifth and sixth-year Canterbury-based medical students worked behind the scenes to free up emergency department nurses and doctors, particularly in the 48 hours after the earthquake.
Emergency specialist Dr Mike Ardagh said many sixth-year students, called trainee interns, provided fantastic assistance to emergency department nurses and doctors.
"Things were pretty hectic. We were losing power, didn't have working computers or access to laboratory results or X-rays.
"They allowed the doctors and nurses to get on with treating patients."
A key job for the trainee interns and some fourth and fifth-year students was making up packs of medication for the many patients coming to the department with crush syndrome, or to be taken out to doctors to administer as soon as people were rescued from the rubble, he said.
Sixth-year medical student Felicity Williamson was studying in the university building which is attached to Christchurch Hospital, when the quake struck.
"It was great to be part of it and be able to help.
"Everyone was rolling up their sleeves and pitching in," she said.
