It is 17 letters.
But for Monique Mackenzie MBChB, FRNZCGP, FRACP in dermatology, it is "so much time and effort".
More than 15 years of study and work. Time spent overseas and away from her children. Early morning starts and late, late nights.
Even now, when she has qualified as the first Maori female doctor specialising in dermatology, there are still plenty of things to explore and new avenues to open up.
But that has always been the way for Dr Mackenzie ever since she started out on her long - and even she admits it has been long - journey to those 17 letters at the end of her name.
"I was actually born to Kiwi parents living in Perth at the time. We came back from Australia when I was 3 and lived with my grandparents Rua and Shelia Hore on the family sheep station ‘Blackstone Hill’ in Becks," she said.
"I spent my early years before moving into town - Alexandra - growing up on the farm with my five other cousins who also lived there.
"It must have been chaos for my aunty who looked after us, but I have really fond memories of that time.
"I have great memories of Alexandra. Our pipes and fish bowl - fish included - freezing in winter, to summers swimming at the dam.
"It’s a pretty idyllic and a safe place to grow up."
At Dunstan High School she had a go at everything and those experiences started her move towards medicine.
"Medicine really stemmed from an interest in health and sports. Dunstan High School is well known for its physical and outdoor education programme, which covered basic anatomy and sports physiology - which I really enjoyed.
"I became quite motivated around the age of 16 to pursue a big goal and medicine seemed like it would fit that criterion.
"I have to laugh at myself looking back at it now, as it was certainly an ambitious goal for a girl from a small country town and absolutely no prior exposure to medicine."
She trotted off to the University of Otago, studying medicine, and the books have never gone back on the shelf.
"It has been an incredible journey to date and definitely better than I imagined.
"It is a privilege to learn and understand in-depth how humans physically and emotionally function along with the infinite ways those processes can go wrong.
"To then apply that knowledge at the bedside or in clinic is definitely rewarding."
It has been a lot of work.
She qualified as a doctor in 2006 and after a few years working as a house officer and taking maternity leave, she started general practice specialty training in 2009, completing it in 2014.
That same year she started physician training through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, which is the pathway to qualify as a dermatologist - a further seven years of training.
In that time were trips to Australia and also time on a fellowship in Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
"It is never-ending and there are always new advances in medicine.
"Throughout all the studying, you are working as a doctor, but at various levels of expertise. But yes, the process is very long."
She now lives in Cambridge, working at clinics and hospitals in the upper North Island.
During her study and work, she also found time to have three children. Rua (18), studying health science at the University of Otago, Leo (14) and Aria (10).
It seems pretty impossible to most to have three children and continue a career, but family support and being well-organised helped her through.
"Having children has provided me with an incredible balance and perspective to my work that few clinicians have early in their medical career.
"I do not think there is as much pressure as a student or junior doctor on you to return to work or return to training programmes. This allowed me to have adequate time on maternity leave and choose career pathways more suited to working part-time when the children were younger.
"It was actually at this time I completed my fellowship in general practice."
Her mother Deirdre Mackenzie has been a great help along with the children’s dad’s family.
"I have had incredible support from my family, particularly my mum.
"Parts of the training are definitely gruelling - long hours, high-stakes exams and overseas training during Covid ... it’s not for everyone, so you need a steadfast and reliable support crew."
That is a huge help, but she is the one doing the study.
"Honestly, most mornings.
"I am not a morning person, but am up around 5.30am, so I am still trying to train myself to wake up and be positive rather than just roll over and pull the blankets over my head."
She tries not to over-think being the first Maori female doctor of dermatology and wants to use her skills to help research into skin of colour.
"I try not to focus on this too much, as it can be a bit overwhelming and there is so much work that needs to be done in this space.
"The advantage here is there is a mostly blank canvas to work with. Internationally there has been an incredible increase in research, education and dialogue around skin of colour (SOC) in dermatology. Māori and Pacific skin types certainly fit into this category.
"In 2021, I was involved in organising the first NZ dermatology registrar meeting dedicated to SOC education.
"I would love to see New Zealand follow Australia’s lead and formally add SOC to the New Zealand dermatology training curriculum.
"That would be a great start."
But for now, fresh after her long journey of study - which will of course continue as medicine evolves - it is time, in her late 30s, to think about where she is now.
"For now, I am just taking time to reflect on what I have done so far. The future I hope will involve continuing to build on what has been achieved so far in New Zealand dermatology.
"We have many world-class contributors here and I am lucky to have worked alongside and count many as my mentors. I can not thank them enough and along with my family, I am very grateful."
• For the record, FRNZCGP is Fellowship to Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and FRACP is Fellowship to Royal Australasian College of Physicians. MBChB is the medical degree.
