It's one that only gets harder if you work in medicine.

But one Wollongong doctor managed to not just survive, but thrive.

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Wollongong Hospital's Dr Tamblyn Devoy has been named NSW's Junior Medical Officer of the Year.

Dr Devoy only had a short taste of life as a Junior Medical Officer before the pandemic hit.

Not only has he navigated the challenges of working at a busy hospital during this unprecedented period, he has also dedicated much of his free time to advocating for his peers at both a local and state level through his work as President of Wollongong Hospital's Resident Medical Officer Association (RMOA) and Chair of the NSW Junior Medical Officer (JMO) Forum.

Dr Devoy said it was humbling to receive the award.

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He paid tribute to his JMO and RMOA colleagues, the "amazing" doctors and nurses at Wollongong Hospital and his family and partner for their ongoing support.

"I only had two-three months pre-COVID in my career, so this is also all I know," he said.

"Medicine is very difficult and there is a lot of competition, but find what makes you happy and go from there."

Dr Devoy has supported his fellow JMOs by implementing wellbeing initiatives, developing educational and teaching opportunities and a research database.

Wollongong Hospital's Director of Medical Services David Cooper congratulated Dr Devoy for the award.

The Brisbane-born doctor had his sights set on medicine from a young age.

"I come from a large family and I remember being at the GP with my little brother who has a few health conditions," he said.

"That's when my interest in the human body and diseases really sparked."

Dr Devoy is now in the running for the Postgraduate Medical Education Councils' Australian & New Zealand Junior Doctor of the Year award.

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